The Mood at the Capitol

lobby day recap

We would like to say thank you to everyone who was able to attend our press conference and mini lobby day last week. We had lots of good conversations with legislators on both sides, including many members of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus.

attacks on dei

This week continued the trend of attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion not only in our schools but in our workplaces. SB 980 (Black) is another one of these attacks that focuses on private companies. The hearing about this bill was this last Thursday, and it was a highly contentious one as there was a lot of pushback, particularly from business groups who don’t like the government telling private businesses what they can and can’t do. We testified against this bill.

student organization discrimination

HB 1518, the focus of last week’s mini lobby day, is on the House Informal Calendar. This does not mean it will come up on any given day, but it does mean that it could be debated at any time. We will continue to educate legislators on the dangers of the legislation and just how broadly it is currently drafted.

initiative petition restrictions

Now that SJR 74 has passed the Senate and been read a second time in the House, it can be scheduled for a committee hearing at any moment. The only requirement is that we are given a minimum of a 24-hour notice before the hearing. Please keep an eye out for any action alerts regarding this bill.

HJR 86 (Black) has been placed on the House calendar and can be brought up for a floor debate at any time as well. While we do not expect it to move quickly, we encourage everyone to contact their respective legislators to vote against this bill.

SJR 78 did not receive a vote in committee last week as it did not have enough votes to pass. It is scheduled for another vote this week.

comprehensive crime bills

Two comprehensive crime bills, HB1659 and SB754, are progressing quickly through the process. The bills both attempt to re-pass provisions from last year’s vetoed comprehensive crime bill, SB189 (2023). The bills are slightly different, but both contain more good than bad provisions. The bills are a good representation of the current tension felt by legislators between wanting to decrease the number of incarcerated people and a desire to punish the high profile crimes we are seeing today. So far, no bills have been introduced that would address root causes of criminal activity such as increased funding for schools and after school programs or robust expungement and prevention of discrimination in housing for people who have been incarcerated.

comprehensive corrections bill

The comprehensive corrections bill, HB1777, should be brought to the House floor soon. At least two more positive provisions should be added during the perfection debate. This includes the correct Good Time Credit language, the elimination of fines and fees in juvenile court, and caps on fees for phone calls in jails and corrections facilities. We will be keeping a close eye on the bill as it moves forward. The bill currently contains the following provisions:

• Access To Snap Benefits For Previous Drug Convictions 
• Ban On Restraints On Children In Juvenile Court 
• Documents For Inmates Released From Corrections
• Ban On Restrains For Pregnant Offenders 
• Requirements For Care Of Pregnant Offenders
• Admissibility Of Evidence From Minors In Criminal Cases
• Good Time Credit (Needs Amendment)

state control of st. louis police department

The House version of the bill that would put control of the St. Louis Police Department in the hands of the Governor’s hand-picked board is moving forward. This controversy started while Kim Gardner was the Circuit Attorney for St. Louis City, but has not ended since her resignation last year. The desire to control the two areas of the State with high black and brown populations is not a coincidence. The crime rate for Springfield and Greene County is rising and is almost identical to that of Kansas City, but no one is calling for a takeover of Springfield’s law enforcement. Kansas City is currently the only area of the country that doesn’t control its own law enforcement. That scheme hasn’t led to anyone in the legislature praising their low crime rate or suggesting they are a model metropolitan area; so, why do the legislators think putting St. Louis under the same scheme will make anyone safer. What it will do is create a law enforcement agency that is more concerned about keeping the state legislature happy than in serving their own citizens.

upcoming hearings

03/04/2024 8:00 AM Senate-Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children

• SB918 Establishes provisions relating to public school curriculum and instruction

Sen. Denny Hoskins (R)

calls to action

• Register for the Day of Empathy on March 6th: https://www.mobilize.us/dream/event/598957/ 
• Attend the MADP Lobby Day on March 12th
• Training - bit.ly/MADPTraining2024
• Lobby day- bit.ly/MADPLobbyDay2024
• Please send stories of unacceptable conditions inside of correctional facilities.
• 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.

If you have any questions about any of the legislation mentioned here or the legislative program generally, please contact President Chapel or Olivia Pener.

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.