“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)

Bills pre-filed by Brad Hudson (r):

HB 1518
Prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against a religious student association or denying a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association
Sponsor: Hudson, Brad (138)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 2975H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

[….]
173.1556. 1. (1) No public institution of higher learning shall take any adverse action against a belief-based student association or an applicant to be recognized as such:
(a) Because such association is political, ideological, or religious;
(b) On the basis of such association’s viewpoint or expression of the viewpoint by the association or the association’s members; or
(c) Based on such association’s requirement that the association’s leaders be committed to furthering the association’s mission or that the association’s leaders adhere to the association’s sincerely held beliefs, sincere practice requirements, or sincere standards of conduct.
(2) Leaders referred to in paragraph (c) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, any person who holds a position within the association that authorizes such person to participate in the leadership or governance of the association or in establishing criteria for the association’s leadership or governance.
(3) The mission, beliefs, practice requirements, and standards of conduct referred to in paragraph (c) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be interpreted as defined by the association.
2. Any belief-based student association or applicant to be recognized as such that has been aggrieved as a result of a violation or threatened violation of subsection 1 of this section may assert that violation or threatened violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding or in an administrative proceeding involving the public institution of higher learning and obtain appropriate relief.

[emphasis in original]

In the Missouri Constitution:

I Section 7. Public aid for religious purposes — preferences and discriminations on religious grounds. — That no money shall ever be taken from the public treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect or denomination of religion, or in aid of any priest, preacher, minister or teacher thereof, as such; and that no preference shall be given to nor any discrimination made against any church, sect or creed of religion, or any form of religious faith or worship.

IX Section 8. Prohibition of public aid for religious purposes and institutions. — Neither the general assembly, nor any county, city, town, township, school district or other municipal corporation, shall ever make an appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any religious creed, church or sectarian purpose, or to help to support or sustain any private or public school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other institution of learning controlled by any religious creed, church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of personal property or real estate ever be made by the state, or any county, city, town, or other municipal corporation, for any religious creed, church, or sectarian purpose whatever.

Anyone think the President of the University of Pennsylvania would like to weigh in?

HB 1519
Prohibits discrimination against health care professionals who refuse to assist in medical procedures or treatments relating to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning
Sponsor: Hudson, Brad (138)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 2960H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

191.1705. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) “Health care institution”, any public or private hospital, outpatient center for primary care, medical center, physician organization, health care professional association, outpatient center for surgical services, private physician’s office, pharmacy, long-term care facility, medical school, nursing school, medical training facility, or other entity or location in which health care services are performed;
(2) “Health care professional”, any physician; nurse practitioner or other nurse; physician assistant; nurse’s aide; allied health professional; medical assistant; employee of a hospital, outpatient center for primary care, outpatient center for surgical services, long-term care facility, or pharmacy; pharmacist; pharmacy technician; medical school faculty member or student; nursing school faculty member or student; psychology or counseling faculty member or student; medical researcher; laboratory technician; counselor; social worker; or other person who facilitates or participates in a health care service;
(3) “Sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning”, the process in which a person transitions from identifying with and living as a gender that corresponds to his or her biological sex to identifying with and living as a gender different from his or her biological sex and may involve social, legal, or physical changes.
2. (1) No health care institution or any health care professional or other person shall be required to perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning if such procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries are contrary to the established policy of, or the moral, ethical, or religious beliefs of, such health care institution, health care professional, or other person.
(2) No cause of action shall accrue against any such health care institution, health care professional, or other person on account of such refusal to perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning. This section may be used as a defense in any purported action related to or arising out of the exercise of the rights protected by this section.
3. No person or institution shall be:
(1) Denied or discriminated against in the receipt of any public benefit, assistance, or privilege whatsoever; or
(2) Denied or discriminated against in any public or private employment by any means including, but not limited to, any adverse action related to hiring, promotion, advancement, transfer, licensing, education, training, or granting of hospital privileges or staff appointments on the grounds that the person or institution refuses to perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning.
4. Any person who shall deny or discriminate against another for refusal to perform, assist, or participate in medical procedures, treatments, counseling, prescriptions, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other form of redress. A prevailing party who establishes a violation of the rights protected by this section shall be awarded reasonable attorney’s fees.
5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow any person to deny visitation, recognition of a designated representative for health care decision-making, or emergency medical treatment necessary to cure an illness or injury as required by law in accordance with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 1395dd, in effect on January 1, 2024.

[emphasis in original]

So much for access to health care.

HB 1520
Modifies provisions relating to gender transition procedures
Sponsor: Hudson, Brad (138)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 3009H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

Removing this exception:

[….]
[(2) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the prescription or administration of cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs for any individual under eighteen years of age who was prescribed or administered such hormones or drugs prior to August 28, 2023, for the purpose of assisting the individual with a gender transition.
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall expire on August 28, 2027.]
[….]

HB 1523
Changes provisions relating to student interactions in schools
Sponsor: Hudson, Brad (138)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 2976H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

[….]
10. No provision of this section shall be construed to require any school district or charter school to provide any teaching on sexual orientation or gender identity not otherwise required by law.
11. No school district, charter school, or employees of such district or school shall knowingly give false or misleading information to the parent or guardian of a student regarding the student’s gender identity or intention to transition to a gender that is different from the sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate issued at or near the time of the student’s birth or a certificate issued upon the student’s adoption.
12. A school district employee or charter school employee who receives a request from an enrolled student for an accommodation that is intended to affirm a gender identity that is different from the student’s sex as assigned to the student in the student’s school district or charter school registration records, such as a request that the student be addressed using a name or pronoun that is different from the name or pronoun in such student’s registration records, shall report the student’s request to the school administrator of the student’s school. A school administrator shall report student requests received under this subsection to the student’s parent or guardian.
13. (1) The following may bring a civil action against a school district or charter school that violates this section:
(a) The attorney general of this state;
(b) A student’s parent or guardian who is aggrieved by such violation; or
(c) A parent or guardian on behalf of a student who is aggrieved by a violation of this section.
(2) A civil action brought under this subsection shall be brought in the circuit court of the county in which the violation occurred.
(3) In a civil action brought under this section, the court:
(a) Shall award court costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney’s fees to a prevailing party who establishes a violation of this section; and
(b) May award compensatory damages, injunctive relief, or any other appropriate relief.

[emphasis in original]

Again, what’s Missouri’s ranking in appropriations for public K-12 education? Just asking.

[….]
In addition to his legislative duties, [Brad] Hudson is the pastor to the congregation at Blessing Heights Worship Center. He also served as the Stone County Assessor after being first elected to the position in 2008 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016.

Rep. Hudson is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Table Rock Lake, He is past president of the Southwest Missouri Assessors Association and is a member of the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Missouri Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association. Hudson served for several years as the coordinator for the Stone County National Day of Prayer.

Rep. Hudson received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from the Midwest College of Theology in 2011…
[….]