The General Assembly’s regular session concluded this week after approving legislation that will benefit our district and all Missourians. I am especially proud of bills protecting children, and am thankful for our governor, who has expressed his intention to sign them into law.
We passed Senate Bill 49, also known as the “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act.” Under the bill, no health care provider shall knowingly perform gender transition surgeries on any minor, and no health care provider shall prescribe or administer cross sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition. I believe these children require therapy and support, not medical treatment and intervention. Children must be taught the truth: that there are only two sexes, and it is abuse to impose permanent cross-sex hormones and genital mutilation upon minors. It is appropriate to allow individuals to reach the age of 18 before making such decisions.
As I have previously mentioned, this legislation does have shortcomings. It has a grandfather clause allowing those currently undergoing treatment to complete it, and will expire after four years. However, I am hopeful we can get these portions repealed in a future legislative session.
We also approved SB 39, which prohibits schools from allowing any student to compete in an athletic competition that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student’s biological sex. I agree with my Republican colleagues it is important not to lose the gains that have been made over the last 50 years following the passage of Title IX as it relates to women’s rights and access to fair competition and opportunities. This bill protects the opportunities and participation of girls in sports.
With help from my colleagues, we obtained funding for the Highway 67 project, securing $10 million dollars to obtain easements and relocate utilities. I am quite sure the governor will sign the budget and bring us one step closer to making all of Highway 67 four lanes in Missouri.
This effort started many years ago, and has saved lives and brought jobs and prosperity to our region. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this long-sought goal.
I am confident the governor will sign a bill which helps our senior citizens by repealing the state income tax on Social Security benefits. Citizens have paid their entire lives into Social Security, so it is not fair to make them pay taxes on that income.
Additionally, we passed legislation to strengthen public safety. We stiffened the penalty for assault on a law enforcement animal, created the “Stop Cyberstalking and Harassment Task Force,” and increased maximum sentences for dangerous felons. We also approved a major pay increase for our state troopers to help recruit and retain personnel.
For a full list of legislation approved this year, please visit the House website at house.mo.gov.
May God bless and keep you and our great nation.
Hardy Billington represents District 152, which includes Butler County.