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.
Senate Republicans spent much of Wednesday trying to pass legislation that would overturn many of the statutory provisions that passed on last November’s ballot as Proposition A, including those provisions relating to employee paid sick leave and private causes of action against employers, yet Senate Democrats stymied these efforts with a thirteen-hour filibuster. And, with Tuesday dedicated to the Senate Committee on Appropriations’ work on budget bills, the Senate passed few bills this week. Legislation it did manage to Third Read related to fire protection districts, compensation of student athletes, and student assessments for public schools.
For its part, the House churned through floor time, spending most of its week perfecting House bills. With only four weeks left in Session, there is little chance these bills will pass on their own, however, floor perfection helps bill sponsors amend their language onto more viable vehicles moving through the General Assembly. This morning, the House Third Read HCS HJR 73, which places a measure on next year’s ballot to overturn Amendment 3, which last November legalized most abortions in Missouri.
State Board of Education Appointments
This week, Governor Mike Kehoe announced four appointments to the State Board of Education, which include: Michael Matousek, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education; Kenneth "Brooks" Miller Jr., of Sunrise Beach, was appointed to the State Board of Education; Jon Otto, of Kansas City, was appointed to the State Board of Education; and Dr. Thomas Prater, of Springfield, was appointed to the State Board of Education.
Budget Update
Despite an IT meltdown forcing Senate Appropriations staff to work off excel spreadsheets, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed work on the proposed $48 billion Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget, with the exception of capital improvements and re-appropriation of dedicated federal relief and stimulus funds. After numerous changes, the Senate Committee-approved version of the budget looks dramatically different than the House-approved version, and around half a billion dollars in additional spending than called for by the Governor or House. Several differences between the proposals, which is expected to be debated by the full Senate at the end of April, include:
Additionally, the House provided its approval to HB's 18, 19, and 20 this week, which fund capital improvements (CI) and reappropriations for the state, including nearly $4 billion of General Revenue and federal stimulus funds and 45 new projects throughout the state. Combined, the regular operating budgets approved by the House and the capital improvement budgets total around $51.7 billion for Fiscal Year 2026, approximately $2 billion less than called for by Governor Kehoe in January. The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to review and finalize the three CI bill’s next week in preparation for full floor debate the end of April.
The full budget must be complete and approved by both chambers by May 9.
Sunshine Law
The Senate Committee on General Laws met Tuesday morning to discuss HB 145, sponsored by Representative Bill Falkner (R-St. Joseph). The bill allows for closure of records if they contain individually identifiable information of minors, and the record is held by a city or park board. The bill includes an exemption to the sunshine law for state parks records. It also exempts utility records, county and municipal park records, and records regarding endangered plants or animals. The MO Municipal League, Municipal League of Metro St. Louis, MO Park and Rec Association, and the MO Press Association supported the bill. No opposing testimony was presented.
Omnibus Judiciary Bill
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee conducted a hearing on HCS HB 176, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Cameron Parker (R-Campbell). The original bill establishes provisions relating to electronic estate planning, the "Missouri Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act." A lengthy floor amendment was previously added to the bill by the House that includes the “Uniform Public Expression Protection Act” or anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). Anti-SLAPP provides procedures for dismissal of causes of action in a civil action based on a person’s exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or the Missouri Constitution, on a matter of public concern such as when a person is speaking at a public hearing or meeting of a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding. The amendment also attempts to provide more information to the public in court records, and it allows a deceased person’s family member to have that deceased person’s misdemeanor offense removed from CaseNet, six months or more after the person’s death. Witnesses in support of the bill were the Judicial Conference of Missouri, Missouri Bar Association, Institute for Free Speech, Trust & Will, the Missouri Department of Labor, and four legal aid associations located in Missouri. There was no testimony in opposition, and the committee took no action on the bill.
Records of Complaints
The Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee met Wednesday morning to discuss HB 339, sponsored by Representative Ann Kelley (R-Lamar). Currently, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is required to keep a record of substantiated complaints against licensed childcare facilities. The bill prohibits DESE from releasing information to the public about those who make complaints. The bill also contains an Emergency Clause. No testimony was presented in support or opposition of the bill.
Newspapers’ Legal Publication Requirements
The House Rules-Administrative Committee gathered Monday afternoon to consider passage of 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. 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. The bill was voted do pass by a vote of 8-0.
