• ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED NURSES (HB 115/HB 402/SB 157 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB115&year=2023&code=R) ): Expands the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses.
• PHYSICAL THERAPISTS (HB 115/SB 51/SB 157 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB115&year=2023&code=R) ): Eliminates an existing prohibition on physical therapists treating a patient unless the patient has been referred by a physician.
• LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (HB 447 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB447&year=2023&code=R) ): Requires the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish language developmental milestones for children under age five who are diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing.
• ADOPTION TAX CREDIT (SB 24 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=24) ): Expands state tax credits for nonrecurring expenses relating to adoption.
• EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (SB 24 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=24) ): Authorizes the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide grants to expand the availability of preschool services.
• POST-PARTUM CARE (SB 45/SB 106 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=45) ): Expands coverage for post-partum care under Medicaid from 60 days to one year.
• PATIENT EXAMINATIONS (SB 45/SB 106 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=45) ): Prohibits medical providers from conducting a prostate, anal or pelvic examination on an anesthetized or unconscious person without their prior consent.
• CLIFF EFFECT (SB 45 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=45) ): Establishes a transitional benefits program for recipients of social safety net programs or child care subsidies to end the “cliff effect” that results in participants losing all of the benefits due to a small increase in their income.
• ENTERTAINMENT TAX CREDITS (SB 94 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=94) ): Establishes tax breaks to encourage film and television productions to shoot in Missouri and the creation of other entertainment industry jobs.
• BREAST EXAMINATION (SB 106 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=106) ): Prohibits insurers from requiring patient cost-sharing for diagnostic breast examinations, supplemental breast examination or low-dose mammography screenings.
• TIME SERVED (SB 186/SB 189 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=186) ): Clarifies that inmates receive full credit toward any prison sentence for time served in jail while awaiting trial.
• POLICE TRAINING (SB 186 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=186) ): Increases minimum state training requirements for law enforcement officers.
• POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY (SB 186 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=186) ): Expands the grounds for which the Missouri Department of Public Safety director may discipline law enforcement officers.
• TAXES ON SENIOR CITIZENS (SB 190 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=190) ): Fully exempts Social Security benefits from state taxation and provides a property tax credit to eligible senior citizens for a home they both own and reside in.
• BLAIR’S LAW (SB 189 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=189) ): Increases criminal penalties for negligently engaging in celebratory gunfire within a municipality.
• MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAXES (SB 398 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=398) ): Requires sales taxes on motor vehicles to be collected by the dealer at the point of sale instead of at the time the vehicle is licensed with the state.
• ELECTRONIC DEVICES (SB 398 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?Sessiontype=R&BillPrefix=SB&BillSuffix=398) ): Prohibits texting or using a cell phone while driving, unless the driver is using a hands-free device or making a call to report an emergency situation.

And here’s some legislation that DIDN’T pass thanks to Democratic opposition and Republican dysfunction:

• CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (HJR 43): Sought to increase the threshold for ratifying an amendment to the constitution from a simple majority to a 57 percent supermajority.
• CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS (HB 225): Sought to allow investor-owned electric utilities to charge customers for the costs of planning and building a nuclear power plant, repealing voter-enacted restrictions that bars such costs from being passed on to customers until a plant is operational.
• OPEN ENROLLMENT (HB 253): Sought to allow students to attend public schools in districts other than the one in which they reside.
• GUNS ON BUSES (HB 282): Sought to allow firearms to be carried on mass transit.
• GUNS IN CHURCHES (HB 282): Sought to allow firearms to be carried in churches without the permission of the pastor.
• ST. LOUIS PROSECUTOR TAKEOVER (HB 301): Sought to allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor who would takeover jurisdiction over the prosecution of certain violent crimes and supplant St. Louis city’s elected circuit attorney.
• LICENSE FEE HIKES (HB 424): Sought a 50-percent increase in the fees charged by the privately operated vehicle and driver’s license offices.
• ST. LOUIS POLICE TAKEOVER (HB 702): Sought to restore state control over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, which ended after 152 years when Missouri voters approved a statewide ballot measure in 2012 restoring local control.
• INITIATIVE LIMITS (HB 703): Sought to impose a variety of procedural hurdles and restrictions intended to make it harder to place measures on the statewide ballot using the initiative petition process.
• CORPORATE INCOME TAX (HB 816): Sought to completely eliminate Missouri’s 4 percent income tax, costing the state at least $711 million a year in lost revenue.
• PSC EXPANSION (HB1044): Sought to expand the Missouri Public Service Commission, the regulatory authority for investor-owned utilities, from five to 11 members and reserve three of those positions for agricultural industry representatives.
• DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROHIBITION (HB 1196): Sought to prohibit colleges and universities from promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
• ROAD FUND TAKEOVER (HJR 37): Sought to strip the Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission of its constitutional authority over the allocation of road and bridge funding and give that authority to state lawmakers.
• CENSORING HISTORY (SB 4): Sought to prohibit teaching about teaching about racism in American history and its impact on modern day and require the Missouri Department of Elementary of Secondary Education to develop a training program for teachers that emphasizes teaching patriotism.

