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WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 02/19/2024

Olivia Pener • Feb 19, 2024

The Mood at the Capitol

This week was cut short by the celebration of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. Both the House and the Senate adjourned for the week Tuesday afternoon. There were a few hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, including lengthy Budget hearings. The Senate spent their limited time on the floor debating changes to the initiative petition process, and the House worked on a few comprehensive bills to send over to the Senate. The House seems to have shifted focus to the Budget to try to get that language over to the Senate floor as quickly as possible.

comprehensive crime bill

A bill, HB1659, that attempts to re-pass the provisions from last year’s vetoed comprehensive crime bill was perfected in the House last week. This year’s version is missing a few provisions, but still has a couple of positive provisions. The bill ends different sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine and powdered cocaine. It also raises the age at which juvenile offenders may be certified as an adult for most crimes. The bill isn’t great, but the remaining provisions are minor in comparison to some of the extremely harmful bills we are fighting this year.

comprehensive corrections bill

Unlike the comprehensive crime bill, the corrections bill, HB1777, is full of good provisions. It includes:

Access to SNAP benefits for people with prior drug convictions.
Prohibition on restraints on children in juvenile court.
Requires the Department of Corrections to provide ID documentation and interview training to inmates scheduled for release.
Prohibits restraints on pregnant inmates in their third trimester and requires certain levels of care for all pregnant inmates.
Provides certain protections for children testifying in court.
Modifies the current “Good Time Credit” provisions of the law. THIS SECTION STILL NEEDS SOME WORK!

The bill was voted out of Committee last week. It needs one more Committee vote before it is eligible to be debated on the House floor.

voting rights restoration

The bill that would restore voting rights to people on probation and parole was voted out of the Senate Elections Committee last week. The Senate climate is such that the bill won’t likely be discussed on the floor any time soon, but having the committee vote makes it easier to attach the provision to other bills as they come to the floor.

diversity, equity, and inclusion

The hearing on the bills, HB2619 et. al., to prohibit state spending on DEI initiatives or programs and to prohibit medical schools from doing any training in DEI was held on Tuesday before the House members left for the Chiefs Parade. The hearing was full of professional associations and medical professionals asking the legislature to consider the practical harm the bill would cause. The language is likely to be combined under HB2619 and voted out of Committee on Tuesday.

student organizations bill

The bill that allows student organizations to illegally discriminate while receiving state resources is likely to be voted out of the Rules committee on Monday. The bill will then be in the hands of House Majority Floor Leader Jon Patterson. We are working with his office to determine when or if the bill is scheduled to be brought to the floor.

upcoming hearings

02/20/2024 2:00 PM House-Healthcare Reform

HB2654 Creates provisions relating to maternal health care services

Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D)

HB2671 Creates provisions relating to maternal health care services

Rep. Jamie Gragg (R)

02/21/2024 4:30 PM House-Corrections and Public Institutions Committee Hearing

HB1679 Creates provisions regarding the use of phones in correctional facilities
Rep. Michael Davis (R)
HB2169 Establishes provisions regarding the use of phones in correctional facilities and jails
Rep. Aaron McMullen (R)

calls to action

Attend Missouri Day of Empathy - Support Criminal Justice Reform on March 6th
https://www.mobilize.us/dream/event/598957/
Attend Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty Lobby Day - Support Proposals to Reduce and Eliminate State Murder on March 12th
Training - bit.ly/MADPTraining2024
Lobby day - bit.ly/MADPLobbyDay2024
Let Olivia Pener or Sandy Jiles know if there is a week between now and May 17th you are willing to be on call to come to the Capitol on short notice.

Tracking List

https://govwatch.net/report/M6q8o0GrzR

*This list is continually updated and improved. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Geuea Jones at sharon@jonesadvocacy.com.

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