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The Week of January 15, 2024

On the Floor

This week, more committee hearings were held. Witnesses can testify in support or opposition to bills. This is an important part of the legislative process because it gives constituents the opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers about their concerns with proposed laws. 

Bills and Committees

Senator May’s Legislation:                                                 

The following bills have been second read and referred to committee for a hearing:

Judiciary Committee:

The committee heard four bills this week, including my Senate Bill 760, which would add firefighters as eligible first responder personnel to receive services from the Critical Incident Stress Management Program of the Missouri Department of Public Safety. This legislation was passed as a part of Senate Bill 189 last year, but SB 189 was vetoed by the governor.

Senate Bill 746 would modify parole eligibility for offenders under the age of 18. Under current law, such an offender sentenced to 15 years or more would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of their sentence, unless the offender is found guilty of first degree murder. This legislation adds murder in the second degree to this provision. Senate Bill 754 creates “Max’s Law” to increase the penalties for the offense of assault on a law enforcement animal. Senate Bill 788 establishes “Blair’s Law,” which creates the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm, such as celebratory gunfire. 

Commerce Committee:

The committee heard two bills this week regarding utilities. Senate Bill 740 modifies several provisions relating to utilities, including the compensation of trustees of common sewer districts, renewable energy standards and discounted gas rates for gas corporation customers. Senate Bill 741 modifies the definition of “large water public utility” relating to such entities acquiring small water utilities.

Appropriations Committee:

This week, the committee heard and voted 12-1 to pass Senate Bill 748, which reauthorizes the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA). Missouri health care providers across the state voluntarily pay this tax so they can receive reimbursement for treating Medicaid patients. The FRA will sunset this year, so it is imperative it passes to avoid substantial cuts to the program. 

Some senators, however, have indicated their intent to block the bill when it comes up for Senate debate unless unrelated language is added attempting to defund organizations that provide women’s health care services in Missouri and abortions in other states. Until recent years, lawmakers typically renewed the FRA without controversy. That changed in 2021 when members of a hardline faction successfully prevented the last renewal bill from passing during the regular session, forcing last-minute action in a subsequent special legislative to prevent an interruption in the tax. The current measure, SB 748, would permanently renew the tax, avoiding the need for future renewal fights.

Although Medicaid doesn’t cover abortion services, these same senators have long sought to prohibit organizations associated with abortion procedures from receiving Medicaid reimbursements for providing other health care services for women. Because abortion is now illegal in Missouri in nearly all circumstances, no organizations in the state currently offer the procedure. Federal law requires states to reimburse all willing providers of legally eligible services.

Gubernatorial Appointments Committee:

It was an honor to present former St. Louis City Mayor Francis G. Slay to the Gubernatorial Appointments Committee for appointment to the State Highways and Transportation Commission. Mr. Slay was first elected mayor of St. Louis City in 2001, becoming the longest serving mayor in city history after securing re-election in three elections. During his tenure, Mayor Slay oversaw the rebuild of Busch Stadium, improved public safety and innovated public education. In 2007, Mayor Slay received a Preserve American Presidential Award for his work revitalizing the city’s historic downtown. I am certain Mr. Slay will excel in this new role on the State Highways and Transportation Commission. 

Other News 

Senate bill seeks to strip local control of St. Louis police  

On Jan. 17, the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee heard Senate Bill 808, an attempt to restore state control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. The state oversaw the department for more than 150 years until Missouri voters reinstated local authority more than a decade ago.

The original state takeover of the St. Louis police department resulted from Gov. Claiborne Fox Jackson’s efforts to take Missouri out of the Union and join the Confederacy after the outbreak of the Civil War. At Jackson’s behest, the legislature enacted legislation in late March 1861 stripping the pro-Union St. Louis city government of authority over its police force and giving it to a state-run police board to prevent officers from being used against Confederate sympathizers. 

A state-run Board of Police Commissioners had governed the St. Louis department for more than 150 years, and under SB 808 a similar state-run board would oversee the department. Although city taxpayers would continue to be responsible for funding the department, they would have no say through their local elected representatives in how it operates. Senate Bill 808 also would impose fines of $1,000 per occurrence on city officials who resist state authority and ban them from holding elected office in the future.

Supporters of state control say it would stem violent crime, and opponents of the bill noted violent crime increased throughout Missouri after members of the majority party voted to enact laws weakening the state’s gun laws. Especially given the origins of the original state takeover of the St. Louis police, the current effort is also drawing criticism since the largely white legislative majority is seeking to take control of a key municipal function in a city with a Black mayor and population that is nearly half Black.

House committee considers another big hike in license fees

The House Transportation Infrastructure Committee on Jan. 17 heard legislation that would impose a 50% increase in the fee the private contractors that run the state’s license offices charge Missourians for obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses or vehicle plates. The proposed hike comes just five years after lawmakers doubled the fee.

The contractors use the fee to cover their operating expenses and earn a profit. House Bill 1768 would increase the fee for two-year license plates or a six-year driver’s license from $12 to $18. This fee is in addition to the actual cost of the plates or license, the revenue from which goes to the state and would not increase under the bill.

Lawmakers doubled the fee from $6 to $12 in 2019, providing what had been the first increase in more than two decades. Supporters say another bump is necessary due to inflationary increases in contractors’ operational expenses. Opponents say imposing another large fee hike on Missouri motorists isn’t justified. 

The House of Representatives narrowly approved a similar bill last year by just three more votes than the minimum necessary to advance it to the Senate, but it failed to win final passage. The committee took no immediate action on this year’s version of the bill.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in the legislative process. I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that are important to you this legislative session. If there is anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 573-751-3599.