Senator Karla May's May Report for the Week of Feb. 27, 2023
Friday, March 3, 2023
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The Week of Feb. 27, 2023 |
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On the Floor The governor signed House Bill 14 into law on Feb. 27. This is a supplemental budget bill that gives all state employees an 8.7% cost of living pay increase, and provides $275 million for disaster aid grants, $148.71 million for matching grants to federally qualified health centers, $20 million to bolster security at local schools and $3 million for the Wood Energy Tax Credit Program, among other provisions.
This week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 34 and sent it to the Missouri House of Representatives. I filed this legislation to allow school districts to offer elective social studies courses relating, but not limited to, the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament of the Bible and the New Testament of the Bible. These courses would focus on the historical, political and cultural impact, as well as the literary styles, of these texts. This bill requires that any course must follow applicable laws maintaining religious neutrality and not endorse, favor, promote or show hostility to any particular religion, nonreligious faith or religious perspective.
I had the opportunity to present Senate Bill 35 to the full Senate and begin debate on the legislation. This bill would give individuals who are behind on child support payments and lose their driver’s license or professional license as a result the opportunity to have an evidentiary hearing to determine if the suspension of the license should remain. While it was not declared perfected by the Senate, I look forward to continued discussion on this important issue and getting it across the legislative finish line.
The Senate also third read and passed these bills this week:
The Senate gave first round approval to Senate Joint Resolution 26, which if approved by voters, exempts from property tax all real and personal property used primarily for the care of a child outside of his or her home. The identical bill, Senate Bill 151, which would go into effect if the constitutional amendment is passed, was debated but did not receive first round approval. The Senate also perfected Senate Bill 131, which would exempt all sales of firearms and ammunition from state and local sales taxes.
Bills and Committees Judiciary Committee: On Monday, the committee was scheduled to hear three bills, but only heard testimony from House Bill 301. This legislation would allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor for up to five years if the homicide rate in a circuit or prosecuting attorney’s jurisdiction exceeds a certain rate. Under current Missouri law, it is a crime for any convicted felon to purchase or possess firearms. This legislation would restore guns rights to non-violent felons, but possession of firearms would remain a criminal offense for those convicted of violent felonies.
Unfortunately, we were unable to hear from all of the witnesses who traveled to be a part of the discussion of HB 301. The hearing was running up against the beginning of session, and while there is an option to recess the committee hearing and meet at a later time, the chair instead chose to end the hearing. Also, that evening, session was shorter than anticipated after a bill was brought up for discussion, and the majority floor leader moved to adjourn session instead of going forward with debate.
Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee: The committee heard two bills this week. Senate Bill 238 states a foreign limited liability company would not be considered to be transacting business in the state solely because they made a campaign contribution to a political action committee.
Senate Bill 378 would give the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission the discretion to extend certain campaign finance disclosure deadlines by up to 48 hours if there are extraordinary circumstances that would make compliance with the statutory deadline impossible.
Appropriations Committee: The following departments and offices shared their funding requests for the FY ‘24 state operating budget:
Other News House approves state control of St. Louis police department Just 10 years after Missourians voted overwhelmingly to end more than 150 years of state control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Missouri House of Representatives on March 1 granted preliminary approval to legislation to put the department back under state authority.
House Bill 702 would put a five-member Board of Police Commissioners in charge of the St. Louis police. The governor would appoint four commissioners, with the city’s mayor filling the fifth spot. City taxpayers would continue to be responsible for paying all of the department’s expenses.
Supporters of the bill tout it as necessary to stem violent crime in the city. Opponents criticize the bill as a false solution to combat rising crime and believe fewer gun restrictions are to blame. Just weeks earlier, the House advanced legislation that would restore gun rights to many convicted felons after stripping a provision from the bill to prohibit children from carrying firearms without parental supervision.
The takeover effort has also drawn criticism since the largely white legislative majority is seeking to take control of a key municipal department in a city with a Black mayor and population that is nearly half Black.
The state’s first takeover of the St. Louis police occurred at the outset of the Civil War as Missouri’s secessionist governor sought to limit the power and voices of pro-Union city officials and suppress the local Black population. State control lasted until 2013, after 63.9% of Missouri voters approved a 2012 ballot measure restoring local authority. A second House vote is necessary to send HB 702 to the Missouri Senate.
Legislators reconsider allowing foreign ownership of farms The Missouri House of Representatives on March 2 voted 130-3 to advance legislation seeking to restore some restrictions on foreign companies buying agricultural land. Supporters of the bill said limiting foreign control over agricultural production in Missouri is vital to national security.
Instead of reinstating the previous ban on foreign ownership, House Bill 903 limits the amount of agricultural land that can be in foreign hands and prohibits companies with ties to five countries – China, Iran, North Korea, Russia or Venezuela – from acquiring Missouri farmland in the future. The bill now advances to the Missouri Senate for further consideration.
House moves to control state transportation spending The Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission would lose its constitutional control of state road funds under legislation that won first-round approval in the House of Representatives on March 1. A second vote is necessary to advance the measure to the Senate.
Since its creation nearly a century ago, the six-member commission has had constitutional protection from legislative meddling over how tax revenue earmarked for roads and bridges is allocated. Although lawmakers must approve most state spending, revenue in the State Road Fund is appropriated “without legislative action” and can only be spent as determined by the commission, which is the governing authority of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
House Joint Resolution 37 would subject spending from the road fund to legislative approval and delete the existing language granting the commission the “sole discretion” to determine how the money is allocated, thus allowing lawmakers to determine which projects receive funding. As a proposed constitutional amendment, HJR 37 would automatically go on the November 2024 ballot for voter ratification if it clears both legislative chambers.
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CONTACT INFORMATION |
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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. |
