Legislative update: May 3, 2024
One hundred twenty-two pieces of legislation, two of which originated in the Senate, have been third read in the House and are ready for consideration by the Senate. Thirty-seven bills have been sent from the Senate to the House. A filibuster, beginning Tuesday and ending Thursday at 3:30 a.m., during floor debate in the Senate on SB 748, regarding the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, brought action on further bills to a halt. SB 748 was perfected and awaits third reading.
The Missouri Constitution requires both chambers adopt the budget bills no later than May 10. Next week, the Senate must debate and adopt its versions of the House budget bills. The House and Senate must confer to reach a consensus on the language to be included in each of the budget bills. Then the respective chambers must pass what was agreed upon in conference.
FY 2025 tracking – House budget chair substitute
FY 2025 governor recommendation
FY 2025 department budget requests with governor’s recommendations
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 provide links to the individual bill webpages. If you have any questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact The Missouri Bar government relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.
Bar-initiated legislative proposals (2024 introduced legislation)
Committee hearings of interest
Senate
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on April 29 and held public hearings on the following:
HCS#2 HB 1886 (Veit): Modifies provisions relating to judicial proceedings
- In support: Missouri Press Association; The Missouri Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; The Missouri Bar; Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Missouri Juvenile Justice Association; Institute for Free Speech; Missouri Broadcasters’ Association; Missouri Network Against Child Abuse; Riezman Berger; and Judicial Conference of Missouri
- In opposition: none
HCS HB 2064 (Black): Modifies provisions relating to civil proceedings
- Includes mental health courts in treatment court provisions, electronic wills, and uniform deposition provisions
- In support: Missouri Press Association; Riezman Berger; Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Legal Aid Organizations of Missouri; The Missouri Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Associated Industries of Missouri; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Judicial Conference of Missouri
- In opposition: none
HCS HB 2700 (Copeland): Modifies provisions relating to criminal proceedings
- Comprehensive crime bill; also has the Public Defender Fund
- In support: Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Missouri Juvenile Justice Association; Missouri Network Against Child Abuse; and Judicial Conference of Missouri
- In opposition: Missouri Association of Defense Lawyers
The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:
SCS SB 897 (Trent): Modifies provisions relating to judicial proceedings
- Do Pass by a vote of 6-0
SCS HCS HBs 1692 & 1748 (Sparks): Modifies provisions relating to offenses involving arrests, stops, and detentions
- Do Pass by a vote of 6-0
SCS SB 1400 (Brown): Modifies provisions relating to the offense of posting unlawful information
- Do Pass by a vote of 6-0
The Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee met on April 29 and held public hearings on bills including:
HJR 132 (Hausman): Creates provisions relating to the offense of sexual trafficking of a child
- In support: none
- In opposition: none
HCS HB 2797 (Buchheit-Courtway): Designates memorial highways and bridges
- In support: none
- In opposition: none
House
The House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety met on April 25 and held public hearings on the following:
HB 2668 (Thomas): Establishes the “Missouri Patrol on Wave Runners Task Force”
- In support: David Grey and Chris Edgar
- In opposition: none
- Electronic witness forms
HB 2855 (Hovis)” Modifies provisions relating to county prosecuting attorneys
- Counties allowed to merge to cooperatively elect a prosecuting attorney
- In support: Osage County prosecuting attorney and Davies County prosecuting attorney
- In opposition: none
- Electronic witness forms
The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:
HB 2436 (Banderman): Modifies provisions relating to the offense of making a terrorist threat
- Do Pass by a vote of 15-3
HCS HB 1443 (Smith): Modifies the offense of hazing
- Do Pass by a vote of 11-2, with 2 voting present
Archived video of committee hearing
The House Committee on General Laws met on April 30 and held a public hearing on the following legislation:
SB 862 (Thompson Rekhder): Modifies provisions relating to money held by the Children’s Division for the benefit of a child
- In support: Center for Rights of Abused Children; Missouri After School Network; FosterAdopt Connect; Foster Care & Adoptive Care Coalition; Missouri Coalition for Children; Kids Win Missouri; Missouri Alliance of YMCAs; and Arnie Dienoff
- In opposition: Learn, Educate, Advocate, Duplicate (LEAD) lobbyists
- For information: Missouri Department of Social Services
- Electronic witness forms
Archived video of committee hearing
The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session on May 1 and took action on the following:
SS #2 SCS SBs 754, 746, 788, 765, 841, 887 & 861 (Luetkemeyer): Modifies provisions relating to public safety
- Do Pass by a vote of 10-2