Missouri Senate takes up permanent ban on youth gender transition treatments

Missouri Republicans moved one step closer to a permanent ban on sex changes for minors Tuesday, sending HB2033 to the Senate to ensure the state’s “SAFE Act” never expires.

While the current law has a sunset date of Aug. 28, 2027, this new legislation ensures the ban on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors stays on the books indefinitely.

The bill also sets a hard deadline for families currently using these treatments under a “grandfather” clause. If the bill becomes law, those existing medical exemptions will officially vanish on March 1, 2027.

Rep. Melissa Schmidt, the bill’s sponsor, says the state has a responsibility to speak the truth to children during their development.

“Children become confused in many areas of their lives,” Schmidt stated. “They have many questions throughout their years of development, and we have a responsibility to speak the truth.”

Schmidt’s Republican colleagues agreed, with the House voting 102-40 to protect children from such experimental procedures.

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The legislation doesn’t just block treatments. It carries heavy legal weight for the medical community, as doctors who violate the ban face mandatory revocation of their professional licenses.

Additionally, the bill opens the door for significant civil lawsuits: Former patients could sue providers for at least $500,000 in damages up to 15 years after they turn 21. Any successful claim would result in a judgment of three times the assessed damages.

As the Senate begins its review, the bill maintains existing permanent bans on gender-affirming surgeries for minors. It also continues to provide exceptions for individuals with medically verifiable disorders of sex development or those requiring treatment for injuries caused by previous procedures.