Text of MO SB 1085 (2026)

SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 1085 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR NICOLA. 4425S.02I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 167, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the social transition of minors in public schools. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 167, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 one new section, to be known as section 167.172, to read as 2 follows: 3 167.172. 1. As used in this section, the following 1 terms mean: 2 (1) "Biological sex", as defined in section 191.1720; 3 (2) "Gender transition", as defined in section 4 191.1720; 5 (3) "Parent", a parent, legal guardian, or other 6 person having charge, control, or custody of a student; 7 (4) "Public school", as defined in section 160.011; 8 (5) "Social transition", encouraging or participating 9 with a minor student in changing his or her presentation or 10 expression, including, but not limited to, details such as 11 his or her name, appearance, or behavior, with the goal of 12 such minor student's being perceived and treated as a member 13 of the opposite biological sex to such student's own 14 biological sex, or with the goal of such minor student's not 15 being perceived and treated as a member of such student's 16 SB 1085 2 own biological sex, including, but not limited to, the 17 following: 18 (a) The use of alternative pronouns or names for the 19 minor student, either in school records or otherwise; and 20 (b) The minor student's use of sex-segregated privacy 21 facilities or participation in sex-differentiated school- 22 sponsored activities; 23 (6) "Staff member", a teacher, school employee, 24 volunteer, contractor, or other individual authorized to 25 provide services at a public school, including, but not 26 limited to, any individual in a position of authority or 27 responsibility, such as a counselor or health care worker. 28 2. Each staff member shall inform the public school 29 principal or such principal's designee, as soon as 30 practicable but in any event within twenty-four hours, of a 31 request from a minor student that such staff member 32 participate in or support the social transition of such 33 student. Each public school principal or such principal's 34 designee shall, as soon as practicable but in any event 35 within seventy-two hours of the initial conversation or 36 request involving the student, inform all parents of such 37 student that the student has requested that a staff member 38 participate in or support the social transition of such 39 student. 40 3. No staff member of any public school shall: 41 (1) Participate in, support, or engage in any conduct 42 that facilitates the social transition of any minor student, 43 including any counseling of a minor student at school that 44 affirms such student's self-identification as a biological 45 sex other than such student's actual biological sex; or 46 SB 1085 3 (2) Initiate a conversation with, or deliver any 47 presentation or lesson to, any minor student regarding 48 gender transition. 49 4. Any public school employee who discloses a 50 violation of this section by a school official shall be 51 protected from any manner of retaliation as set forth in 52 section 105.055. 53 5. If a school district discovers that a staff member 54 who holds a certificate of license to teach has knowingly 55 violated any provision of this section, the school district 56 shall initiate proceedings seeking to terminate the 57 employment of that staff member and to suspend or revoke 58 such license, as applicable, based upon evidence of 59 incompetence, immorality, or neglect of duty, pursuant to 60 the provisions of section 168.071. 61 6. The attorney general may bring a civil action, 62 including an action for injunctive relief, against a school 63 district or school for any violation of this section. Such 64 action shall be brought in the county where the violation 65 occurred. 66 7. Any parent of a minor student may bring a civil 67 action, including an action for injunctive relief or for 68 damages, against the school district or public school in 69 which such minor student is enrolled for any violation of 70 this section. Such action shall be brought in the county 71 where the violation occurred. If the parent prevails, the 72 court shall award to such parent court costs and reasonable 73 attorney's fees and any other damages or remedy which in the 74 judgment of the court shall be appropriate. 75 ✓