Nearly one month has passed since the end of the 2023 legislative session, and of the 62 bills truly agreed and passed by the General Assembly, seven more have officially been signed into law. Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday, June 7, gave his stamp of approval to the following pieces of legislation, which are set to take full effect on Aug. 28, 2023.
Fairness
SB 39 was passed as a means to promote fairness in competition and opportunity for our female student athletes. This new law will prohibit a private school, public school district, public charter school, or public or private institution of postsecondary education from allowing any student to compete in an athletics competition designated for the opposite sex, as determined by the student’s official birth certificate. The bill clarifies that biological sex is only correctly stated on birth certificates if it was entered at or near the time of birth or modified to correct scrivener’s error. The bill also makes it clear a female student may be allowed to compete in an athletics competition designated for male students if there is no such athletics competition for female students offered.
Parson thanked the Missouri General Assembly for leading the way on this issue and commended the legislators for fighting for women across the state.
Adolescents
SB 49 is designed with the intent of protecting Missouri’s children from unnecessary and harmful sex change drugs and surgeries. The SAFE Act would prohibit health care providers from performing gender transition surgery on young people under the age of 18. Until Aug. 28, 2027, it would also prohibit a health care provider from prescribing or administering cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless the minor was receiving such treatment prior to Aug. 28, 2023. A violation of the provisions would be considered unprofessional conduct and would result in the revocation of the health care provider’s professional license.
Furthermore, the SAFE Act also bars MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid program, from providing payment for gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones, or puberty-blocking drugs for the purpose of gender transition. Additionally, health care services provided to incarcerated individuals in Missouri prisons, jails, and correction centers will not include elective gender transition surgeries. These provisions ensure Missouri taxpayer dollars are not spent on elective gender transition procedures.
Important documents
SB 167 specifies that medical examiner’s certificates for commercial driver’s licenses or instruction permits may be provided to the state by mail, fax, or E-mail, in addition to the means currently available. This will allow for easier access and means of conveying these important documents, making the process more efficient and user-friendly by providing alternative options.
Revenue from Marijuana Sales Reaches $100 Million Mark
Since the state began collecting revenue from taxes and fees on Missouri’s marijuana sales, we have now collected nearly $100 million in revenue. As of April 30, there was $22.7 million in the state’s medical marijuana fund and $10.9 million in the recreational marijuana fund, according to the state treasurer’s records and DHSS.
After the costs for expenses for the program are subtracted, the revenue generated can go towards a variety of programs, including veterans, drug addiction treatment programs, and increased funds for our state’s Public Defender system. To date, $27 million has gone toward supporting our veterans.
Drought
Missouri’s agricultural producers are again facing one of the great challenges: drought. Parson signed Executive Order 23-05, declaring a Drought Alert for the state in accordance with the Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, and the plans are in motion to help address these concerns and issues. For more resources, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/drought.
It is an honor to serve the 153rd District. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me at 573-751-1066 or Darrell.Atchison@house.mo.gov
Atchison represents District 153.