Here’s the anti-trans legislation heading to Gov. Parson’s desk that will cause families with trans children to flee the state for their own safety and welfare. Also, Healthcare Providers in Missouri don’t perform trans-related gender-affirming care in the state of Missouri.

SB 49- Sen. Mike Moon (https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44407) – This act establishes the “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act”. Under this act, no health care provider shall perform gender transition surgeries on any minor. Until August 28, 2027, no health care provider shall prescribe or administer cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless such minor was receiving such treatment prior to August 28, 2023.

FROM THE MNEA:

BUDGET APPROVED
The conference committee reports for the state operating budget bills, HBs 2-13, were finally approved by both chambers on May 5 prior to the 6 p.m. deadline.  The Association appreciates the effort and leadership from Senate budget leaders and the conference committees in working to create a better state budget that supports public education and other vital services.

The Senate committee restored many cuts made to the Governor’s budget by the House and also added numerous additional funding items.  This process was made much easier by the fact that the state currently has an unusually high general revenue fund balance of more than $5 billion.  Conferees adopted the Senate position for many of those funding items, including restoring state aid for public libraries.  The budget also includes increases for early childhood education, full funding of the school formula and pupil transportation and funding increases for four-year institutions and community colleges.

SENATE DEBATE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK ON EDUCATION PROVISIONS
Expected Senate debate on education topics was blocked on May 4 by a filibuster of all Senate action.  The Senate is now expected to debate this substitute next week on May 8.  Sen. Koenig distributed a lengthy, 180-page Senate Substitute for HB 827 (Phil Christofanelli).  The original bill pertains to full-time virtual programs.  The substitute adds dozens of new provisions, including a version of open enrollment provisions from HB 253 (Brad Pollitt), changes to the existing tax credit voucher program as contained in SB 360 (Andrew Koenig) and numerous other education provisions.  The Association opposes both the House-approved version of HB 253 and the provisions of SB 360.

RETIREMENT
The House approved similar sets of school retirement provisions in two Senate bills this week: HCS/SS/SB 75 (Rusty Black) and SB 20 (Bernskoetter).  The Association supports both bills.  The House version of both bills includes several school retirement provisions:

1) restores the 2.55% benefit factor for 32 or more years of PSRS service credit;

2) increases the earnings limit for PSRS retirees working part time in PEERS positions;

3) extends the critical shortage employment option from two years to four years and increases the allowed number of critical shortage teaching positions in a district to the greater of five or one percent of the number of teaching positions in the district; and  

4) language to preserve the PSRS-eligible status for speech implementers employed before August 1, 2022, who are employed on or after August 28, 2023, as a speech-language pathology assistant.

SB 75 also includes the provisions of SB 339 (Greg Razer) to provide a same-sex domestic partner pop-up provision for retirees with similar documentation requirements to the divorce pop-up provision in current law.

RESTRICTIONS ON THE INITIATIVE PETITION PROCESS
The House refused to concur in the Senate version of SS#3/HCS/HJR 43 (Henderson) and the joint resolution is now in conference.  House conferees are Representatives Mike Henderson, Rick Francis, Bill Falkner, Robert Sauls and Steve Butz.   Senate conferees are Senators Sandy Crawford, Mike Cierpiot, Andrew Koenig, Doug Beck and Lauren Arthur.

