JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A conservative political action committee is organizing a rally at the Capitol Monday to push Missouri lawmakers to enact strict limits on transgender health care for minors.
Jodi Widhalm, a Jefferson City activist associated with the Missouri Freedom Foundation PAC, said she is not sure how many aimed at pressuring the Republican-controlled Senate to approve legislation that would block gender-affirming care for transgender minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries.
鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful we will have a good size crowd,鈥 Widhalm said Wednesday.
Among activities on the docket are a prayer time in the Capitol rotunda, a rally featuring anti-trans speakers and, when the Senate gavels in at 4 p.m. after being on a weeklong spring break, a so-called 鈥渇ilibuster watch鈥 regarding the controversial bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove.
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鈥淲e might be there a couple of hours or it could go all night long,鈥 the event description notes.
Widhalm said the driving force behind the rally is frustration with Senate Floor Leader Cindy O鈥橪aughlin, R-Shelbina, who adjourned the Senate a day early last week as lawmakers headed into their annual spring break.
The move came after Democrats filibustered Moon鈥檚 bill.
Widhalm, whose PAC was active in the 2022 election, said she wants O鈥橪aughlin to force a vote on the proposal without watering it down to appease opponents.
鈥淚 obviously want the bill to pass,鈥 she said.
The rally coincides with the goals of a hard-line faction of Missouri Senate Republicans who say they are prepared to use 鈥渨hatever tools and procedures necessary鈥 to force a final vote on the limits next week.
The group of eight Republicans has expressed disappointment with the Senate鈥檚 early adjournment for spring break after Democrats delayed a vote on the bill for two days through a filibuster on the Senate floor.
O鈥橪aughlin has been meeting with Democrats in an attempt to forge an agreement on language allowing the issue to be voted on without using a parliamentary maneuver that typically generates a major backlash from the minority party.
Widhalm said she is concerned Senate leaders will water down the measure by, for example, only applying the health care prohibition to surgeries instead of other treatments.
It is not known whether O鈥橪aughlin will bring Moon鈥檚 bill up for debate on Monday or whether another version of the limits might be on tap for debate.
Legislative aides said she also could put the issue aside while negotiators work behind closed doors to find a path forward.
The latest version of Moon鈥檚 legislation would prohibit physicians and other health care providers from knowingly providing 鈥済ender transition procedures鈥 to individuals younger than 18.
Providers also wouldn鈥檛 be allowed to knowingly refer minors to other clinics that provide gender-affirming care without risking disciplinary action from a state licensing entity or disciplinary review board.
Under the bill鈥檚 definition, 鈥済ender transition procedures鈥 wouldn鈥檛 include care for those 鈥渂orn with a medically verifiable disorder of sex development鈥 including individuals with 鈥渋rresolvably ambiguous鈥 genitalia.
During the 2022 election, the Missouri Freedom Foundation PAC pumped money into Senate Republican primary races, helping Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Bill White of Joplin.
The PAC also spent more than $30,000 unsuccessfully trying to unseat Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, and nearly $12,000 against Sen. Justin Brown, R-Rolla.
The legislation is .