Bill > HB1197

This bill establishes legal protections for private schools in Missouri regarding restroom and changing area policies. Specifically, the bill defines a "multiple-occupancy restroom or changing area" as a space in a private school where multiple individuals might be in various stages of undress, such as bathrooms, locker rooms, or shower rooms. The bill allows private schools serving students from prekindergarten through 12th grade to create restrooms and changing areas exclusively for males or females, based on an individual's sex as determined by their original birth certificate. The law provides civil liability immunity for schools that establish such sex-specific spaces to ensure privacy and safety. The bill includes limited exceptions for entry into opposite-sex facilities, such as for custodial work, emergency medical assistance, or when a parent is accompanying a child eight years old or younger. Additionally, the bill prohibits local political subdivisions from creating ordinances that would prevent schools from establishing these sex-specific spaces, and mandates that any political subdivision violating this prohibition must pay the legal fees of a private school defending against such an ordinance. The bill is considered an emergency measure to protect schools and allow preparation for the 2025-26 school year.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1197&year=2025&code=R