Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
The following is a legislative update from Clarkston Nelson, LLC concerning the Missouri General Assembly’s spring legislative session. Use the information within to develop local coverage of issues important to your readers.
Two bills of significance were sent to Governor Mike Kehoe’s desk this week. On Wednesday, the House concurred with the Senate amendments on the omnibus public safety bill to Truly Agree and Finally Pass SS#2 SCS HCS#2 HB 495. The bill was passed with an emergency clause, which means it will take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature. This afternoon, the House Truly Agreed and Finally Passed SS#2 SB 4, an omnibus utility bill. The Governor’s press release highlighting early Session accomplishments may be found here.
The General Assembly now heads into its week-long Legislative Spring Break before returning on March 24th for the final eight weeks of Session. With both chambers having worked relatively quickly in moving legislation through committees and their respective floors during the first half of Session, the question for the remaining legislative weeks will be whether they can maintain the same consistency. Rumblings of intraparty and interparty discontent, coupled with polarizing social issues remaining on the calendar, suggest some disruptions will be seen moving forward.
With no legislative activity scheduled next week, our office will not have a legislative report next Friday. We will resume reporting the week of March 24th.
Proposition A Arguments
The MO Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday morning regarding the constitutionality of Proposition A, which increased the state's minimum wage and established new paid sick leave requirements. The lawsuit was filed by several business groups and leaders and argues that the election results should be overturned because of constitutional violations. One of those violations involves the state constitution's single-subject requirement, which says Missouri laws may have only one subject. The lawsuit claims Proposition A violates this by raising two subjects: minimum wage and paid sick leave.
Budget Update
This week the Senate Truly Agreed and Finally Passed HB14, the state's Supplemental spending bill to continue funding state operations through Fiscal Year 2025, which ends June 30. The nearly $2 billion spending bill includes funding for several state departments, including the Medicaid program, MOHealthNet, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The bill will immediately go into effect upon the final approval of Governor Kehoe.
Meanwhile, the full House Budget Committee was expected to take up and consider the full FY26 budget for consideration this week, which to-date includes more than $2 billion in changes proposed by the various Appropriations Subcommittees and their respective Committee Chairman. However, due to technical glitches with the operating software the state uses have caused delays within the process and the Budget Committee will now consider changes the week after Spring Break, with expectations the full House will also debate the budget the same week.
Anti-SLAPP Included in Civil Proceedings Legislation
On Thursday morning, the House Rules-Legislative Committee met in executive session and voted do pass on House Committee Substitute for HB 83, sponsored by Rep. Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville), a comprehensive civil proceedings bill that includes establishing the “Uniform Public Expression Protection Act,” known as anti-SLAPP. Other portions of the bill modify birth, death, and marriage records; changes of attorneys in workers’ compensation cases; complaints, discipline, and removal of administrative law judges; court dissolution of a limited liability company; establishes the Missouri Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act; allows confidentiality of certain cases (deceased person convicted of a misdemeanor offense) in court case management system (Casenet); and other provisions. The "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" relates to causes of action filed against persons who exercise certain Constitutional rights. The bill specifies that when a person, defined in the bill as "an individual, estate, trust, partnership, business or nonprofit entity, governmental unit, or other legal entity,” has a cause of action filed against them based upon their communication in a governmental proceeding, such as a city council meeting, or on an issue under consideration in a governmental proceeding, or when they exercise their right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble, or the right of association, that person may file a special motion to dismiss the cause of action. This bill establishes procedures for such special motions to dismiss. The bill specifies under which circumstances a court may award costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and reasonable litigation expenses. The House Committee Substitute removed some language regarding criminal proceedings, court fees and divorce proceedings, children and criminal cases, Office of Enticement and patronizing prosecution, and removed alternative dispute resolution language.
Presidential Preference Primary
The House Rules-Legislative Committee convened Thursday morning to consider passage of HB 126 and HB 367, sponsored by Representatives Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville) and Bard Banderman (R-St. Claire), respectively. The bills are similar and reinstate the presidential preference primary election to be held statewide on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each presidential election year. However, HB 126 includes a provision which extends the no-excuse in-person absentee voting period from two weeks to six weeks prior to the date of the election. A committee substitute was adopted to combine both bills into one legislative vehicle and will be changing the date to the first Tuesday in March. The bill was voted do pass out of committee.
