The Mood at the Capitol

The legislative session is a little more than 2/3rd of the way through. The bills that have made it through this session are a mixed lot of good and bad provisions. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights so far.

criminal justice

HB495 is the bill that takes away local control of the St. Louis Police Department and gives it to the State. The bill also has a variety of other provisions, most of which are positive for the values of NAACP. Among the other provisions are:

• The repeal of the crime of rioting
• New accountability for prosecutors using informant testimony at trial
• The Missing and Murdered African American Women Taskforce

While we are disappointed the bill passed with the St. Louis Police takeover language, we are pleased to see some provisions that have been long-time goals of criminal justice reform advocates passed. 

HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

SB4 is an omnibus utilities bill. The bill contains a host of provisions that make it easier for utility companies to increase rates. These provisions are dangerous as there is no provision for low income households or economically depressed areas. The main provisions of the bill allow for rate increases based on future construction or improvements rather than requiring improved services before a rate increase is allowed. Additionally, the bill incentivizes building new facilities in predominantly black neighborhoods. This is a continuing trend of building infrastructure that creates high levels of pollution in areas where black and brown citizens reside. 

expectations for the rest of session

We are expecting to see several major controversial issues debated between now and May 16th. There are Constitutional Amendments pending on creating Constitutional Sheriffs and repealing the Right to Reproductive Freedom as passed in Amendment 3. There are also bills pending to repeal Prop A, eliminate DEI programs and initiatives, and expand the Castle Doctrine to make it harder to prosecute people for murder when they falsely claim self-defense. Each of these issues has major opposition coming from a variety of groups. This includes our lobby team and leaders in the Capitol. We also have faith that our allies in the legislature will fight to stop these bills.

The CROWN Act was working its way through the legislative process cleanly until recently. Representative Proudie’s version of the bill has been added to a controversial anti-semitism bill. The language of the anti-semitism bill is supported by some Jewish groups and opposed by others. The same anti-semitism language is likely to be added to both Representative Proudie’s HB284 and Senator Washington’s SB38. 

Tracking Lists

Criminal Justice

Health and the Environment

Opportunity, Race and Justice

Political Power

Education Innovation

*These lists are continually updated and improved. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Geuea Jones at sharon@jonesadvocacy.com.