Legislative Update - Jan. 21, 2022
HOUSE SENDS CONGRESSIONAL MAP TO SENATE, GOVERNOR OUTLINES PROPOSED BUDGET
After the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, both chambers of the General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday (1/18/2022) for the second full week of session. Although far less time is spent on floor debate in January, the first thirty days of session are still busy ones, with initial deadlines for confirmation of interim gubernatorial appointments and the submission of the executive budget to the General Assembly. In addition, the 1,609 bills and joint resolutions introduced by legislators must be referred to committees, heard, and approved to set the stage for floor debate in the originating chamber and transfer to the opposite chamber by the mid-point of session. Currently, approximately 250 bills and joint resolutions have been referred to committees in their chamber of origin. To review bills of interest and check their legislative progress visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center. The bill feeds are organized by subject or practice area and automatically update as legislative actions occur, so bookmark the page and check back regularly. If you have any questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact Government Relations Counsel at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.
Bar-Initiated Legislative Proposals (2022 Introduced Legislation)
Board of Governors / Executive Committee Actions Taken on Introduced Legislation
Congressional Redistricting. Floor activity in the House revolved exclusively around congressional redistricting. On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, the House approved its first bill for the regular session, adopting its congressional redistricting bill, HCS HB 2117 (click here for a map). However, the bill did not muster the 109 votes necessary for adoption of the associated emergency clause, which would permit the law to take effect upon the governor’s signature. The House’s proposed congressional map is projected to maintain the current partisan balance of Missouri’s congressional delegation (six Republicans and two Democrats). Although amendments to adopt a projected “7-1 map” were introduced, none were adopted. HCS HB 2117 was sent to the Senate on the same day and, on Thursday, second read and referred to the Senate’s Select Committee on Redistricting, which will likely hear the bill on Monday. The Senate majority floor leader has announced that the Senate will consider bill on the floor next week. Since a number of members have voiced support for a “7-1 map” over the House’s version, there may be no quick resolution to the matter of Missouri’s congressional boundaries.
State Legislative Redistricting. Missouri’s constitution provides that separate Senate and House bipartisan commissions will redistrict the state legislative districts after each decennial census. As last week’s update noted, the Senate commission failed to meet its initial December deadline for a tentative map. Therefore, a commission of six appellate judges, selected by the Supreme Court of Missouri, will bear the responsibility for redrawing the boundaries of the state senatorial districts. On January 19, 2022, the House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission unanimously adopted a plan and map establishing new boundaries for the House legislative districts, which has been submitted to the Secretary of State. (For the filing, click here. You may also view district boundaries in the online District Viewer.
State of the State Address: On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, Governor Parson delivered his annual State of the State Address to a joint session of the General Assembly. His speech focused on budget priorities and America Rescue Plan Act spending goals for 2022 – workforce and education, infrastructure, agriculture, community development, health care, and public safety – which are outlined below. For additional information, consult the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget in Brief and the Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget. The governor has also outlined a proposed spending plan for America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, including specific plans for infrastructure, healthcare and economic development.
Workforce and Education
- Permanent establishment of the Missouri Fast Track program
- $31 million for colleges and universities through MoExcels
- $20 million for the state’s fifty-seven career centers
- Full funding of the Foundation Formula
- Raising starting pay for Missouri teachers to $38,000 per year
- Nearly $470 million to fund top capital improvement projects at state community colleges and four-year institutions
- 5.5. percent cost of living adjustment for all state employees
Infrastructure
- $75 million for the Transportation Cost-Share program established in 2019
- $100 million for low-volume roads across the state
- $400 million for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems
- $400 million toward broadband expansion projects statewide to expand access to rural areas and underserved urban areas and update and expand wireless networks across the state
Agriculture
- $10 million to expand agriculture innovation and workforce programs
Community Development
- $250 million for a statewide revitalization program, with competitive grants and local matching
- $69 million to begin construction of the Rock Island Trail
Health Care
- $34 million to increase telehealth and telemedicine services in rural communities and the construction of a new multi-agency health lab
- Double the capacity of Missouri's six Autism Centers to help more families navigate the challenges of diagnosing and treating autism as well as reduce wait times for families needing services
Public Safety
- $11 million to upgrade Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) academies and provide more scholarships for law enforcement officers to receive POST certification
- Nearly $140 million in certain community health centers across the state for capital improvements
Other Legislative Priorities
- Establishment of a Cash Operating Expense Fund that sets aside 2.5 percent of general revenue to mitigate budget cuts and provide greater flexibility during emergencies
COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF INTEREST
Senate
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on January 18, 2022, and held public hearings on the following bills:
- SB 664, modifying provisions relating to eligibility for parole, introduced by Senator Mike Bernskoetter (R – Jefferson City) – Witnesses
- SB 765, modifying provisions relating to offenses against police dog, introduced by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R – Parkville) – Witnesses
The Committee took the following actions on bills in executive session:
- SB 678 – Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R – Parkville) Do Pass by a vote of 3 to 1
- SJR 38 – Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R – Parkville) Do Pass by a vote of 3 to 1
- SCS SB 631 – Senator Dan Hegeman (R – Cosby) Do Pass by a vote of 3 to 1
The Senate Appropriations Committee met on January 19, 2022, to receive an overview of the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2022 early supplemental appropriations bill.
