Legislative update: March 15, 2024

The Missouri General Assembly will be adjourned from March 14-25 for a spring recess. This means there will be no committee or floor activity next week. Next week’s legislative update will be a report on legislation that has crossed chambers to be considered by other than the chamber of origin. It is this legislation that is most likely to be Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed. Following the spring recess, the update will include budget recommendations in greater detail.

2024 introduced legislation

To see legislation that has been introduced, organized by subject matter or practice area, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center. The bills are automatically updated with the latest status of the bills listed, and the site provides links to the individual bill webpages. If you have questions or comments about specific legislation, contact Missouri Bar government relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org.

Bar-initiated legislative proposals (2024 introduced legislation)

Committee hearings of interest

Senate

The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on March 11 and held public hearings on the following:

SB 1468 (Luetkemeyer): Modifies provisions relating to the condemnation of property

• Can’t use eminent domain to obtain a church
• In support: Timothy Faber
• In opposition: John Stambaugh

SB 1372 (Eigel): Creates new provisions relating to illegal immigrants

• Creates a state offense of improper entry into Missouri
• In support: ArmorVine
• In opposition: Missouri Catholic Conference; Interfaith Committee on Latin America; Advocates for Immigrants Coalition; Yazmin Bruno-Valdez; and Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis

SB 951 (Moon): Establishes the penalty of death for certain sexual offenses

• Allows the death penalty for statutory rape and sex offenses in the first degree
• In support: Timothy Faber and ArmorVine
• In opposition: Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty; Missouri State Public Defender; May Hall; Empower Missouri; and Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

SB 869 (Moon): Creates provisions relating to lifetime protection orders

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

SCS SB 1007 (Crawford): Establishes the Missouri Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act, which modifies provisions relating to trust and estate administration

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

SCS SB 1200 (Trent): Adds a new section to Chapter 557 relating to a driving while intoxicated diversion program

• Do Pass by a vote of 4-1

SCS SB 1220 (Trent): Modifies provisions relating to the compensation of jurors

• Do Pass by a vote of 5-0

SB 1370 (Black): Modifies a provision relating to the establishment of treatment courts by providing for a mental health treatment court

• Do Pass by a vote of 5-0

The Senate Local Government and Elections Committee met on March 11 and held public hearings on legislation that included the following:

SB 1389 (Crawford): Modifies the compensation of circuit clerks

• In support: Missouri Circuit Clerks Association; Missouri Circuit Judges Association; Court Reporters Association; and Byran Feemster
• In opposition: none

The Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee met on March 13 and held public hearings on bills including:

SB 990 (Carter): Enacts provisions relating to transportation for disabled persons

• Removes requirement for physician’s note to renew license plate when permanently disabled
• In support: Paraquad
• In opposition: none

SB 1299 (Bean): Specifies that drivers shall stop at railroad crossings for "any on-track equipment" in addition to trains

• In support: Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees
• In opposition: Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
• For information: Missouri Railroad Association

SB 1374 (Gannon): Creates “Bentley and Mason's Law” relating to restitution payments for certain persons convicted of the offense of driving while intoxicated

• In support: Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Cecillia Williams
• In opposition: none

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

SB 998 (Hoskins): Creates the Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act

• Do Pass by a vote of 5-1

SB 1008 (Crawford): Modifies provisions relating to outdoor advertising

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee met on March 13 and held public hearings on the following:

SB 1245 (Thompson Rehder): Modifies provisions relating to children and vulnerable persons

• Standardizes references to child related sexual offenses
• In support: Missouri Network Against Child Abuse
• In opposition: none
• For information: Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition and American Tort Reform Association

SJR 76 (Carter): Modifies provisions relating to MO HealthNet

• Assistance Program to foster self-sufficiency; work requirements
• In support: True Charity
• In opposition: American Cancer Action Network; Missouri Budget Project; AARP; Health Forward Foundation Kansas City; Paraquad; and Empower Missouri
• For information: Missouri Department of Social Services

SB 1336 (Thompson Rehder): Modifies provisions relating to funding for housing programs

• Couples short-term housing with mental health and criminalizes some homelessness
• In support: Cicero Action
• In opposition: The Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness; Paraquad; Missouri Justice Coalition; and Jera Jenkins

HCS HB 2634 (Smith): Modifies provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers

• In support: Campaign Life Missouri; Missouri Right to Life; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; Missouri Catholic Conference; Timothy Faber
• In opposition: none

