Legislative Update: Final day for legislature to act on bills

Today (Friday, May 12, 2023) marks the last day in the 2023 regular session for the General Assembly to consider regular legislation.   

To date, the governor has signed two bills presented to him:  SS SB 51 (relating to the scope of practice of physical therapists) and HCS HB 14 (a supplemental appropriations bill).  As of Thursday (May 11, 2023), the General Assembly had Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed forty-five bills (including nineteen appropriations bills) and four concurrent resolutions.  These numbers may continue to climb until the constitutional deadline of 6:00 p.m. cuts off floor action.  The Senate has experienced gridlock throughout this week, functioning in fits and starts.  To sidestep some delaying tactics, the Senate has not officially adjourned the legislative day that it originally began on Wednesday and has merely recessed overnight until Thursday morning and Friday morning.  The House will reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, and the Senate is scheduled to return at 10:00 a.m., leaving nine and eight hours to complete any final legislative business. 

Pursuant to the constitution, the legislature will automatically adjourn at midnight on May 30, 2023.  The final weeks of May will be devoted to enrolling, engrossing, and the signing of Truly Agreed bills by the presiding officers.  These bills will be presented to Governor Parson, who will have forty-five days (July 14, 2023) to return any bill to the Secretary of State with his approval or reasons for disapproval.

Lists of all bills Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed during the 2023 Regular Session can be found on the Senate website or the House website.

The legislature publishes clean, complete copies of the bills Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed after such bills have been enrolled and engrossed.  Until that time, the bill webpages may display incomplete versions in the form of conference committee substitutes or committee substitutes with House or Senate floor amendments listed elsewhere.  Government Relations staff are reviewing these bills as they are finally approved and will provide a full listing of the TAFP bills, as well as summaries and breakdowns, in upcoming Legislative Updates. 

Although a great many bills of interest will not be passed this session, they are quite likely to be reintroduced during the next regular session.  The Board of Governors and its Executive Committee welcome input on these bills at any time during the interim.  Please review bills of interest in your practice area on The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center or bills of particular interest that were referred to the Government Relations Committee or Legislative Review Committee.  Any comments may be submitted to the Government Relations staff at govrel@mobar.org.

A complete breakdown of the 2023 Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed Legislation will be available to members in the next issue of the Legislative Digest (prior to the August 28, 2023, effective date of most new laws).  Legislative Updates throughout the summer will feature summaries, breakdowns, and other information about TAFP bills.

FY2024 State Budget

On Friday, May 5, 2023, the General Assembly approved a Fiscal Year 2024 state budget that totals almost $51 billion dollars, including $2.8 billion for an expansion of Interstate 70.  Governor Parson has a deadline of June 30, 2023, to act on the appropriations bills, with the ability to veto specific line items and make expenditure restrictions (“withholds”).  With respect to the judiciary, House Bill 12 and House Bill 20 included the following items, among others: 

• An 8.7% pay raise for state employees and a statewide mileage increase
• $8,630,106 for statewide court automation
• $5,000,000 for funding court improvement projects (security, bandwidth, and technology for remote proceedings for the courts)
• $4,547,684 for the expungement of records in accordance with Mo. Const., Art. XIV, § 2 (technology-related costs, temporary staff, and staff overtime)
• Approximately $985,000 for an additional circuit judge (and court reporter) in each of the following judicial circuits:  6th (Platte), 21st (St. Louis County), 31st (Greene), and 39th (Barry, Lawrence, and Stone)
• $160,074 for an additional associate circuit judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit (St. Charles)
• $320,148 for a reimbursable family court commissioner in each of the following judicial circuits:  16th (Jackson) and 21st (St. Louis County)
• $1,636,398 for the Supreme Court Library renovation and Judicial Learning Center
• $2,168,112 for the Supreme Court Building restoration

Legislative Dates to Remember

First Regular Session

Veto Session