Legislative Update for April 22, 2022
SENATE COMPLETES COMMITTEE MARK-UP OF BUDGET BILLS, HOUSE APPROVES $1 BILLION INCOME TAX CREDIT PLAN
Both chambers of the General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Notable actions this week included the Senate Appropriations Committee completing mark-up of the Senate’s proposed FY2023 state budget and House approval of $1 billion in funding for a proposed one-time income tax credit for eligible Missourians. The committee mark-up sets the stage for Senate floor consideration of the budget next week, prior to reconciliation of the House and Senate versions of the budget in conference committee. The constitutional deadline for approval of the appropriations bills will be Friday, May 6, 2022. In a typical year, approval of roughly two-thirds of the legislation passed by the General Assembly occurs in the final two weeks of session. This session, driven primarily by gridlock in the Senate, the vast majority of any bills finally approved this year will be passed during the final two weeks.
Current Legislative Status of Bar-Initiated Legislative Proposals (2022 Introduced Legislation)
To review bills of interest and check their legislative progress, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center. The bill feeds or reports are organized by subject or practice area and automatically update as legislative actions occur, so bookmark any page of interest and check back regularly. If you have questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact Government Relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.
FLOOR ACTIONS
The constitutional deadline for floor consideration of regular legislation will be Friday, May 13, 2022, leaving the General Assembly with twenty-one calendar days and approximately fifteen legislative days to complete its work.
On Wednesday, the Senate truly agreed to and finally passed the second bill of this legislative session, HB 1697, relating to cottage food production operations. The Senate has also third read and passed three House bills, returning them to the House with Senate amendments:
- HB 1552 - Richey - Modifies provisions related to alternative education programs
- HB 2149 - Shields - Modifies provisions relating to professional licensing
- HB 2162 - Deaton - Modifies provisions relating to Opioid Addiction Treatment
In addition, the Senate third read the following Senate bills and joint resolutions, sending them to the other chamber:
- SB 683 - O'Laughlin - Modifies provisions relating to child care
- SB 761 - Brown - Creates provisions relating to access to public records
- SB 931 - Koenig - Modifies provisions relating to corporations
- SB 968 - Burlison - Modifies provisions relating to business entities
- SJR 39 - Luetkemeyer - Allows the growth in assessed values to be limited by law
- SJR 41 - Roberts - Authorizes counties to freeze the real property assessed values of certain senior citizens
The Senate perfected legislation relating to the disclosure of personal information to public agencies, SB 741. Four floor amendments to the floor substitute were adopted, including a new definition of “public business” (for purposes of the state Sunshine law) and the “Parents’ Access to Public School Records Act.” The Senate also perfected SB 742, relating to insurance, and SB 984, relating to environmental protection. Another bill relating to environmental regulation, SB 918, was brought up before being laid over with a floor amending pending. The Senate also debated SB 671, relating to the protection of vulnerable persons, which primarily focused on health care facilities and caregiver facilities. The legislation was laid over when a floor amendment (the “Protect Young Minds Online Act,” relating to internet service providers and obscene websites) was introduced and a point of order raised.
The House third read an additional four appropriations bills and sent them to the Senate for consideration, bringing the total number of bills and joint resolutions third read in the House to one hundred twenty-nine. One of the appropriations bills, HB 3021, included $1 billion for a one-time income tax credit for eligible Missourians. Among other bills, the House also perfected legislation relating to liability for injuries from required immunizations (HB 1692) and a proposed constitutional amendment entitled the “Parents’ Bill of Rights” (HJR 110).
SENATE COMMITTEES
The Senate Appropriations Committee met April 19, 2022, with all House Appropriations bills (HCS HB 3001 through HCS HB 3013 and HCS HB 3020) listed for consideration. The committee completed mark-up on the following legislation:
- HCS HB 3001 through HCS HB 3010 (Smith)
FY 2023 Budget Notes
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on April 19, 2022, and held public hearings on the following legislation:
- HB 1589 (Fitzwater), adding that a person who has been found guilty of possession of child pornography shall not be within 500 feet of certain locations – Witnesses
- HB 1637 (Schwadron), modifying provisions relating to crime prevention – Witnesses
Support: Tom Dempsey (Amazon.com Services); Darrell Moore (Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and Missouri Office of Prosecution Services); David Overfelt (Missouri Retailers Association); Tom Robbins (MMW and Robbins Law Firms); James Harris (American Bail Coalition and Missouri Alliance of Professional Bail Bond Agents); Brent Hemphill (Coalition of Surety Agents of Missouri); Jessica Petrie (St. Louis County); Kaycee Nall (Missouri 911 Directors Association, State 911 Service Board, Missouri Chapter Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, Missouri Chapter National Emergency Number Association); Gary Gates (Missouri Park and Recreation Association)
Oppose: Ray McCarty (Associated Industries of Missouri); Shannon Cooper (Advantage Metals Recycling); Trent Ford (MidAmerica Chapter of The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries); Rob Monsees (Missouri Hospital Association); Jorgen Schlemeier (MO Health Care Association, Missouri Assisted Living Association, Missouri College of Emergency Physicians)
