SPONSOR: Phelps
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Emerging Issues by a vote of 11 to 4.
The bill requires a person seeking to obtain a driver's license, nondriver's license, or instruction permit denoting a sex other than an applicant's biological sex assigned at birth to provide an amended birth certificate that reflects the sex designation requested.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill will reduce confusion in local license offices by eliminating the need for such personnel to determine who does or does not qualify for licensing. Supporters further say that government issued documents should be consistent, and therefore a birth certificate and a driver's license should align in all respects.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Phelps; Timothy Faber; and Arnie C. Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that for some transgender people, this bill would prevent them from living their lives in the same way as everyone else, and that therefore, this bill is an example of state sponsored discrimination. Opponents further say that passage of this bill would lead to some people being misrepresented as to their identity and makeup.
Testifying in person against the bill were Planned Parenthood Great Rivers; Jeff Dewald; Abortion Action Missouri; Dany Lacio; Dava- Leigh Brush, Missouri Equity, Education Partnership; Emilia Stauffer; Jennifer Pepper; American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri; Juniper Choate, Metro Trans Umbrella Group; Keith Rose, The Center For Growing Justice; Luke Jensen; Maxi Glamour; Michael Walk; and Sarah Danielle Gosvener.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: