Legislative Actions and Information for the Week of Jan. 6, 2020
| A Letter From Senator Jamilah Nasheed
The Second Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly is now underway. This is a bittersweet moment for me. While the start of session marks another opportunity to fight for the people of St. Louis, it also marks my last session in the Missouri Senate. Over the years, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, I have strived to be a voice for my constituents and fight to ensure they are heard in Jefferson City. It has been an honor to serve the city I love so much in the state Legislature. I go into the 2020 legislative session with a wealth of experience, and I am looking forward to voicing my support to legislation that improves the City of St. Louis during my final session as a member of the Missouri Senate. Thank you for your support over the years. I could not have done this important work without you.
Senator Jamilah Nasheed 5th Senatorial District Bills and Committees Before session started, lawmakers in the Missouri Senate pre-filed hundreds of pieces of legislation for the 2020 legislative session. Now that session has begun, these Senate bills will begin working their way through the legislative process. This year, Sen. Nasheed has sponsored several pieces of legislation, including the following: Senate Bill 541 – This legislation modifies the Missouri Supreme Court rule regarding the timing of motions for a new criminal trial to allow a prosecuting attorney to file for a new trial at any time. Senate Bill 542 – This bill allows former felons to vote, except those with felonies connected to the right to vote. Senate Bill 543 – This bill allows a law enforcement officer, family member or household member to petition a court for a firearm restraining order for an individual believed to be a threat to themselves or others. If approved by the court, the restraining order prohibits the individual from purchasing, possessing, receiving or having in their custody any firearms for a period of time. Find out more about Sen. Nasheed’s legislative priorities in the St. Louis American next week. Appropriations Each year, the Missouri General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass the state’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Senate Appropriations Committee, which Sen. Nasheed is a member of, plays a key role in fulfilling this constitutional duty. Over the coming weeks and months, the committee will begin hearing from various state departments and agencies as they draft a budget that meets their needs, while also ensuring taxpayer’s dollars are spent responsibly and in the best interest of the state. Other News Senator Nasheed to Host Sex Trafficking Awareness Event On Jan. 21, Sen. Nasheed will be hosting the 5th Annual Sex Trafficking Awareness Event in the State Capitol. The event helps raise awareness for the fight against sex trafficking in Missouri and connects lawmakers and the public with the resources needed to combat this epidemic. Being located at the crossroads of the country, Missouri is one of the prime locations for sex trafficking. The day-long set of events will begin with a networking event from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. where individuals can learn more about the silent epidemic of sex trafficking in the state and how to combat it. A rally will be held at 1 p.m. in the first floor rotunda of the State Capitol.
Missouri Ratified 15th Amendment 150 Years Ago This Week This week marked the sesquicentennial of the Missouri General Assembly’s ratification of the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Jan. 7, 1870. The amendment declares that voting rights “shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” In the post-Civil War period, it established voting rights nationally for male African-Americans and former slaves. Missouri’s ratification effort began inauspiciously when, on Jan. 6, 1870, the House of Representatives voted 81-34 to pass a resolution stating that “this House refuses to become a party to the ratification of said Fifteenth Amendment to the United States, and will take no action to that effect.” The resolution said it was inappropriate for state lawmakers to support “negro suffrage” since during the 1868 general election Missouri voters had rejected a ballot measure to establish universal male suffrage under state law. Undeterred by resistance in the House, the Missouri Senate voted 20-3 the next day to approve Senate Resolution 18 ratifying the 15th Amendment. Later the same day, the House reversed its prior opposition and voted 86-34 to pass the Senate’s ratification resolution. On Feb. 3, 1870, Iowa became the 28th state to ratify the amendment, providing the required approval of three-fourths of the then 37 states. The federal government certified the 15th Amendment as part of the U.S. Constitution on March 30, 1870, by which time two more states had ratified it. Tennessee was the last state to ratify the amendment, doing so in 1997. Not long after the 15th Amendment became enshrined in the federal Constitution, Missouri lawmakers approved a proposed an amendment to the state constitution granting universal suffrage to men age 21 and over. Missouri voters ratified it in November 1870. Revenue Up 5.2 Percent Through First Half Of Fiscal Year 2020 Year-to-date state general revenue collections were up 5.2 percent through the first half of the 2020 fiscal year compared to the same period in FY 2019, going from $4.31 billion last year to $4.53 billion this year. Year-to-date collections had been up 6.8 percent through the first five months of FY 2020. Net general revenue collections for December 2019 decreased 1.5 percent compared to December 2018, going from $863.9 million last year to $851 million this year. |