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

SB 931 (Arthur): Modifies provisions relating to telehealth services

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

SB 1260 Gannon): Modifies provisions relating to prenatal tests for certain diseases

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

SB 1212 (Moon): Modifies provisions relating to hospital price transparency laws

• Do Pass by a vote of 5-1

·       HCS HB 2634 (Smith): Modifies provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers

• Do Pass by a vote of 5-1

House

The House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety met on March 7 and held public hearings on the following:

HB 1443 (Smith): Modifies the offense of hazing

• In support: Mizzou Greek Alliance and Associated Students of the University of Missouri
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

HB 1557 (Schwadron): Establishes the “MO Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security”

• Study and make recommendations on nonprofit organizations at greatest risk for terrorist attack
• In support: Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Anti-Defamation League
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

HB 1781 (Perkins): Creates provisions relating to intoxicating cannabinoids

• Re-opened for the purpose of hearing new information
• In support: Police Chiefs Association; MoCannTrade; and Rosenbloom Robbins Law Firm  
• In opposition: Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association; Plift; Missouri Smoke Free; CBD Kratom; Weedman & Glassman Wholesale Tobacco Products; Kevin Holderman; Rebecca Plank; John Grady; Show Me Beverages; Sacred Leaf; South Point Hemp; and Missouri Hemp Trade Association
• Electronic witness forms

HB 1952(Cook): Creates provisions relating to peer review committees

• Peer review protection
• In support: Cox Health EMS director; Fire Service Alliance; Missouri Ambulance Association; Ambulance District Association of Missouri; and Mehlville Fire Protection District
• In opposition: Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
• Electronic witness forms

HB 2670 (Thomas): Establishes “Marie's Law,” which creates signage standards for state-owned boat ramps in Lake of the Ozarks State Park

• In support: Jeff Hoots; David Gray; Marvin and Dorothy Phillips; and Kevin Halderman
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

HB1653 (Roberts): Modifies the offense of making a false report

• Do Pass by a vote of 18-5, with one voting present

HB 2670 (Thomas): Establishes “Marie's Law,” which creates signage standards for state owned boat ramps in Lake of the Ozarks State Park

• Do Pass by a vote of 24-0 (Consent)

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Local Government Committee met on March 12 and held public hearings on legislation that included the following:

HB 2376 (Pouche): Allows marriages to be solemnized by the recorder of deeds or the deputy recorder under the supervision of the recorder of deeds

• In support: Platte County Recorder of Deeds and Arnie Dienoff
• In opposition: none
• For information: Recorders’ Association of Missouri
• Electronic witness forms

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Committee on Children and Families met on March 12 and held a public hearing on the following:

HB 1709 (Schnelting): Creates provisions relating to digital surveillance systems in long-term care facilities

• Cameras in common areas
• In support: Michael Hallie
• In opposition: Missouri Assisted Living Association and Missouri Residential Care Association
• For information: Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
• Electronic witness forms

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

HCS HB 1975 (Stinnett): Creates a prescribed pediatric extended care facility license issued by the department of health and senior services

• Do Pass by a vote of 10-0

HCS HB 1795 (Hinman): Modifies provisions relating to youth employment

• Do Pass by a vote of 7-3

HCS HB 2547 (Christ)” Establishes the “Zero-Cost Adoption Fund Act” which establishes a fund to offset costs associated with adoption and a tax credit for any person who contributes to the fund

• Do Pass by a vote of 10-0

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Committee on General Laws met on March 12 and held public hearings on legislation that included the following:

HB 2851 (Sharpe): Modifies provisions relating to domestic relations

• In support: Elizabeth Lauber; Brent Karasiuk; and Richard McIntosh
• In opposition: Arnie Dienoff
• Electronic witness forms

The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:

HB 1452 (Veit): Establishes the “Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act”

• Do Pass by a vote of 12-0

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session on March 13 and took action on the following:

HCS HB 2700 (Copeland): Modifies the offense of delivery of a controlled substance

• Do Pass by a vote of 10-1, with one voting present

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee met in executive session on March 13 and took action on the following:

HB 2665 (Christofanelli): Requires certain political subdivisions to reimburse other political subdivisions for the daily cost of housing inmates or detainees

• Do Pass by a vote of 7-0

HB 2558 (Sparks): Establishes provisions relating to jail reimbursement by the department of corrections

• Do Pass by a vote of 7-0

Archived video of committee hearing