Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for May 7, 2024
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for May 7, 2024
Hey, hey, hey, KC! What an incredible time this is to live in the City of Fountains. The Royals set a new franchise record for wins in April, the fierce ladies of the Current are leading the National Women’s Soccer League and it looks like the Super Bowl winning Chiefs and boys in blue will remain Show-Me State faves. Our community is so blessed!
I wish I shared this sentiment about the happenings in Jefferson City. Proceedings in the Senate came to hault this week when a small group of senators decided to block the perfection on the bill to extend the federal imbursement allowance (FRA) until improbable conditions were met. This included wanting to force the governor to sign a bill into law to restrict all state funding to affiliates of abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood. After 41 hours, the FRA was perfected with a compromised sunset date of Sept. 30, 2029. This funding mechanism contributes around $4 billion in federal matches to help cover Missouri’s MO HealthNet expenditures.
The lengthy filibuster also caused multiple Senate hearings to be cancelled or postponed. On May 1, the Senate Progress and Development Committee was slated to hear the companion bill to my Senate Bill 969. These proposals would establish the “Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair” (CROWN) Act and ban discrimination based on hair styles in state funded educational institutions. Several versions of the CROWN Act have been filed since 2020, and I remain optimistic this makes it to the governor’s desk soon, even if it’s not this session. It’s crazy to think that this law is needed in 2024, but I got a gentle reminder if its importance when my little grandson cut off his long coils and was immediately treated differently by his peers and adults.
This Friday, May 10, is when the fiscal year 2025 operating budget has to be delivered to the governor’s desk. Since floor negotiations were stalled in the Senate this week, we only have five days left to debate, pass and deliberate changes with the Missouri House of Representatives on the 16 remaining appropriations bills. I enjoy serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee and weighing in on how our state will spend taxpayer dollars. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 totals nearly $53 billion, the largest in state history thanks to the final federal funding the state will receive from the American Rescue Plan Act.
M I Z - Z O U
What an exciting week this was for MIZZOU fans and alumni! A bronze bust of Coach Norm Stewart was inducted in the Hall of Famous Missourians, located in the third floor Rotunda. Stormin’ Norman, who coached the Missouri University men’s basketball team for 32 seasons, attended the unveiling in the chamber of the Missouri House of Representatives on May 1 and offered some humble, humorous remarks.
One of the induction ceremony’s attendees was a gifted player for Coach Stewart in the 1980s, Derrick Chievous. After crushing records and being named MVP twice, this MIZZOU star went on to play in the National Basketball Association.
Senator Washington congratulates Norm Stewart for his induction into the Hall of Famous Missourians. |
Derrick Chievous and Sen. Washington visit after the induction ceremony. |
Visitors to the Capitol
On April 29, I had the privilege of introducing Eric Dickinson, pictured below, to my colleagues on the Senate floor. He is the president of Kansas City’s Urban Ranger Corps, a program that exposes children who live in the inner city to opportunities and experiences they may not otherwise have access to.
I enjoyed presenting a resolution and introducing the state champions from the East High School Bears soccer team to my colleagues in the chamber. The Bears had an impressive 19-2 record on the road to the Class 3 state championship.
Senator Washington greets the state champs from East High School.
Upcoming Community Events
Mark your calendar for the annual Public Health and Safety Fair on July 13, 2024, at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy. Please share this graphic on your social media channels to spread the word!
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2024
Bill Number | Description | Status |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products. | Referred to Economic Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing services to homeless persons. | Hearing conducted 4/4 | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing housing to victims of domestic violence. | Passed out of committee 2/28 | |
Permits restitution payments for the innocent who were wrongfully convicted. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Raises the age from 12 to 14 to certify juveniles for trial as adults. | Combined with SB 754, Referred to House Judiciary | |
Modifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board | Combined with SB 1357 and passed out of committee | |
Permits family court participants to possess and use legal marijuana. | Referred to Health and Welfare | |
Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act to prohibit hair-based discrimination in state-funded educational institutions. | Placed on formal calendar for perfection. | |
Authorizes a tax credit for first-time homebuyers’ purchase of eligible, blighted property. | Referred to Economic Development | |
Creates a “Text-to-Donate” pilot program in St. Louis and Kansas City to help reduce homelessness. | Referred to Governmental Accountability | |
Creates a two-year pilot program for incarcerated women to have access to their children. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm for minors to carry a handgun. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Establishes the “Cronkite New Voices Act” to protect freedom of press for student journalists. | Placed on informal calendar for perfection | |
Restricts the manufacturing and possession of assault weapons and large capacity magazines. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Prohibits carrying concealed firearms in public libraries. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Creates and modifies reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to use of force by law enforcement officers. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to criminal records. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Creates provisions relating to expungement of criminal records. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to earned discharge from probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Creates new provisions relating to state contracts for minority and women’s business enterprises. | Referred to Governmental Accountability | |
Creates a DWI diversion program. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. | Referred to Empowering Missouri Parents and Students | |
Creates provisions relating to parole eligibility for senior citizens who have served 30 years. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to terms of probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles. | Referred to Economic Development | |
Raises the age for juveniles to be certified for trial as adults. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to offenses against employees of election authorities. | Referred to Local Government and Elections | |
Modifies provisions relating to legal representation for certain court proceedings involving children. | Referred to Health and Welfare | |
Modifies provisions relating to the offense of filing false documents. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Enacts provisions relating to health insurance coverage of maternity services. | Referred to Insurance and Banking | |
Establishes standards for demographic collection by certain entities. | Referred to Health and Welfare | |
Creates a health advocate program in the Department of Health and Senior Services. | Referred to Health and Welfare | |
Enacts provisions relating to motor vehicle sales tax payment plans. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to tax increment financing. | Hearing conducted 2/26 | |
Modifies provisions relating to voter registration. | Referred to Local Government and Elections | |
Modifies provisions relating to tax credits for improving access to foods, including urban farms and grocery stores. | Referred to Economic Development | |
Designates “Fallen Firefighters Memorial Bridge” in Kansas City. | Passed out of committee on 4/25 | |
Modifies provisions relating to community paramedics | Passed out of committee on 4/11 | |
Designates every Feb. 20 as John Donaldson Day in Missouri | Added to SB 964 and passed Senate on 4/11 | |
Includes Class EA-esthetics and manicuring as a new classification of licensure for cosmetologists. | Referred to Governmental Accountability | |
Establishes May 8 as “Amyloidosis Awareness Day” | Added to SB 964 and passed by Senate on 4/11 | |
Creates new provisions relating to digital assets. | Referred to Banking and Insurance | |
Modifies provisions relating to the collection of delinquent property taxes. | Referred to Emerging Issues | |
Designates Feb. 20 as John Donaldson Day | Referred to Rules, Joint Rules and Resolutions | |
Places limits on increases of the assessment of certain properties. | Referred to General Laws | |
Authorizes a tax exemption for certain senior citizens. | Referred to General Laws | |
Modifies the statutes of limitations for civil actions based on certain sexual offenses. | Hearing conducted 4/15 |
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!