Legislative update: Feb. 16, 2024

The House perfected HB 1886, which contains several Missouri Bar-initiated legislative proposals, while both chambers held public hearings on bar-endorsed bills. To continue staying up to date on 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.

As of Thursday, February 15,1396 bills and resolutions have been filed in the Missouri House of Representatives. In the Senate, 759 bills and resolutions have been filed.

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.

Committee hearings of interest

Senate

The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on Feb. 12 and held public hearings on the following:

SB 984 (Schroer): Creates the “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act”

• In support: American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp; SSM Health Care - Poison Center; Dr. Diana Coats - Good Day Farm; CLOVR; Green Precision Analytics; Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys; Missouri Office of Prosecution Services; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law; MoCannTrade; Heartland Labs; and St. Louis Children’s Hospital
• In opposition: CBD American Shamen; Missouri Petroleum & Convenience Association; National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; Jade Owens; Show Me Beverages; Missouri Smoke-Free Alliance; CBD Kratom; A Thousand Ripples; Sacred Leaf; Brian Riegel; Missouri Hemp Trade Association; Slap Happy Hemp; and Hemp Hemp Hooray,

SB 1096 (Roberts): Establishes provisions relating to alternative dispute resolution

• The Missouri Bar-endorsed legislation
• In support: ADR Committee of The Missouri Bar and The Missouri Bar
• In opposition: none

SB 1221 (Trent): Modifies provisions relating to estate planning, including notice for transfers of the principal place of administration of a trust, electronic wills, and estate planning during the COVID-19 state of emergency

• The Missouri Bar-endorsed legislation
• In support: Probate and Trust Division of The Missouri Bar; The Missouri Bar; Riezman Berger; and Missouri Bankers Association
• In opposition: none

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

SCS SB 1070 (McCreery): Creates a cyber crimes task force

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

SCS SB 1266 (Luetkemeyer): Modifies provisions relating to witness protection programs

• Do Pass by a vote of 6-0

The Senate Appropriations Committee met on Feb. 13 and heard a presentation on the Missouri Attorney General’s proposed budget.

House

The House Budget Committee met on Feb. 12 and heard presentations on the proposed budgets for the Missouri Department of Public Safety and Missouri Department of Corrections.

The House Committee on Children and Families met on Feb. 13 and held public hearings on the following:

HB 2529 (Kelly): Modifies and establishes provisions relating to child care

• A state tax credit for child care and child care safety provisions
• In support: Campaign Life Missouri and Missouri Alliance of YMCAs
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

HB 2307 (Schnelting): Establishes provisions relating to child protections required for certain children's homes

• Applies to faith-based children’s homes
• In support: Show Me Christian Youth Home; Missouri Association of Christian Child Care Agencies; former Rep. Rodney Schad; Teresa Turner; Saint Nicholas Academy
• In opposition: Missouri Network Against Child Abuse (formerly Missouri KidsFirst) and Missouri Children’s Trust Fund
• Electronic witness forms

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

HCS HB 2227 (Kelly): Modifies provisions relating to money held by the children's division for the benefit of a child

• The committee substitute adds HBs 1835 and 1904
• Do Pass by a vote of 9-0

Archived video of committee hearing

The House Financial Institutions Committee met on Feb. 13 and held public hearings on legislation including the following:

HB 1987 (Thompson): Modifies the Principal and Income Act to resemble the latest version of the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act

• Missouri Bar-endorsed legislation
• In support:  Trust and Probate Committee of The Missouri Bar; The Missouri Bar; and Missouri Bankers Association
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

 Archived video of committee hearing

The House Committee on General Laws met on Feb. 13 and held public hearings on legislation including the following:

HB 2578 (Van Schoiack): Provides that an unborn child shall not be considered an employee for civil actions

• Inspired by the unborn child of a MODOT employee
• In support: Tabatha Moore; Kaylin Moore; David Jarvis, Olga Mister; Tonya Musskopf; Andrew Mundwiller; Christine Kent, Chris Musskopf Michael Brown; and Brigit Brooks
• In opposition: none
• Electronic witness forms

 Archived video of committee hearing

The House Committee on Crime Prevention and Public Safety met on Feb. 15 and held public hearings on the following:

HB 1577 and HB 1707 were heard together. HB 1577 (Nurrenbern): Allows the chief law enforcement executive in any jurisdiction to request assistance from another jurisdiction, including a jurisdiction outside the state of Missouri. HB 1707 (Myers): Allows the chief law enforcement executive in any jurisdiction to request assistance from another jurisdiction, including a jurisdiction outside the state of Missouri

• In support: none
• In opposition: none
• For information: John Stanbaugh

HB 2211 (Roberts): Establishes provisions relating to the creation of a vapor product directory

• Designed to address illicit smuggling of vapor products by establishing a state registry
• In support: Altria; Missouri Retailers Association; Joplin High School principal; Phil-Mart; Burklund Distributors; St. Genevieve Middle School principal; Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Associated Industries of Missouri; and Missouri Wholesale Distributors
• In opposition: Vapor Technology Association; Ware Brands; Missouri Smoke Free; American Vapor Manufacturers; and Hub Incorporated
• For information: Missouri Petroleum & Convenience Association