Bill > HB1091

This bill prohibits certain mental health professionals, including psychologists, professional counselors, social workers, and marital and family therapists, from engaging in conversion therapy with minors. Conversion therapy is defined as practices or treatments that seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to alter behaviors, gender expressions, or reduce sexual or romantic attractions toward individuals of the same gender. The bill clarifies that conversion therapy does not include counseling that provides support, acceptance, and understanding, assists with gender transition, or helps individuals explore their identity, as long as such counseling does not aim to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. If a mental health professional is found to have engaged in conversion therapy with a minor, they may face disciplinary action from the committee overseeing their professional license, including censure, probation, suspension, or revocation of their license. The bill amends existing state statutes to add this prohibition as a grounds for disciplinary action across multiple mental health professional licensing categories, reflecting a growing recognition of the potential harm of conversion therapy, particularly for minors.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1091&year=2025&code=R