- HCS HB 2127 (Francis) modifying and establishing offenses involving teller machines – Witnesses
Support: David Kent (Missouri Bankers Association; Ian Dunlap (Heartland Credit Union Association); Andy Arnold (Missouri Independent Bankers Association)
- HB 2697 (Shaul), establishing the offense of organized retail theft – Witnesses
Support: Matt Redmond (Schnucks’ Market); Jackie Bardgett (Walgreen Co); Jeremy Sutherburg (Walgreen Co); Michael Lindsey (Walmart); David Overfelt (Missouri Retailers Association, Missouri Grocers Association, Missouri Tire Industry Association)
For Informational Purposes: Tom Dempsey (Amazon Services)
The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:
- SB 1219 (Gannon), establishing the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, which provides procedures for dismissal of causes of action based on public expression
Do Pass by a vote of 4 to 0
The Senate Appropriations Committee met April 20, 2022, with all House Appropriations bills (HCS HB 3001 through HCS HB 3013 and HCS HB 3020) listed for consideration. The committee completed mark-up and took action on the following legislation in executive session:
- HCS 3011 through HCS HB 3013 (Smith)
FY 2023 Budget Notes
- SCS HSCS HB 3001
Do Pass by a vote of 12 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3002
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3003
Do Pass by a vote of 12 to 0 and 1 abstention (Washington)
- SCS HSCS HB 3004
Do Pass by a vote of 12 to 0 and 1 absent
- SCS HSCS HB 3005
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3006
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3007
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3008
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3009
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3010
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3011
Do Pass by a vote of 12 to 0 and 1 abstention (Washington)
- SCS HSCS HB 3012
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
- SCS HSCS HB 3013
Do Pass by a vote of 13 to 0
The Senate Seniors, Families, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee met April 20, 2022, and held public hearings on the following legislation:
- HJR 116 (Schnelting), creating the Missouri Department of the National Guard – Witnesses
- HB 2455 (Griffith), requiring the Missouri Veterans Commission to recommend and implement efforts to prevent veteran suicide – Witnesses
- HB 2193 (Toalson Reisch), modifying provisions relating to the reemployment rights of members of Missouri Task Force One who are called to active duty – Witnesses
- HCS HBs 1897 & 2414 (DeGroot), establishing the Correctional Center Nursery Program – Witnesses
Support: Sam Lee (Campaign Life Missouri); Jeremy Cady (Americans for Prosperity); Sarah Schlemeier (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists); Cheryl Adelstein (Jewish Community Relations Council); Jamie Moris (Missouri Catholic Conference); David Jackson (Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition); Mallory Schwarz (Pro Choice Missouri); Mary Stinger (Individual); Alex Eaton (Missouri Justice Action Network); Jessica Petrie (Missouri Chapter – National Association of Social Workers); M’Evie Mead (Planned Parenthood of St. Louis and Southwest Missouri)
- HCS HB 2012 (Kelly), modifying provisions relating to abortion and MO HealthNet – Witnesses
Support: Sam Lee (Campaign Life Missouri); Alissa Johnson (Concerned Women for America); Jamie Morris (Missouri Catholic Conference); Patty Skain (Missouri Right to Life)
Oppose: Mallory Schwarz (Pro Choice Missouri); Connie Cardona (Individual); Kennedy Moore (Pro Choice Missouri); Sarah Schlemeier (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists); Maggie Olivia (Individual); Michelle Trupiano (Missouri Family Health Council); Johanna Hilbuesch (Individual)
The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:
- HJR 116 (Schnelting), creating the Missouri Department of the National Guard
Do Pass by a vote of 5 to 0
- SCS SB 1189 (Cierpiot), creating provisions regarding the educational funding for children in state custody
Do Pass by a vote of 4 to 1
- SB 1192 (Crawford), modifying provisions relating to supplemental welfare assistance
Do Pass by a vote of 5 to 0
- SCS HCS HBs 2116, 2097, 1690 & 2221 (Black), establishing the “No Patient Left Alone Act”
Do Pass by a vote of 3 to 2
- SCS HCS HB 2151 (Shields), transferring authority over child care facility licensing and subsidies to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Do Pass by a vote of 5 to 0
HOUSE COMMITTEES
The House Judiciary Committee met on April 20, 2022, and took action on the following legislation in executive session:
- HCS SB 886 (Luetkemeyer), modifying provisions relating to trusts
Do Pass by a vote of 9 to 0
Archived Video of Committee Hearing
The House General Laws Committee met on April 21, 2022, and held public hearings on the following legislation:
- HB 2649 (Pollock), creating provisions relating to gender transition procedures – Electronic Witness Forms
Support: Dr. Laura Haynes (International Federation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice); a state representative from Arkansas; and three people testifying in an individual capacity.
Oppose: Dr. Sarah Garwood and Dr. Christopher Lewis (Washington University Physicians); Heidi Sutherland (Missouri State Medical Association); Sarah Schlemeier (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists); Shira Berkowitz (PROMO); nine people testifying in an individual capacity.
- SCR 25 (Burlison), applying to Congress for the calling of an Article V convention of the states to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution regarding term limits for members of Congress – Electronic Witness Forms
Support: Chris Schoeman (US Term Limits)
Oppose: Bev Ehlen (Concerned Women for America)