JEFFERSON CITY — The House Committee on Emerging Issues is considering bills that would eliminate sunset provisions on restrictions on prescribing sex change hormones and participation in sporting events in other than an individual’s birth gender.

The provisions would disappear on Aug. 28, 2027, under a compromise reached between Democrats and Republicans when the laws were passed in 2023. The bills seek to extend the prohibitions forever.

The committee held a hearing Tuesday on four house bills, sponsored by Reps. Melissa Schmidt, R-Wright, Hardy Billington, R-Butler, Jamie Gragg, R-Christian, and Brian Seitz, R-Taney, would repeal the expiration clause so that the prohibition of health care providers prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty blocking drugs to individuals under 18, will remain in effect.

The committee heard testimonies from those in support and against the sunset provisions, sparking heated debate throughout the hearing.

Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, D-St. Louis City, spoke out against the bills and the use of religious language and beliefs as justification in favor of them.

“What if I don’t want your prayers?” Fuchs said. “I want my rights.”

“We’re not all Christians in this state,” Fuchs said. ‘We’re not all trying to uphold deeply held religious beliefs, we’re trying to live and experience life and have our rights.”

The House bills, 2033, 1608, 1672 and 1854, also specify that prescriptions given prior to Aug. 28, 2023, will no longer be considered valid.

Three house bills, sponsored by Reps. Seitz, Billington and Bennie Cook, R-Phelps, would repeal the sunset provisions on laws requiring students to compete in athletics competitions designated for the student’s biological sex, as indicated on the student’s official birth certificate.

“It’s a matter of fairness to me,” Seitz said. “And I want the young ladies to be able to compete on a level playing field.”

The House bills, 1663, 1607 and 1973, make the exception that female students may participate in athletics competitions designated for male students if no corresponding competition for female students is offered.