Text of MO SB 1141 (2026)

SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 1141 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HUDSON. 4462S.02I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the right to refuse to participate in certain medical treatments. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 one new section, to be known as section 191.1705, to read as 2 follows: 3 191.1705. 1. As used in this section, the following 1 terms mean: 2 (1) "Health care institution", any public or private 3 hospital, outpatient center for primary care, medical 4 center, physician organization, health care professional 5 association, outpatient center for surgical services, 6 private physician's office, pharmacy, long-term care 7 facility, medical school, nursing school, medical training 8 facility, or other entity or location in which health care 9 services are performed; 10 (2) "Health care professional", any physician; nurse 11 practitioner or other nurse; physician assistant; nurse's 12 aide; allied health professional; medical assistant; 13 employee of a hospital, outpatient center for primary care, 14 outpatient center for surgical services, long-term care 15 facility, or pharmacy; pharmacist; pharmacy technician; 16 medical school faculty member or student; nursing school 17 SB 1141 2 faculty member or student; psychology or counseling faculty 18 member or student; medical researcher; laboratory 19 technician; counselor; social worker; or other person who 20 facilitates or participates in a health care service; 21 (3) "Sex reassignment or gender identity 22 transitioning", the process in which a person transitions 23 from identifying with and living as a gender that 24 corresponds to his or her biological sex to identifying with 25 and living as a gender different from his or her biological 26 sex and may involve social, legal, or physical changes. 27 2. No health care institution or any health care 28 professional or other person shall be required to perform, 29 assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, 30 counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex 31 reassignment or gender identity transitioning if such 32 procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or 33 surgeries are contrary to the established policy of, or the 34 moral, ethical, or religious beliefs of, such health care 35 institution, health care professional, or other person. 36 3. No person or institution shall be: 37 (1) Denied or discriminated against in the receipt of 38 any public benefit, assistance, or privilege whatsoever; or 39 (2) Denied or discriminated against in any public or 40 private employment by any means including, but not limited 41 to, any adverse action related to hiring, promotion, 42 advancement, transfer, licensing, education, training, or 43 granting of hospital privileges or staff appointments on the 44 grounds that the person or institution refuses to perform, 45 assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, 46 counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex 47 reassignment or gender identity transitioning. 48 SB 1141 3 4. No cause of action shall accrue against any such 49 health care institution, health care professional, or other 50 person on account of such refusal to perform, assist, or 51 participate in medical procedures, treatments, counseling, 52 prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or 53 gender identity transitioning. This section may be used as 54 a defense in any purported action related to or arising out 55 of the exercise of the rights protected by this section. A 56 health care institution, health care professional, or other 57 person protected by this section who is aggrieved by a 58 violation of the protections afforded under this section may 59 commence a civil action at law, or in equity, for damages 60 and injunctive or other appropriate relief. A prevailing 61 party who establishes a violation of the rights protected by 62 this section shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees. 63 5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow 64 any person to deny visitation, recognition of a designated 65 representative for health care decision-making, or emergency 66 medical treatment necessary to cure an illness or injury as 67 required by law in accordance with the Emergency Medical 68 Treatment and Labor Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1395dd, in effect 69 on January 1, 2026. 70 ✓