Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 28, 2025
Friday, February 28, 2025
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 28, 2025
Measures Gain Momentum
The second month of session concluded with a productive week at the State Capitol. The 103rd General Assembly convened a joint session in the chamber of the Missouri House of Representatives on Feb. 25 to hear the Missouri Supreme Court chief justice’s “State of the Judiciary” address, the Senate third read and sent more proposals to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration and three more of my measures gained momentum during public hearings.
During the 51st State of the Judiciary, Chief Justice Mary Russell complimented hardworking court workers and explained the need for increased funding to fairly compensate jurors and replace outdated data servers. She closed with an uplifting call to unity and stated, “Together, we can strengthen community safety, enhance the efficiency of courts, and serve our citizens well.”
On Feb. 25, I presented Senate Bill 303 to my fellow panelists on the Senate Progress and Development Committee. Similar to a bill I carried last year, SB 303 designates every Feb. 20 as John Donaldson Day in Missouri to memorialize this Negro Leagues Baseball pitcher and the segregation and racism he overcame during his 30-year career in baseball and stint with the Kansas City Monarchs.
The following day, I explained my DWI diversion program to members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Senate Bill 434, which also resembles legislation I filed last year, allows judges to divert DWI offense cases to a diversion program as long as they meet certain criteria. This include first-time offenders, defendants who have not completed a different diversion program, those who do not hold a commercial drivers license or offenses that were not committed while driving a commercial vehicle. The provisions of the diversion program include suspending a DWI sentence for two years for offenders who successfully complete the program, installing an ignition interlock device in the person’s vehicle for one year and tasking the Department of Revenue to keep records of the devices and programs.
I had the opportunity to introduce my colleagues on the Economic and Workforce Development Committee to Senate Bill 128 on Feb. 26. This legislation is in response to the changes made to state departments a few years ago and reassigns various references from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD). My legislation also permits DHEWD to administer grants under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, per the department’s request.
In the first two months of session, the Senate has passed multiple pieces of legislation and sent them to start the process over in the Missouri House of Representatives. A lengthy discussion ensued on Senate Bill 22 on the floor on Feb. 25 regarding summary statements on statewide ballot measures. I am still unclear on the reasoning behind switching this role from constitutionally-trained attorneys in Missouri’s courts to the secretary of state, a position that requires no formal or legal or constitutional education or experience. On the other hand, I’m thankful we passed Senate Bill 40 to create the Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force to study why this is such a prevalent and persistent problem in the state.
On Feb. 26, I held my ground on the Senate floor in defense of the 1st Amendment on college campuses. During the debate on Senate Bill 160, I offered several amendments to ensure the institutions of higher education can operate free from discrimination and racism, keep their campuses safe and protect the rights of students who want to exercise their freedom of speech and join the student associations of their choice. This bill was laid over for future discussions.
Honoring the Legacy and Service of the Tuskegee Airmen Red Tails
On Feb. 27, I had the privilege of introducing Colonel Reginald Bassa Sr. on the Senate floor. This spry 90 year-old is one of the oldest living Tuskegee Airmen who served 30 successful years in the United States Air Force. The Red Tails volunteered to serve in World War II alongside bomber pilots and overcame racial barriers and discrimination as the first Black military airmen.
Senator Washington joins Col. Reginald Bassa Sr. and his son, Lt. Commander Reginald Bassa Jr., after introducing them on the floor.
News for the 9th
MU Life Sciences Quest Accepting Applications
Attention High School-Aged Students! The University of Missouri-Columbia is now accepting applications for its Life Sciences Quest program, a free, week-long summer academy for students interested in agriculture and its impact in our daily lives. Visit MU Life Sciences Quest for more information or to apply.
1890 National Scholars Program Accepting Applications through March 1
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA 1890 Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue career paths in food, agriculture, natural resource sciences or related academic disciplines. The application deadline is March 1, 2025. The program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.
Women Legislators of Missouri Scholarship Deadline Approaching
The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 12. Please share the info below with the college bound young women in your life.
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2025
Bill Number | Description | Status |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
The Missouri CROWN Act prohibits hair-based discrimination in publicly-funded educational institutions. | Passed by Progress and Development 2.11. | |
Expands and diversifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a handgun for a minor. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development | Hearing conducted 2.26 Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for qualified providers of employment, employment services or housing for homeless persons. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing housing assistance to victims of domestic violence. | Hearing conducted on 2.11 Progress and Development Committee | |
Modifies provisions relating to emergency medical services | Referred to Emerging Issues | |
Creates the offense of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Establishes the Cronkite New Voices Act to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media. | Referred to Education. | |
Modifies provisions relating to offenses against employees of election authorities. | Referred to Local Government, Elections and Pension. | |
Enacts provisions relating to health insurance coverage of maternity services to include midwifery. | Referred to Insurance and Banking. | |
Designates every Feb. 20 as John Donaldson Day to honor Missouri native and Negro Leagues Baseball star pitcher. | Hearing conducted 2.25 Progress and Development | |
Establishes May 8 each year as Amyloidosis Awareness Day in Missouri. | Referred to Progress and Development | |
Modifies provisions relating to the offense of filing false documents. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Requires public and charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in grades 4-12. | Referred to Education | |
Creates provisions relating to lactating public and charter school students. | Referred to Education | |
Requires schools that receive state funds to give excused absences for attending scheduled elections with their parents. | Referred to Education | |
Requires school districts and charter schools to offer students who are 17 and ½ years the opportunity to register to vote. | Referred to Education | |
Creates a health advocate program at the Department of Health and Senior Services for eligible pregnant patients. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Modifies provisions relating to restitution for individuals who are actually innocent and exonerated based on evidence other than DNA. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to use of marijuana by family court participants. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Authorizes a tax credit for first time home buyers to purchase eligible blighted property. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Provides that no person, corporation, or other entity in Missouri shall manufacture, import, possess, purchase, sell or transfer any assault weapon or large capacity magazine. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Designates Officer James Muhlbauer K-9 Officer Champ Memorial Bridge in Jackson County. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to closed criminal records. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Creates that eligible offenses be automatically expunged without petition. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to earned discharge from probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Designates every Nov. 9 as Links, Incorporated Day in Missouri | Referred to Progress and Development | |
Creates a DWI diversion program. | Hearing conducted 2.26 Judiciary | |
Creates provisions relating to parole eligibility after serving 30 years or more of a sentence. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Reduces the term of probation for a misdemeanor violation from 2 years to 18 months and removes the drug and alcohol screening for certain offenses. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to legal representation for certain court proceedings involving children. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Prohibits removing registered voters from the Missouri Voter Registration System unless the voter has not voted in the previous five calendar years or met other criteria. | Referred to Local Government, Elections and Pensions | |
Includes CLASS EA – esthetics and manicuring as a new classification for licensure for cosmetologists. | Referred to Emerging Issues and Professional Registration | |
Creates new provisions relating to state contracts for minority and women’s business enterprises. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Prohibits carrying concealed firearms in public libraries. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Places limits on increases in the assessment of certain properties, pending voter approval. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Eliminates the statute of limitations for civil actions based on certain sexual offenses. | Referred to Judiciary |
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!