Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Sept. 12, 2025
Friday, September 12, 2025
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Sept. 12, 2025
You Showed Up!
My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all of you who showed up to defend democracy and voters’ rights on Sept. 10. In my 8 years of serving as a legislator, I have never seen the Rotunda, south lawn and halls of the Capitol so full and invigorated by droves of advocates who attended the “Fair Maps” rally on Sept. 10. Thanks to all who took the time to travel, miss work, make signs and boldly chant for the Missouri Constitution and voters’ right to select their representatives in Washington, D.C.
The annual veto session convened on Sept. 10. Since lawmakers decided not to override any of the governor’s budget line-item vetoes, the session was relatively uneventful. The second extraordinary session the governor called to reform the initiative petition (IP) process and redraw Missouri’s congressional maps mid-decade that followed was a completely different story.
On Sept. 9, the Missouri House of Representatives approved House Joint Resolution 3 and House Bill 1 after a rigorous floor debate and multiple pleas for fairness from Kansas City area representatives. I believe the misnamed HJR, “Protect Missouri Voters” amendment, which requires a majority of votes cast in each congressional district to pass, will completely undermine direct democracy and make it impossible for citizen-led initiatives to pass. The resolution also contains misleading language about prohibiting foreign influence in the IP process and petition signature fraud, duplicating laws already in place. Since the IP process was enacted in 1909, Missourians have been able to amend the Constitution with a simple majority of votes cast statewide, giving every voter an equal say, regardless of their zip code.
Tensions were also high during the Senate hearing and chamber discussions on HB 1. Redistricting mid-decade could be so devastating to the KC community that our congressman and a former, 20-year judge testified and implored committee members to vote against the measure.
Unfortunately, despite overall public disapproval, a Statehouse full of protesters and diplomatic and procedural efforts, the Minority Caucus could not outvote the supermajority on either proposal. I hope you will take action, encourage your neighbors to adhere to the current majority rule system and reject this amendment when it appears on upcoming ballots. I’m also counting on voters to advocate, mobilize and elect Missouri-minded representatives in the newly drawn districts.
The Senate Select Committee on Equal Protection and DEI I serve on conducted its first hearing on Sept. 11. Tasked with ensuring each state department is in compliance with the governor’s Executive Order 5.18, committee members were given a departmental summary of their recent actions to review . The committee will meet again to determine if departments are in bounds with the order. I look forward to analyzing the data but feel confident removing DEI protections will have a negative impact on our state in the long run.
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2025
Bill Number | Description | Status |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products. | Truly agreed as a provision of HB 594 | |
The Missouri CROWN Act prohibits hair-based discrimination in publicly-funded educational institutions. | Truly Agreed as provision of SB 160 | |
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 | Passed 3.12 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. | Passed 2.25 Progress and Development Committee | |
Modifies provisions relating to emergency medical services | Hearing conducted 3.25 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. | Truly agreed as a provision of SB 348 | |
Establishes May 8 each year as Amyloidosis Awareness Day in Missouri. | Truly agreed as a provision of SB 348 | |
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. | Hearing conducted 3.4 Education | |
Requires school districts and charter schools to offer students who are 17 and ½ years the opportunity to register to vote. | Hearing conducted 3.4 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. | Truly agreed and finally passed | |
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 | Truly agreed and finally passed | |
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 | |
Modifies continuing education requirements for peace officers. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene product for all purchases made by qualifying organizations. | Referred Economic and Workforce Development | |
Designates the Kansas City Chiefs as the official professional football team of Missouri. | Hearing conducted 4.1, Progress and Development | |
Temporarily extends the hours which liquor may be sold by the drink during the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. | Referred to General Laws | |
Establishes the Missouri Entertainment Facility – Capital Assistance Program | Referred Economic and Workforce Development | |
Requires the agriculture education pilot program to be implemented at all elementary schools statewide | Referred to Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources | |
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!