Active or Retired Officers’ Information Closed
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Rules-Legislative Committee met in executive session and voted do pass on HB 138, sponsored by Rep. Doyle Justus (R-Troy). The vote count was 10-0. The bill clarifies that the Department of Revenue cannot release the home address or any other information that identifies a vehicle owned or leased by any person who is an active or a retired county, state, or federal parole officer, federal pretrial officer, a peace officer, a person vested under the Missouri Constitution with judicial power, a member of the federal judiciary, or a member of such person's immediate family contained in the department's motor vehicle or driver registration records.
Sunshine Bill Exempts Minors’, Campers’ Information
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Rules-Legislative Committee voted do pass by a vote of 10-0 on House Committee Substitute for HB 145 & 59, sponsored by Rep. Bill Falkner (R-St. Joseph) and Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland), legislation that deals with records of minor children and of state park campers. The HCS added a new Sunshine Law exemption to allow the closure of “any portion of a record that contains individually identifiable information of a minor 17 years and under held by a public governmental body, such as a city, town, village, or park board.” The HCS also added individually identifiable customer information for visitors who make camping, lodging, or other shelter reservations for a state park or historic site to the list of records that are exempt from disclosure under the Sunshine Law, unless the records are requested by or authorized for release by the visitor.
Newspapers’ Legal Publication Requirements
The House Local Government Committee gathered Wednesday morning to hear HB 353, sponsored by Rep. Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton), a bill that changes the length of time for successor newspapers and newly established newspapers to be considered legal newspapers to publish public notices in their communities. At the beginning of the hearing, Rep. McGaugh suggested to committee members to pass the bill as a “consent” bill. Currently, to qualify as a newspaper to publish public notices, a newspaper must have been published regularly for a period of three years; or must be the successor newspaper to a non-active newspaper that restarts publication no later than 30 days after the termination of the prior newspaper. HB 353 reduces the time of regular publication from three years to one year and increases the time from 30 days to 90 days within which a successor newspaper must begin publication. The bill also allows a newspaper that has been purchased or newly established by another newspaper that already satisfies these conditions to qualify. Testimony in support of the bill was provided by Doug Crews, representing Missouri Press Association. There was no testimony in opposition, and the committee did not act on the bill.
Requirements for Physical Copies of a Municipal Code
On Wednesday morning, the House Local Government Committee met in executive session and voted “do pass” on HB 802, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker). The committee vote was 16-0. Currently, municipal clerks are required to keep at least three copies of the published book of the general ordinances of the municipality on file in the office of the clerk and available for inspection by the public. This bill allows municipal clerks to keep only one copy of the published book of the general ordinances on file if the ordinances are also available online for inspection without cost by the public.
Records Closed of Endangered Plant, Animal Location
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Rules-Legislative Committee voted do pass in executive session on House Committee Substitute for HB 1063, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland). HCS for HB 1063 adds to the list of sunshine law exemptions by closing records to protect the specific location of a plant or animal species considered endangered, threatened, critically imperiled, imperiled, or vulnerable when the known location may cause the species to be at an increased risk of peril.
Judicial Security
The House Judiciary Committee met Wednesday afternoon to consider passage of HB 1457, sponsored by Representative David Hinman (R-O’Fallon). The bill amends the Judicial Privacy Act to include circuit clerks, deputy circuit clerks, division clerks, and municipal clerks in the definition of "judicial officer". The bill also amends the definition of written request and amends the offense of tampering with a judicial officer and the offense of tampering with a judicial proceeding to prohibit a convicted person from parole or probation. House Committee Substitute for HB 1457 was voted do pass by a vote of 12-0. The substitute adjusts the terminology to reflect court related instead of judicial.
HB 1606 Fix
The House Local Government Committee convened Wednesday morning to consider passage of SB 1, Senator Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). The bill includes several provisions relating to county officials. Specifically, the bill allows county corners that fill the slot of sheriffs to receive that salary, allows salary commissions to amend the base salary schedule, allows county collectors to conduct tax sales via electronic media, allows county auditors to audit and examine claims, excludes the Boone County sheriff from the current salary schedule, and changes statutes concerning public administrators. After no discussion, the committee passed the bill by a 12-0 vote.
