Legislative Update - Jan. 7, 2022
GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENES
At noon on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, each chamber of the 101st General Assembly convened for the Second Regular Session. After conducting routine organizational business on Wednesday and Thursday, the House adjourned for the week and will resume session on Monday (1/10/2022) at 4:00 p.m. Senate proceedings lasted longer both days, as tensions and divides between senators persisted from last year.
The General Assembly has responsibility for the decennial redrawing of congressional district boundaries, which will be the top legislative priority at the beginning of session. The candidate filing period for the August primary closes on March 29, 2022, leaving legislators with a limited amount of time to complete their work. In addition, any redistricting legislation approved during the regular session will require an emergency clause to take effect immediately.
Another important priority will be the allocation of billions of dollars in federal funds and surplus general revenue. Executive and legislative leadership have announced the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimate for Fiscal Year 2023, which projects estimated net general revenue collections of $11.4 billion for FY2023, representing a 2.1 percent net general revenue growth over the estimate revenue for Fiscal Year 2022. Some matters (such as $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds for schools) are time-sensitive and will be handled early in session through supplemental appropriations bills for the 2022 Fiscal Year. The governor will present the General Assembly with his Fiscal Year 2023 proposed budget in conjunction with his State of the State address on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
To date, lawmakers have already introduced 1,361 bills and joint resolutions (proposed constitutional amendments) for the 2022 session, covering a wide range of topics. The Selected Bills of Interest below are just a sample of those already introduced this year, many of which could significantly impact the administration of justice, the integrity of the judiciary, or the dignity of the profession of law. To see more bills of interest, organized by subject or practice area, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center. These bills of interest feeds are automatically updated with the latest status of the bills listed and provide links to individual bill webpages. 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
DATES TO REMEMBER
Second Regular Session
| Pre-filing of legislation begins | December 1, 2021 | |
| Session convenes (first Wednesday following first Monday in January) | January 5, 2022 | |
| Filing period opens for candidates in primary election | February 22, 2022 | |
| Filing period closes for candidates in primary election | March 29, 2022 | |
| Final day to introduce legislation | March 1, 2022 | |
| Final day for floor action on appropriations bills (first Fri. following first Mon. in May) | May 6, 2022 | |
| Deadline to submit signed petitions for 2022 election cycle | May 8, 2022 | |
| Final day for floor action on bills (first Fri. following second Mon. in May) | May 13, 2022 | |
| Session adjourns pursuant to constitution | May 30, 2022 | |
| Final day for governor to act on appropriations bills | June 30, 2022 | |
| Final day for governor to act on bills passed during regular session | July 14, 2022 | |
| Effective date of enacted bills from regular session (unless bill provides otherwise) | August 28, 2022 | |
Veto Session
| Session convenes to reconsider vetoed bills (first Wed. following second Mon. in September) | September 14, 2022 |
| Effective date of bills passed over veto (unless bill provides otherwise or veto session lasts more than a single day) | October 14, 2022 |
| Primary Election | August 2, 2022 |
| General Election | November 8, 2022 |
SELECTED 2022 BILLS OF INTEREST
SJR30 - Provides for gubernatorial appointment of members of the nonpartisan judicial commissions
Sponsor: Sen. Dan Hegeman (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SJR44 - Modifies provisions relating to jury trial waivers
Sponsor: Sen. Angela Walton Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
HJR78 - Proposes a constitutional amendment changing how judges are selected to certain courts
Sponsor: Rep. Dean VanSchoiack (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HJR93 - Proposes a constitutional amendment that modifies a provision relating to the right of trial by jury
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
SB635 - Provides that a person who is injured by a product has 15 years after the sale or lease of the product to bring a suit for damages
Sponsor: Sen. Jeanie Riddle (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB722 - Establishes time standards for court proceedings, orders, and judgments
Sponsor: Sen. Angela Walton Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB793 - Creates provisions relating to expungement for certain marijuana offenses
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Washington (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB794 - Modifies provisions relating to medical marijuana program participants in family court matters
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Washington (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB821 - Provides that defendants in tort actions shall only be held severally liable
Sponsor: Sen. Eric Burlison (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB839 - Modifies provisions relating to child custody arrangements
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Brattin (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB856 - Modifies provisions relating to the expungement of records
