For too long, schools have superseded families in deeply personal matters that rightly belong in the home.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.