Senate Committee Hears Anti-SLAPP Bill
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee gathered to hear SB 503, sponsored by Sen. Mike Henderson (R-Desloge), a bill that establishes the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act” or anti-SLAPP. Currently, any action against a person for conduct or speech undertaken or made in connection with a public hearing or meeting in a quasi-judicial proceeding before a tribunal or decision-making body of the state or a political subdivision is subject to a special motion to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, or motion for summary judgment and any such motion shall be considered by the court on a priority or expedited basis. SB 503 repeals this provision and creates procedures for dismissal of causes of action asserted in a civil action based on a person's: (1) Communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (2) Communication on an issue under consideration or review in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; or (3) Exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble or petition, or the right of association, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or the Missouri Constitution, on a matter of public concern. However, this legislation shall not apply to a cause of action asserted: (1) Against a governmental unit, as described in the bill, or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity; (2) By a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (3) Against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the sale or lease of such goods or services. Testifying in favor of the bill were Chad Stebbins of the Missouri Press Association; Heath Clarkston, Missouri Broadcasters Association; James Harris, Institute for Free Speech; and Susan Klein, Missouri Right to Life. There was no testimony in opposition, and the committee took no action on the bill.
Posting of Notices
The House dedicated floor time Monday afternoon to revisit HB 233, sponsored by Representative Sherri Gallick (R-Belton). The bill requires that notices of county planning board hearings be posted on the county's website and it repeals the requirement that the notices be posted at least 15 days in advance of the hearing in at least two places in each township. After no further debate, the House passed the bill by an 147-0 vote. The bill now will be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
Human Trafficking, Offenses Against Children
On Thursday morning, the full House third read and passed House Committee Substitute for HB 615, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Coleman (R-Grain Valley). The vote was 148-2, and the bill now moves to the Senate. A floor amendment previously deleted all mention of court reporting and court reporters in the original bill. HCS HB 615 establishes the "Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund.” The money in the Fund will be distributed to the county where the human trafficking offense occurred. The county will allocate $10,000 toward local rehabilitation of human trafficking victims and $2,500 toward local education programs for convicted human trafficking offenders and to increase the number of law enforcement officers to enforce human trafficking laws. HCS HB 615 provides that a person who pled guilty to or was found guilty of certain sexual offenses as specified in the bill will be required to pay $10,000 in restitution per identified victim and $2,500 for each county in which the offense or offenses occurred, payable to the State to be deposited into the "Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund.” Upon receipt of money from the Fund, a county must allocate disbursement of the funds according to the requirements in the bill. Currently, a statement made by a child under the age of 14 that would otherwise be inadmissible in court, including a visual and an aural recording of a verbal or nonverbal statement of that child, is admissible in court in matters relating to offenses under Chapter 565, 566, 568, or 573, RSMo. This bill changes the age to children under 18. The bill also adds that a visual and an aural recording of a verbal or nonverbal statement of a "vulnerable person,” as defined in the bill, is also admissible when relating to an offense under Chapter 565, 566, 568, or 573. This bill also modifies the offense of enticement of a child by increasing the age of the victim from less than 15 years old to less than 17 years old. Additionally, the bill modifies the penalty provisions for the offense of patronizing prostitution.
Protecting Children, Vulnerable Persons
On Wednesday afternoon, the full House third read and passed House Committee Substitute for HB 1464, sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly), a bill relating to the protection of children and vulnerable persons. The vote was 151-3, and the bill now moves to the Senate. The bill deals with child pornography and establishes the “Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children.” A floor amendment was previously added to the bill by Rep. Bill Falkner (R-St. Joseph), closing under the Sunshine Law any identifiable information of a minor under 18 years of age held by a public governmental body, such as a city, town, village, or park board. Rep. Falkner’s original bill was HB 145. Missouri Press Association has been in support of Rep. Falkner’s bill.
House-Conservation and Natural Resources
3/24/25 1:00 PM
Committee Hearing, HR 7
HB545 Diehl - Prohibits the division of geology and land survey of the department of natural resources from disclosing to the public any individually identifiable user information contained within water user registration documents.
