SB1735 • 2026

Establishes the Sickle Cell Standing Committee

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Washington, Barbara; House handler: N/A
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Second Read and Referred S Progress and Development Committee
Effective date: 2026-08-28

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Establishes the Sickle Cell Standing Committee

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1735 - This act creates the "Lori Zena Baker Act".

What This Bill Does

The following summaries of this bill are available: Print All Summaries Introduced Print SB 1735 - This act creates the "Lori Zena Baker Act".
This act establishes the "Sickle Cell Standing Committee" as a subcomittee of the Missouri Genetic Advisory Committee within the Department of Health and Senior Services, with membership as specified in the act.
The Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services shall appoint the committee members.
The committee shall assess the impact of sickle cell disease on the state and make recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor regarding services and policies to address the state's needs, as described in the act.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-05-07 S1607
Second Read and Referred S Progress and Development Committee
2026-02-25 S454
S First Read

Official Summary Text

The following summaries of this bill are available:

Print All Summaries

Introduced

Print

SB 1735 - This act creates the "Lori Zena Baker Act". This act establishes the "Sickle Cell Standing Committee" as a subcomittee of the Missouri Genetic Advisory Committee within the Department of Health and Senior Services, with membership as specified in the act. The Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services shall appoint the committee members. The committee shall assess the impact of sickle cell disease on the state and make recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor regarding services and policies to address the state's needs, as described in the act.

This act is substantially similar to HB 1483 (2016).
SARAH HASKINS

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1735
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR WASHINGTON.
7233S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a sickle cell standing
committee.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 191.117, to read as 2
follows:3
191.117. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1
cited as the "Lori Zena Baker Act". 2
2. There is hereby established in the department of 3
health and senior services a "Sickle Cell Standing 4
Committee" as a subcommittee of the Missouri genetic 5
advisory committee. The committee shall consist of the 6
following members: 7
(1) One member who is a licensed physician with 8
experience in the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell 9
disease and who shall serve as chair of the committee; 10
(2) One member who has sickle cell disease or is a 11
family member of a person with sickle cell disease; 12
(3) One member with expertise in sickle cell disease 13
research; 14
(4) One member from a leading sickle cell disease 15
organization; 16
(5) One member with expertise in minority health; and 17
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(6) One member from each of the hemoglobinopathy 18
center that contracts with the department. 19
3. The members of the committee shall be appointed by 20
the director of the department of health and senior 21
services. Members shall serve on the committee without 22
compensation or reimbursement for expenses incurred. 23
4. The committee shall: 24
(1) Assess the impact of sickle cell disease on urban 25
communities in the state of Missouri; 26
(2) Examine the existing services and resources 27
addressing the needs of persons with sickle cell disease; and 28
(3) Develop recommendations to provide educational 29
services to schools on the traits of sickle cell disease and 30
its effects. 31
5. The committee shall include an examination of the 32
following in its assessment and recommendations required 33
under subsection 4 of this section: 34
(1) Trends in state sickle cell disease populations 35
and their needs, including, but not limited to, the state's 36
role in providing assistance; 37
(2) Existing services and resources; and 38
(3) Needed state policies or responses, including, but 39
not limited to, directions for the provision of clear and 40
coordinated services and supports to persons living with 41
sickle cell disease and strategies to address any identified 42
gaps in services. 43
6. The committee shall hold a minimum of one meeting 44
at three urban regions in the state to seek public input. 45
7. The committee shall submit a report of its findings 46
and any recommendations to the general assembly and the 47
governor no later than December 31, 2027. 48
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8. After December 31, 2027, the committee shall 49
continue to meet at the request of the chair and at a 50
minimum of one time annually for the purpose of continuing 51
the study of sickle cell disease in this state, the impact 52
of the committee recommendations, and to provide an annual 53
supplemental report on the findings to the governor and the 54
general assembly. 55
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