Trafficking, Offenses Against Children; Bill Expands in Senate
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met in executive session and voted “do pass” on Senate Committee Substitute for HCS HB 615, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Coleman (R-Grain Valley). The committee vote was 5-2. The Senate Committee Substitute added several measures to the bill, including provisions relating to workers’ compensation (SB 667); circuit courts’ ability to dissolve limited liability companies (HB 125); estate planning (HB 180); judicial security (HB 1457); judicial review for agency interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations (SB 221); Uniform Public Expression Protection Act/Anti-SLAPP (SB 503); St. Louis City civil case filing fees (SB 18); jurors’ compensation (SB 447); renewal of civil legal services fund, and cybercrime investigations fund. 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, according to HCS HB 615. The bill changes the age from 14 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 certain offenses. The bill also modifies the offense of enticement of a child by increasing the victim's age from less than 15 years old to less than 17 years old. Also, the bill modifies the penalty provisions for the offense of patronizing prostitution. The bill establishes the "Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund.” The money in the Fund will be distributed to the county where a human trafficking offense occurred. The county would 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. SCS HCS HB 615 provides that a person who pleads 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 funds for disbursement according to the bill's requirements.
Dues for Statewide Activity Associations
The House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education convened Wednesday afternoon for a public hearing on HB 1273, sponsored by Representative Jeff Knight (R-Lebanon). The bill prevents public schools from being a member of or paying dues to any statewide activities association that allows post-season or tournament-style athletic competitions between public and private schools. Supporting testimony was presented by a private citizen who stated the issue is fairness and this legislation, while maybe not the whole answer, attempts to address the imbalance between public and private schools. Informational testimony was presented by the Missouri Council of School Administrators who provided background information on MSHA’s current policies. No opposing testimony was presented to the committee.
State Department Purchasing
The House Committee on Government Efficiency convened Wednesday afternoon to consider passage of HB 1570, sponsored by Representative John Black (R-Mansfield). Currently, all State purchases in excess of $10,000 are based on competitive bids. On purchases where the estimated expenditure will be $100,000 or more, the Commissioner of Administration advertises for and solicits bids, then selects the lowest and best bid. The bill seeks to allow any State department to conduct its own purchasing according to the procedures and requirements of Chapter 34. The Commissioner of Administration will cooperate with and assist any State department requesting to conduct its own purchasing.
Condensed County Financial Statement
On Monday evening, the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs met in executive session and voted “do pass” on SB 2, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). The committee vote was 17-0. Rep. Tricia Byrnes (R-Wenzville), the committee’s chair, attempted to add two amendments to the bill featuring a total of seven House bills and then attempted to pass a House Committee Substitute, but those three issues failed by committee votes of 7-9, 7-9, and 8-9. Rep. Bill Falkner (R-St. Joseph) had pleaded with committee members to keep the bill clean so it may pass the General Assembly. SB 2 requires a condensed county financial statement to be published each year on or before June 30th in local newspapers in all counties of the first, second, third, or fourth classification. The bill language includes publication of the name and current gross annual salary of each elected or appointed county official. Another portion of SB 2 deals with political subdivisions that fail to submit their required annual financial statements and that fail to pay fines. The bill allows for the reduction or elimination of fines for certain political subdivisions that do not file annual financial statements under certain circumstances.
Mental Health Treatment Court, and More
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and voted “do pass” on House Committee Substitute for SS SB 218, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe). The committee vote was 13-0. The original bill provides for the establishment of a mental health treatment court to provide an alternative for the disposal of cases that stem from mental health or co-occurring disorders of criminal defendants. Added to the bill in the committee substitute were issues related to firearms (HB 726); removal of certain court records of deceased persons from CaseNet (HB 143); judicial security (HB 1457); repeal of the expiration date of funding of basic civil legal services for certain persons (HB 124); anti-SLAPP (HB 83); and the addition of some circuit court judges.
