MO SB1633

Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status as protected classes under Missouri's anti-discrimination law (Chapter 213) for employment, housing, public accommodations, and lending

Expands the definition of "race" to include protective hairstyles such as braids, wigs, locks, twists, and afros, as well as shared physical traits, cultural attributes, and facial features associated with ancestral origin

Removes the requirement that filing a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights is a jurisdictional prerequisite before filing a civil lawsuit for housing discrimination claims

Repeals the Whistleblower's Protection Act (Section 285.575) and removes various employer-friendly provisions added in 2017, including damage caps based on employer size, mandatory business judgment jury instructions, and the "motivating factor" causation standard

Extends protections to cover discrimination based on presumed or assumed characteristics, regardless of whether the assumption about a person's protected status is correct