Support Senate Bill 1085 To Protect Children From Gender Ideology In Missouri’s Public Schools
State Senator Joe Nicola (R-8) is taking up the issue of parental rights and gender policy in public education. Senate Bill 1085, introduced by Senator Nicola, would place firm limits on how public school staff can engage with students around gender identity and social transition.
This bill will protect children and restore parents’ central role in major life decisions. As the bill moves forward in the 2026 legislative session, you can help pass one of the most needed education measures of the year.
What Does SB 1085 Do?
At its core, SB 1085 would prohibit public school staff from encouraging or facilitating a student’s “social transition”—meaning changes in name, pronouns, appearance, or school participation that would cause a student to be perceived as a sex different from their biological sex.
The bill applies to all public-school personnel, including teachers, counselors, nurses, administrators, and volunteers. This ensures that parents are never kept in the dark about significant issues affecting their child.
Clear Limits on School Involvement
Under SB 1085, school staff would be prohibited from:
Using names or pronouns that conflict with a student’s biological sex
Encouraging a student to socially transition
Initiating instruction or activities related to gender transition
The intent is to keep schools focused on education rather than acting as decision-makers on sensitive personal matters.
The bill also includes enforcement mechanisms needed to rein in radical progressive teachers and bureaucrats:
Employment consequences for staff who knowingly violate the law, including termination and potential loss of teaching credentials
Legal authority for the Attorney General to bring civil action against school districts that fail to comply
Parental right to sue schools for violations, with the possibility of recovering legal fees and damages
Whistleblower protections for employees who report violations
Why Senate Bill 1085 Deserves Our Support
Senate Bill 1085 is a necessary step to restore common sense and parental authority in Missouri’s public schools. At its heart, this legislation affirms a simple truth: parents—not government institutions—are responsible for guiding their children through the most sensitive and life-shaping decisions of their lives.
For too long, schools have superseded families in deeply personal matters that rightly belong in the home. SB 1085 draws a clear and healthy boundary. It ensures that educators remain focused on education while parents remain fully informed and involved when serious matters arise concerning their children’s identity and well-being.
This bill also brings much-needed transparency. By requiring prompt parental notification, SB 1085 protects families from being sidelined and restores trust between schools and communities. It replaces secrecy with accountability and confusion with clarity.
Most importantly, SB 1085 protects children. Young people deserve time to grow, mature, and discover who they are without being pushed toward life-altering paths they may not yet understand. By preventing school staff from encouraging social transition, the bill shields students from pressure and ensures that major decisions are made with the guidance, wisdom, and love of their parents.
In an era when families often feel excluded from decisions that affect their own children, Senate Bill 1085 stands as a clear affirmation of parental rights, child protection, and responsible education policy. It is a bill that puts families first—and that is exactly where Missouri’s priorities should be.
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