The Senate Seniors, Families, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee met on January 19, 2022, and held public hearings on the following bills:
- SB 639, modifying provisions relating to MO HealthNet services for pregnant and postpartum women, introduced by Senator Jill Schupp (D – St. Louis County) – Witnesses
- SB 698, modifying provisions relating to MO HealthNet services for pregnant and postpartum women, introduced by Senator Elaine Gannon (R – De Soto) – Witnesses
- SJR 35, creating the Missouri Department of the National Guard, introduced by Senator Bill Eigel (R – Weldon Spring) – Witnesses
- SB 667, modifying provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers, introduced by Senator Eric Burlison (R – Battlefield) – Witnesses
The Senate Appropriations Committee met on January 20, 2022, and held public hearings on the following bills:
- SB 673 (Senator Lincoln Hough – Springfield) and SB 709 (Senator Doug Beck (D – St. Louis County), creating new provisions relating to the recovery of overpaid unemployment benefits – Witnesses
The Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight met January 20, 2022, and conducted public hearings on the following bills:
- SB 772, establishing the Community Investment Corporation Development Act, introduced by Senator Karla May (D – St. Louis) – Witnesses
- SB 674, creating a grant program for employers to enhance cybersecurity, introduced by Senator Lincoln Hough (R – Springfield) – Witnesses
House
The House Crime Prevention Committee met on January 18, 2022, and held public hearings on the following bills:
- HB 1589, adding that a person who has been found guilty of possession of child pornography shall not be within 500 feet of certain locations, introduced by Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R – Holts Summit) – Witnesses
- HB 1603, requiring certain sexual offenders to be electronically monitored while relocating to a different county or city not within a county, introduced by Rep. Randy Pietzman (R – Troy) – Witnesses
- HB 1637, establishing the offense of mail theft, introduced by Rep. Adam Schwadron (R – St. Charles) – Witnesses
- HB 1703, establishing the “Peace Officer Basic Training Tuition Reimbursement Program,” introduced by Rep. Lane Roberts (R – Joplin) – Witnesses
The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met in executive session on January 18, 2022, and took the following action on a bill:
- HB 1738 – Representative Shamed Dogan (R – Ballwin) Do Pass by a vote of 11 to 0
The House Children and Families Committee met in executive session on January 19, 2022, and took the following action on a bill:
- HCS HB 1559 – Rep. Bishop Davidson (R – Republic) Do Pass by a vote of 9 to 0
The House Public Safety Committee met on January 19, 2022, and held public hearings on the following bills:
- HB 1986, modifying provision relating to funding for the Kansas City Police Department, introduced by Rep. Chris Brown (R – Kansas City) – Witnesses
- HB 1994, modifying provision relating to funding for the Kansas City Police Department, introduced by Rep. Doug Richey (R – Excelsior Springs) – Witnesses
- HJR 100, modifying constitutional provisions relating to funding for the Kansas City Police Department, introduced by Rep. Doug Richey (R – Excelsior Springs) – Witnesses
The Committee took action on the following bill in executive session:
- HB 1481 – Rep. Chris Dinkins (R – Lesterville) Do Pass by a vote of 7 to 0
The House Financial Institutions Committee met in executive session on January 19, 2022, and took action on the following bill:
- HCS HB 1732 – Rep. Michael O’Donnell (R – St. Louis County) Do Pass by a vote of 14 to 0
The House General Laws Committee met in executive session on January 20, 2022, and took action on the following bill:
- HB 1667 – Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R – St. Peters) Do Pass by a vote of 12 to 0