Sponsor: Sen. Barbara Washington (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB857 - Modifies provisions relating to child custody
Sponsor: Sen. Angela Walton Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB888 - Creates provisions relating to bail
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Brattin (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB940 - Modifies provisions relating to the transfer of appeals
Sponsor: Sen. Angela Walton Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB975 - Modifies provisions relating to the admissibility of evidence of collateral source payments
Sponsor: Sen. Eric Burlison (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB992 - Creates provisions relating to attorney's fees for certain civil actions brought against political subdivision
Sponsor: Sen. Doug Beck (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
SB1006 - Modifies the compensation of jurors for certain counties
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-05 S - Read First Time
HB1548 - Creates the Change of Venue for Capital Cases Fund to reimburse a county that receives a capital case from another county for costs associated with the sequestering of jurors
Sponsor: Rep. Rudy Veit (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1549 - Establishes the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act
Sponsor: Rep. Rudy Veit (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1551 - Modifies provisions relating to the compensation of jurors
Sponsor: Rep. Rudy Veit (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1561 - Modifies provisions relating to tort actions based on improper health care
Sponsor: Rep. David Griffith (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1599 - Establishes provisions relating to the removal of certain court records from automated case management systems
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Falkner (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1622 - Combines the 21st and 22nd Judicial Circuits into one judicial circuit
Sponsor: Rep. Nick Schroer (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1682 - Prohibits a court from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless authorized by state law
Sponsor: Rep. Chris Brown (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1706 - Allows for online publication for service in certain cases
Sponsor: Rep. Lane Roberts (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1715 - Modifies provisions relating to the collateral source rule
Sponsor: Rep. Alex Riley (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1717 - Modifies provisions relating to actions for damages due to exposure to asbestos
Sponsor: Rep. Alex Riley (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1745 - Modifies provisions relating to the certification of juveniles for trial as an adult
Sponsor: Rep. Shamed Dogan (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1848 - Modifies provisions relating to the compensation of jurors
Sponsor: Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1870 - Establishes provisions relating to time frames for issuance of orders or judgments by courts
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1871 - Modifies provisions relating to pleadings
Sponsor: Rep. Jay Mosley (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1887 - Changes the age when a person may be excused from serving on a petit and grand jury
Sponsor: Rep. Wes Rogers (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1931 - Modifies provisions relating to the Treatment Court Commissioner in the 11th Judicial Circuit
Sponsor: Rep. John Wiemann (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1948 - Established the Uniform Collaborative Law Act
Sponsor: Rep. Ian Mackey (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1952 - Establishes provisions relating to the compensation of expert witnesses
Sponsor: Rep. Ian Mackey (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1963 - Allows the circuit court in St. Louis City to collect a fee not to exceed twenty dollars, rather than fifteen, to go toward the law library
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB1974 - Establishes a rebuttable presumption that child custody arrangements that award equal parenting time are in the best interest of the child
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Murphy (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2017 - Prohibits seeking or referencing a specific dollar amount or stating a range for a jury to consider with respect to awards for noneconomic damages
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2033 - Limits access to certain court records
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2037 - Establishes the Judicial Privacy Act
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2053 - Includes certain retired judges in the exceptions to the offense unlawful use of a weapon
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Owen (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2102 - Establishes provisions relating to the refiling of cases dismissed by a court
Sponsor: Rep. David Smith (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2103 - Provides that contract fees to be returned by panel attorneys be deposited into a fund
Sponsor: Rep. David Smith (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2104 - Establishes provisions protecting public defenders from harassing or threatening clients
Sponsor: Rep. David Smith (D)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2139 - Modifies provisions relating to the practice of law
Sponsor: Rep. Bruce DeGroot (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time
HB2196 - Enacts provisions relating to confidentiality of residential addresses of law enforcement officers and judges
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Schnelting (R)
Last Action: 2022-01-06 H - Read Second Time