Senator Barbara Anne Washington's 2024 Mid-Session Report
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
 Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s 2024 Mid-Session Report Welcome to spring, Jackson County! What a glorious time this is in and for our community. Not only are the days longer and warmer, our city made history once again on March 16 when the KC Current hosted a home match at the world’s first stadium built and dedicated solely for women’s professional sports. This beautiful season of renewal and hope also signals the halfway point of session and the weeklong spring break. While I’m home spending time in the city and with family, I wanted to update you on some bills that are moving closer to the legislative finish line. The Senate sent several bills to the Missouri House of Representatives during the first half of session, two of which could negatively impact our community. Pending passage by the Legislature and voters, Senate Joint Resolution 74 will raise the threshold to amend the constitution to both a majority of votes cast statewide and in five out of eight congressional districts. The “school choice” legislation, which has grown to over 167 pages in length, proposes to substantially increase the maximum tax credit cap for empowerment scholarship accounts, or vouchers. The Missouri Constitution already specifies that amendments pass when “a majority of the votes cast therein is in favor,” and mandates funding for public schools, not vouchers for private institutions. I voted no on both of these measures and strongly encourage voters to educate themselves on the possible repercussions.
Two of my proposals were combined with other legislation before those bills advanced. The legislation to strengthen, diversify and categorize data in our state’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board was added to Senate Bill 1357. I’m hopeful this bipartisan legislation makes it to the governor’s desk to help identify causes and at-risk populations and reduce Missouri’s high maternal death rates. I was pleased to add my proposal to “raise the age” to certify juveniles for trial as adults to similar public safety bills and see it passed by the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Jan. 24. Unfortunately, some problematic language was added during debate on the bill, so I ultimately voted no on the perfected version of Senate Bill 754. The most rewarding part of serving in the General Assembly is seeing how bills you helped usher into law positively affect Missourians. In 2021, I worked with Sen. Nick Schroer to pass legislation to make those who committed crimes as juveniles and had served 15 years of their sentence eligible for parole. Bobby Bostic was one of the hundreds of benefactors of this new law. Convicted of being an accomplice in two armed robberies and sentenced to 241 years of prison at age 16, Mr. Bostic was finally released on parole in 2022 after 27 years of incarceration.
Senators Schroer and Washington welcome Bobby Bostic to the chamber. Save the Dates! Please share these flyers on social media.
Mark your calendar for the annual Public Health and Safety Fair on July 13, 2024, at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2024
It is an honor representing the great people of Jackson County’s 9th Senatorial District. If you need assistance navigating state government or understanding the legislative process, please contact me by calling 573-751-3158 or emailing Barbara.Washington@senate.mo.gov. My team is here for you! |
