NOW THAT 2020 IS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, GET READY FOR 2021
First, mark your calendars! The 2021 legislative session of the 101st General Assembly opened Wednesday, Jan. 6, in Jefferson City. Governor Mike Parson (R) along with other statewide officeholders will be inaugurated for their new terms of office during ceremonies beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, on the steps outside the state capitol. The Governor will announce his budget proposals and deliver his 2021 State of the State Address at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27. Legislative Spring Break is set for March 12 through 21. And the General Assembly’s annual session is scheduled to end at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14.
HOUSE AND SENATE ELECT LEADERS
On Jan. 6, the Missouri House officially elected Rep. Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold) as Speaker of the House. Rep. John Wiemann (R-O’Fallon) was re-elected as Speaker Pro Tem. In the Senate, Sen. Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) was unanimously re-elected to serve in that post.
Speaker Vescovo in his election address listed his legislative priorities including education reform issues, COVID liability, and foster care. During his address to the Senate, Sen. Schatz said, “Missourians are counting on us to honestly and seriously confront the issues facing our schools, public safety, infrastructure, and economy. It’s time for us to lead and deliver.”
The House introduced several rules changes, including allowing remote public testimony during House committee hearings via telephone or video conferencing with the approval of the committee at least one committee hearing in advance. Written testimony could be submitted online through the House website. Another proposed change allows a House committee to meet with less than a quorum of members present to hear testimony. Rules changes were introduced in both chambers, proposing adjustments to committees, and the rules changes will be debated in coming days. Senators and Representatives will be assigned to various committees by Sen. Schatz and Speaker Vescovo soon.
To date, 787 bills have been filed in the House, and 373 bills have been filed in the Senate.
WHAT WILL ‘INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL’ BE LIKE?
Some changes will be evident within the capitol building due to the threat of COVID-19’s spread. Business as usual is a possibility, too. Speaker Vescovo said earlier this week the General Assembly has an obligation to Missouri citizens, “which is to keep working.” The House of Representatives’ majority party members do not expect many changes in the legislative process within committee rooms or in the House chamber. Currently, there is no mask-wearing mandate in the capitol building’s public spaces. Some capitol offices do require masks to be worn. In the Senate, a major change may be allowing witnesses to testify virtually during committee hearings, but that is not certain yet. The House is equipped for virtual testimony and can be viewed via video and audio options. The Senate can be monitored via audio only at this time. Legislative priorities include COVID-19 liability protections for various businesses, schools and health care facilities; foster care program improvements, education reform, prescription drug monitoring, sports betting, legalizing recreational marijuana, addressing police reform, and drafting the state budget including oversight of CARES Act funding.
BUDGET UPDATE
On Wednesday, Governor Parson released an additional $126,921,606 of previously restricted FY 21 funds. This includes approximately $117.5 million in general revenue. The Governor pointed to current unemployment of 4.4 percent and 67 percent job recovery as of November 2020 for the reasons to release the funding. The funds released include nearly $26 million for Higher Education and Workforce Development and $1.5 million for DESE. The funds released also include $8.5 million for Tourism, $1 million for Highway Patrol needs, $9,4 million for temporary assistance for needy families, $3.9 million for the developmental disability community. Here is a complete list of the released funds:
https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-releases-nearly-127-million-fy-2021-funds
APPROPRIATIONS RELEASED FOR UNIVERSITY REPAIR PROJECTS Governor Parson also announced Jan. 6, more than $68 million in Federal Budget Stabilization Fund appropriations for infrastructure and capital improvement projects at Missouri’s 13 public universities and State Technical College of Missouri. Releasing these funds will help address major repairs and restore campus buildings to maintain a safe environment. Among the appropriations, the University of Missouri, Columbia, received $20.14 million, and Missouri State University, $8.4 million. State Technical College of Missouri received $549,415. A complete list of the appropriations is here: FBSF Appropriations.pdf (govdelivery.com)
GOVERNOR EXTENDS TIME LIMIT FOR COUNTIES’ CARES ACT DISTRIBUTIONS
On Dec. 27, Governor Parson extended the deadline to sub-recipients (counties) to June 30, 2021, from Dec. 31, 2020, for distributing CARES Act funds. Counties are required to provide the state with their individual spending data by Jan. 31, 2021, to receive the extension, according to the Governor’s order. When President Trump signed the latest COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package into law in December, one of the bill’s provisions was extending the date that CARES Act funds could be used on eligible costs by one year.
MISSOURI’S MINIMUM WAGE RATE INCREASES
Beginning Jan. 1, 2021, Missouri’s minimum wage rate increased 85 cents per hour to $10.30 from $9.45 in 2020. Missouri voters in 2018 approved a statewide ballot issue to increase the minimum wage over five years to $12 per hour in 2023. Retail or service businesses whose annual gross income is less than $500,000 are not required to pay the state minimum wage rate and may pay employees wages of their choosing.
Gubernatorial Appointments
MISSOURI DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD
On Dec. 17, Governor Mike Parson announced two appointments to the Missouri Development Finance Board: Dan Cranshaw and John Parry.
Cranshaw, of Kansas City, is a shareholder at Polsinelli where he litigates products liability, toxic tort, and other commercial matters. In addition to his litigation practice, he is a member of the firm’s Risk Management Committee and chair of its Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He assists in setting the diversity and inclusion strategy for the firm and leads the firm’s new Social Justice Initiative. He has received multiple awards for his sustained efforts in advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Cranshaw sits on the boards of Swope Community Enterprises, Urban Neighborhood Initiative, School Smart KC, the American Jazz Museum, the Women’s Foundation, Shumaker Family Foundation, Cornerstones of Care Foundation Board, and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Advisory Board. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law and Princeton University.
Parry, of Liberty, is the president and founder of The Parry Group, a holding company for area health care properties. He previously served as CEO of Hometown Hearing and Audiology. Under his leadership, the company was recognized by Business Monthly’s 25 Under 25 as one of Kansas City’s top businesses with 25 or fewer employees. Parry is an alumnus of Ingram Magazine’s 40 Under 40 and currently serves as treasurer of the Kansas City University Board of Trustees. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in health care administration and marketing from Ottawa University in Kansas.
Click the link below to access your 2021 Tracking Report
Tracking Report
Lathrop GPM legislative reports will be sent out weekly throughout the legislative session. Each report will contain your tracking report. This tracking report contains all of the bills we are tracking for you during the legislative session. This report gives a brief description of the bill, the sponsor of the bill and the last action of the bill. It also provides a quick and easy way to access the home page of the legislative bill by clicking on the bill you would like to view. Please click the “Tracking Report” button below to access your tracking report.