House Judiciary Committee Loads SB 221
On Wednesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee gathered in executive session and voted “do pass” on House Committee Substitute for SS SB 221, sponsored by Sen. Nick Schroer (R-O’Fallon). The committee vote was 13-0. The committee’s substitute added many provisions of other bills, including: the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act (HB 608); limited driving privileges (HB 1531 and HB 931); workers’ compensation administrative law judges (HB 123); circuit courts dissolving limited liability companies (HB125); increasing age from 17 to 18 for orders of protection (HB 736); electronic estate planning (HB 176); removal of certain records of deceased on CaseNet; judicial security (HB 1457); repeals the expiration date of funding of basic civil legal services for certain persons (HB 124); mental health treatment courts (SB 218); additional judges in the 32nd circuit (HB 93); circuit clerks compensation (HB 756); juror compensation (HB 83); and Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (HB 128). Other amendments added by the House committee involve the central registry for child abuse and neglect, police review boards, and adding several judges in the state’s judicial circuits. The original SS/SB 221 modifies the standard for review for a state agency's interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and other sub regulatory documents.
State Board of Education Appointees Confirmed
Among recent appointments by Gov. Mike Kehoe, receiving Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee unanimous approval on Wednesday were Michael Matousek and Jon Otto, both of Kansas City, who were appointed to the State Board of Education on April 14. On Thursday, the full Senate approved the two appointments.
Michael Matousek, a Republican, was introduced to the Senate committee by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville). During the hearing, Matousek discussed his work as a local school board member in his community, and he noted current problems in schools, such as student attendance, virtual learning days, accountability, or the lack thereof, and time spent at school that is not necessarily related to the classroom. He noted the need to focus more on reading, writing, math, and science. He said he supports open enrollment, but said there would be transportation issues for some school districts. He said he would visit more urban districts to investigate their challenges and what the State Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education could address. Matousek currently serves as the director of the Government Freight Conference at the American Trucking Association. He has previous experience as the state legislative affairs director for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and legislative director in the Office of Congressman Sam Graves. Matousek earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Florida.
Jon Otto, an Independent, was introduced to the Senate committee by Sen. Barbara Washington (D-Kansas City), and expressed his appreciation to serve on the State Board. Otto currently is corporate counsel for Evergy, Inc., focusing on corporate governance, SEC compliance, corporate finance, and real estate transactions. Prior to joining Evergy, he was an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP, and Polsinelli, PC law firms. Otto has served as a board member for Académie Lafayette charter school, University Health KC, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Child Protection Center, Minddrive, and the UMKC Law Alumni Association. Otto earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University.
Election Bill Reinstates Presidential Preference Primary
On Monday afternoon, the full House third read and passed HCS HB 126 & 367, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville). The House vote was 85-64, and the bill now moves to the Senate. The bill reinstates the presidential preference primary election, to be held statewide on the first Tuesday in March of each presidential election year. A person who files to be included on the presidential primary ballot is not prohibited from filing as a party candidate for nomination to another office. All costs of the presidential preference primary, except for proportional costs for any political subdivision or special district holding an election on the same day, will be paid by the state. The bill extends the no-excuse in-person absentee voting period from two weeks to six weeks before the date of an election, however, Rep. Veit said the six weeks will be deleted from the bill in the Senate, returning it to two weeks for no-excuse absentee voting. A previous House floor amendment changed the filing date for candidates in a political subdivision or special district so it would not conflict with a holiday. The amendment also added election offenses, such as threatening to harm, harass, or stalk an election judge, challenger, watcher, or employee or volunteer of an election authority, or a member of that person’s family. Another floor amendment deals with designated challengers and watchers for each polling place, appointed by the chair of the county committee of each political party named on the ballot. Another floor amendment prohibits public funds in a retirement system from being used to support or oppose ballot measures or the nomination or election of any candidate for public office.
Newspaper Notices and Catalytic Converters
On Wednesday afternoon, the full House perfected by voice vote HB 757, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker). The bill needs another House vote before it would move to the Senate. The bill modifies the requirements for public notice of sale by operators of self-service storage facilities for the auction of personal property of an occupant in default. The bill allows for the operator to advertise the sale in any commercially reasonable manner such as on the internet or in the classified section of newspapers. A House floor amendment on Wednesday by Rep. Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland) would have deleted the internet notice and return the newspaper notice, but the amendment failed by voice vote. Missouri Press Association is opposed to this portion of the bill which has been in play for about five years. The bill also requires the Department of Revenue to issue licenses for those who buy or sell catalytic converters. It also requires scrap metal dealers to require proof the catalytic converter came from a licensed repair shop or was obtained legally and contains penalty provisions for those who are found knowingly purchasing, obtaining, or possessing stolen catalytic converters.