The SS version creates a different version of a higher approval majority for constitutional amendments.  The House version would require statewide supermajority of 60% while the Senate version requires either: 1) 57% statewide or 2) a simple majority statewide plus a concurrent majority in at least five of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts.   The Association is concerned that the measure will make it more difficult for Missouri citizens to bring forward and gain approval on measures of interest brought by the initiative petition process and opposes the joint resolution.

HOUSE COMMITTEE EXPANDS HOME SCHOOL ACTIVITY BILL
The House General Laws Committee approved an expanded HCS version of SS/SCS/SB 411 & 230 (Ben Brown) on May 4.  The original bill will allow home school students to participate in public school activities.  The Senate version also requires a district-wide vote to allow a four-day school week in districts in charter counties or cities with a population over 30,000.  This requirement would begin with the 2024-25 school year.  The HCS version adds additional provisions regarding academic standards for finance courses and for health and family education courses, STEM career awareness, adult high schools, and school bullying policies.  

REQUIREMENTS FOR FINGERPRINT BACKGROUND CHECKS
The House approved an amendment to SB 28 (Justin Brown) to add the provisions of HCS/HB 669 (Ron Copeland) on May 1.  SB 28 pertains to public records of the Missouri highway patrol.  The amendment eliminates the current law that schools and other employers using the Rap Back program for notifications of law violations must require all employees to undergo an additional fingerprint background check every six years.  The Association appreciates this helpful change to remove a costly and unneeded burden on school employees and supports the amendment.

ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS
The Senate approved SS/HB 447 (Bishop Davidson) on May 3.  The bill allows siting a fifth adult high school in the Kansas City area.  The bill also moves the administration of adult high schools from DESE to the Department of Social Services.  The state currently has four adult high schools created under state contract by MERS Goodwill.  Adult high schools allow adults to obtain industry certifications and complete high school work to obtain a State Board approved high school diploma.  Adult high schools also offer job placement services.

The amended Senate Substitute includes several other provisions, including:

1) HCS/HB 715 (Hannah Kelly) to establish provisions relating to educational funding for students in state custody and students being treated at a residential treatment facility;

2) SB 381 (Holly Thompson Rehder) to require DESE to convene a work group to develop academic performance standards for health and family education and change the require one-half credit in health education to health and family education; and

3) SB 340 (Greg Razer) to require DESE to establish language developmental milestones for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. 

ALSO:

• HB 267- which would have reverted Missouri back to holding a Presidential Primary- was rejected on the grounds that it would have been held in conjunction with the Municipal Elections. Missouri will be holding Presidential Caucuses for the 2024 Presidential Elections.
• Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Public Safety has approved 428 grants totaling over $6.3 million to law enforcement, fire service, and EMS providers across the state for new equipment, supplies, personnel, and training. Grant funded equipment includes patrol vehicles, mobile data terminals, firefighter turnout gear, extrication equipment, cardiac monitors, and emergency communications radios. Grants to additional law enforcement, fire service, and EMS agencies are still under review.
• Rep. State Senator Rick Brattin led a 7-hour filibuster, holding up debate on the looming deadline for the budget bills in order to force a vote regarding oppositon for a landfill project just outside of Kansas City, Mo.
• The Mo. Senate passed a bill extending post-partum Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to one year. In addition, there is also language in this bill that steps down coverage for Medicaid users according to income that’s not in accordance with Federal policy. If passed it’s unlikely that DSS would implement these changes due to Federal policy.
• $2.8 billion was budgeted toward an I-70 expansion project. More than triple the amount initially proposed.
• There’s additional funding provided for the operation of veteran’s homes, area agencies on ageing, and an increase in pay for direct care aides.
• The Senate eliminated anti-DEI language attached to the budget bills. (as requested by the Mo. Chamber of Commerce of all people!)
• A measure passed the Mo. House prohibiting the use of ranked-choice voting in Missouri elections.
• A variety of tax cuts totaling over $2.3 billion passed last week and would not only diminish state revenue but also cause revenues to decrease in political subdivisions around the state.

ACTION STEPS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE NETWORK:
Call your State Representative and tell them NO changes to the Initiative Petition Process. HJR 43 has made it through the state senate and is headed back to the House where we must stop it. If HJR 43 clears the legislature, it automatically would go on the November 2024 statewide ballot unless the governor exercises his constitutional authority to set an earlier election date. Tell your electeds to leave the Initiative Petition alone and not to silence the voices of Missourians. You can find your legislator here.