NW Missouri Times

Both chambers reconvened on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, following the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, for a shorter legislative week, including a joint session to hear Governor Parson’s State of the State Address. 

Legislators introduced another 152 bills and 6 joint resolutions this week, bringing the total legislation filed to 1,398 bills and 89 joint resolutions.  (The final day for the introduction of regular legislation for the present session will be Wednesday, March 1, 2023.)  A limited number of committees have already met for hearings on bills, with more hearings scheduled for next week.  Of the legislation already introduced, 55 bills and 17 joint resolutions have been referred to House committees for review, while 100 bills and 31 joint resolutions have been referred to Senate committees.      

To see more bills of interest, organized by subject or practice area, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center (and bookmark the page).  These bills of interest feeds are automatically updated with the latest status of the bills listed and provide links to individual bill webpages.  The bills of interest listed at the end of this update 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.    If you have any questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact Government Relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.   

Bar-Initiated Legislative Proposals (2023 Introduced Legislation)

State Treasurer

With State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick having taken his oath of office last week, his successor as State Treasurer – St. Louis attorney Vivek Malek – took the oath of office on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, in the House Chamber.  U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., administered the oath of office.    

State of the State Address / FY2024 Executive Budget

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, Governor Parson delivered his annual State of the State Address to a joint session of the General Assembly.  His speech focused on budget priorities, including infrastructure, workforce development and education, government reform, health and mental health care, and public safety.  Highlights are outlined below, and those interested in full information on the Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget can consult the FY2024 Budget in Brief and the FY2024 Executive Budget.  Information about the FY2024 Judiciary Budget Request and the FY2024 Public Defender Budget Request is also available online.   

Infrastructure

• $859 million to widen and rebuild I-70
• $379 million for the statewide transportation improvement program
• $35 million to update railway crossings to modern safety standards
• $250 million to continue broadband expansion efforts in rural areas and underserved urban areas

Workforce Development and Education

• $233 million for school transportation needs
• Adding $117 million to fully fund the Foundation Formula
• Continue the Teacher Baseline Salary Program that raised starting pay for Missouri teachers from $25,000 to $38,000 per year
• $32 million to expand the Career Ladder Program
• $56 million to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost
•  $78 million to increase childcare subsidy rates
• Make key investments in higher education and workforce development including:
  • $275 million for transformational capital improvement projects at Missouri's public higher education institutions 
  • Seven percent ($71 million) increase in core funding to Missouri's public higher education institutions
  • $38 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses
  • $3 million for Apprenticeship Missouri
  • $2.2 million to modernize Missouri's 27 job centers
  • $800,000 for Governor Parson's Fast Track program
  • $500,000 for Jobs for America's Graduates

 Government Reform

• 8.7. percent cost of living adjustment for all state employees (placed in the supplemental budget request)
• $2 per hour pay differential for state employees working in congregate care facilities during high-demand evening and overnight shifts
• $22 million for the Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division to extend critical support to struggling families and children. 

Health and Mental Health Care

• $35 million to expand the youth behavioral health liaison program, adding 27 liaisons
• $4 million for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training programs to increase the number of individuals receiving training
•  $4.3 million to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to implement its new maternal mortality plan

Public Safety

• $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings

Other Legislative Priorities

• Establish three new child-care tax credit programs:
  • Child Care Contribution Tax Credit - Encourages contributions to childcare providers to improve and expand facilities and services;
  • Employer-Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit - Benefits employers who offer childcare assistance to their employees; and
  • Child Care Providers Tax Credit - Assists childcare providers with payroll costs and incentivizes capital improvements to child care facilities.
• The Missouri Blue Scholarship, awarding scholarships to individuals to attend law enforcement training academies in Missouri

COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF INTEREST

Senate

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee met on January 18, 2023, and held public hearings on the following legislation:

• SB 45 (Gannon), modifying provisions relating to MO HealthNet services for pregnant and post partum women – Witnesses  

   

• SB 90 (McCreery), modifying provisions relating to MO HealthNet services for pregnant and post partum women – Witnesses

Oppose: Tim Faber (Missouri Baptist Convention)

Support: Sam Lee (Campaign Life Missouri); Susan Klein (Missouri Right to Life); George Hubbell (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists); Mara Gray (American Heart Association); Holly Honig (Empower Missouri); Cassie Brown (National Association of Social Workers – Missouri); Robyn Schelp (Kids Win Missouri); Tyler McClay (Catholic Charities of St. Louis); Emily Hummer (American Cancer Society); Jamie Morris (Missouri Catholic Conference); Chris Roepe (University Health KC); Shannon Cooper (Blue Cross-Blue Shield KC); Tricia Workman (Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence); Jessica Seitz (Missouri KidsFirst); Ryan DeBoef (MO Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons); Deanna Hemphill (MO State Medical Association); Kyna Iman (MO Nurses Association); Jessica Pabst (University of Missouri Healthcare); Justin Alferman (SSM Health Care); Anna Meyer (Multiple Sclerosis Association); Maggie Olivia (Pro-Choice Missouri); Bill Anderson (Missouri Hospital Association); Sam Panettiere  (City of Kansas City, Children’s’ Mercy Hospital, REACH Healthcare Foundation); Brian Colby (Missouri Budget Project); Katie Gamble (Health Forward Foundation); Mandy Hagseth (Missouri Family Health Council)

Informational Purposes: Ramon Martinez (MOST Policy Initiative); Todd Richardson (MO HealthNet Director) 

Original source can be found here.