Bill > SB1204

This bill modifies the definition of key terms in Missouri's anti-discrimination law, primarily focusing on clarifying and narrowing certain definitions. The bill specifically adds a new definition of "sex" that restricts it to biological categories of male and female at birth, explicitly stating that sexual orientation and gender identity are not included in this definition. The bill also changes the standard for discrimination by defining "because" or "because of" to mean that a protected characteristic must be the "motivating factor" in an adverse decision, which suggests a higher legal threshold for proving discrimination. The bill maintains existing definitions for other key terms like "age", "disability", "employer", and "places of public accommodation", while making some minor technical adjustments. The proposed changes appear to potentially make it more challenging to prove discrimination claims by requiring that a protected characteristic be the primary motivating factor in an adverse action, and by narrowing the definition of sex to strictly biological terms. The bill amends section 213.010 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, which governs definitions in the state's human rights legislation.

Health and Social Services

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=369