Proposal – HIV Modernization Bill to be introduced on the Missouri Senate Floor

by Kneeshe Parkinson, Missouri State Lead

January 22, 2025 – Jefferson City, Missouri

Invitation of Promo Missouri -Katy Erker-Lynch Executive Director

Drive time: 2 hours

Length of visit: all day

On Wednesday 1/22/25 newly elected Senator Patty Lewis (SD7) will introduce an HIV modernization bill that we’ve been working on with her. This bill builds upon decades of organizing led by people living with HIV, the MO HIV Justice Coalition, bipartisan bills filed over the past couple of years, and research that Tobeya led while at PROMO.

Senator Patty Lewis Democrat District 7 – Part of Jackson County First elected to the Senate: 2024 View District Map (PDF) Senator Patty Lewis represents District 7 in the Missouri Senate. She was elected to the Senate in November 2024. She previously served two terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. In addition to her legislative service, Sen. Lewis has more than 20 years of health care experience as an ICU/Critical Care Registered Nurse, as well as a Health Care Executive. As an ICU nurse, Sen. Lewis cared for the most vulnerable patients in the hospital. 

As an executive, she was responsible for leading teams and identifying solutions to improve patient safety for health care organizations across the world. Senator Lewis had the value of service and giving back to her community instilled in her at a very young age by her parents. She continues to volunteer with local organizations and serves on various boards in the community.

Senator Lewis was born and raised in Kansas City and currently resides there with her husband. During their free time, they enjoy spending time with their extended family, including their nieces and nephews. They also enjoy being outdoors, camping, hiking and exploring the great state of Missouri.

Advocating for Change: A Conversation with Sen. Patty Lewis

I had the profound opportunity to speak with Sen. Patty Lewis about my journey as a Black woman living in America and the critical role that U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) has played in my life and the lives of so many others. We discussed how our voices are being marginalized, and decisions are being made without our consent, infringing on our rights and autonomy.

I shared the painful reality that many of my friends have died in silence, afraid to disclose their HIV status to family and partners, simply to conform to societal expectations. The stigma they faced was not just a personal burden—it was a systemic failure that continues to cost lives.

During our discussion, I explained the significance of Molecular HIV Surveillance (MHS)—a framework, technology, and set of practices that public health officials are promoting to address gaps in HIV treatment and prevention. The goal of MHS is to identify where HIV transmissions are occurring rapidly so that services can be more effectively delivered to those affected. While public health surveillance and molecular analysis are not new, MHS has raised serious ethical and privacy concerns among people living with HIV (PLHIV), legal and advocacy organizations, bioethics researchers, and even some public health directors.

Sen. Lewis listened with empathy and commitment, assuring me that she would do all she could to keep this bill alive in the Senate. In turn, I promised to walk these halls as often as needed—to share my story, to advocate for those unheard, and to stand as a voice for the countless individuals who deserve dignity, respect, and a future free from stigma.

This is just the beginning. Our stories matter, our voices matter, and our fight continues.