HB 2454 prohibits employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies in Missouri from discriminating against individuals based on their private medical history or medical choices. It specifically bans actions like refusal to hire, termination, demotion, or adverse employment decisions tied to such medical information, affecting employees and job applicants at businesses with six or more workers. The bill includes exceptions when medical history directly impacts job performance or for religious institutions regarding reproductive health services. It defines key terms like "adverse employment action" and requires medical inquiries to be job-related and necessary for business operations. The law applies to both employment and housing contexts as stated in its title, though the detailed provisions focus primarily on employment practices.
HB 1978 removes the expiration date for Missouri's RX Cares program, making it permanent. The program, administered by the Missouri Board of Pharmacy, focuses on promoting medication safety and preventing prescription drug abuse through funding for education and community programs. It allows the Board to allocate funds to private or public entities for these purposes, while prohibiting use of funds for state prescription drug monitoring systems. The bill eliminates the previous requirement that the program end on August 28, 2026, ensuring ongoing operation without sunset provisions.
HB 2070 requires health care facilities to notify health care workers or law enforcement officers within 48 hours if they are exposed to one of 19 specific infectious diseases (including HIV, hepatitis, COVID-19, measles, and tuberculosis) while performing job duties. First responders who transported patients may also request exposure information from health care facilities after transport. The bill applies to health care workers, law enforcement officers, and first responders (like firefighters and EMTs) directly affected by such exposures. It adds these notification requirements to existing laws without changing treatment protocols or testing procedures.
HB 1667, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers at abortion facilities to provide immediate medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion, treating them as they would any other newborn. Providers must use standard medical care to preserve the child's life and arrange hospital admission, with failure to report violations carrying criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fines). The bill also establishes civil liability for providers who fail to provide care, for actions causing death of a born-alive child, or for performing unlawful abortions, allowing lawsuits for injury or death with damages including loss of companionship. It explicitly states that consent to an abortion cannot be used as a defense in such cases.
SB 1114 would require health insurance plans to cover hair prostheses (like wigs or hair systems) for people experiencing hair loss as a side effect of cancer treatment. This directly affects cancer patients who currently may face significant out-of-pocket costs for these necessary items. The bill mandates that health benefit plans include coverage for these prostheses as part of standard benefits. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Insurance and Banking Committee after being prefaced and first read in early 2026.
SB 1367 requires hospitals in Missouri with emergency departments to have at least one physician physically present and on duty at all times the emergency department is open. This rule directly affects all Missouri hospitals operating emergency services. The key provision mandates continuous on-site physician availability during operating hours, replacing previous requirements that may have allowed for remote supervision or off-site coverage. The bill aims to ensure immediate medical oversight for patients seeking emergency care. (Note: This summary is based solely on the bill text provided; no voting record or further context is available.)
HB 1608 would prohibit health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to individuals under 18 for the purpose of gender transition, with exceptions for medically verified disorders of sex development. Violations could result in license revocation for providers and allow lawsuits seeking up to three times the damages (with a $500,000 minimum) for harm like infertility. The bill also creates a legal presumption of harm for infertility linked to such treatments, allowing lawsuits to be filed within 15 years of the minor turning 21. This legislation is currently pending in committee after recent hearings and has not yet been enacted.
HB 2560 allows students with asthma or anaphylaxis to self-administer prescribed epinephrine devices (like EpiPens) at school under specific safety conditions. Schools must verify physician approval, confirm the student can safely use the device, and require a written treatment plan signed by both the physician and parent. The bill also mandates schools keep emergency medication accessible and establishes protocols for school nurses to maintain and use epinephrine during acute reactions. Parental waivers acknowledging school liability protections (excluding negligence) are required for authorization.
HB 2368 prohibits AI developers and deployers in Missouri from advertising or representing artificial intelligence as a mental health professional or capable of providing therapy services. The bill directly affects companies or individuals creating or using AI systems in the state, requiring them to avoid misleading claims about AI's clinical capabilities. Violations would be enforced by the Missouri Attorney General under the state's consumer protection laws, with civil penalties of $10,000 for first offenses and $20,000 for subsequent violations. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading) and does not regulate AI use in mental health treatment itself, only advertising practices.
HB 2408 replaces Missouri's existing grant program for deaf-blind individuals with a new system directing funds to three specific types of organizations. It provides grants to: (1) groups offering services for deaf-blind children and families (including family support advocates and parent education), (2) organizations helping deaf-blind adults achieve independence, and (3) entities training certified support service providers. All grants must be awarded via a competitive request-for-proposal process, with an annual funding cap of $300,000. The bill directly affects deaf-blind Missourians and the service organizations supporting them.
