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.
It was a short legislative week, as the General Assembly was off on Easter Monday. Senate floor activity slowed considerably this week. On Tuesday, the upper chamber third read a House bill relating to landlord-tenant and real estate transactions. Yet on Wednesday the Senate returned to a House bill seeking to modify “Prop A” ballot language that passed last year relating to minimum wage and sick leave, before the legislation was once again laid over after a nine-hour filibuster. With the General Assembly constitutionally mandated to pass a budget by May 9th, the Senate is expected to spend at least one day next week debating budget bills, with issues such as education, Prop A, abortion, and healthcare still lingering in that body.
With few Senate bills to consider, the House spent much of its week perfecting House bills – that is, passing bills that originated in the House. This morning, the chamber did third read a Senate omnibus bill relating to education issues, including school safety. That bill, like at least four other bills before it, is expected to go to conference, where the conference committee consisting of Senate and House members will need to agree on the provisions to return to their respective Chambers for a final vote.
With only three weeks remaining in Session, floor time, especially in the Senate, becomes increasingly precious, and budget and social issues are likely to dominate the discussion and affect inter and intra-Chamber politics.
Governor Kehoe’s First 100 Days
This week marked the first 100 days of the Kehoe Administration. Highlights from Governor Kehoe’s first 100 days include:
Executive Actions: Governor Kehoe moved quickly to establish key priorities through executive action, reinforcing public safety and streamlining operations to better serve Missourians.
Legislative Achievements: Working in partnership with the General Assembly, the Kehoe Administration has already secured several legislative wins to enhance the lives of Missourians across the state.
Gubernatorial Appointments: In his first 100 days, Governor Kehoe has made nearly 100 appointments to boards, commissions, the judiciary, and county-level positions—demonstrating a commitment to experienced leadership, efficient governance, and balanced representation.
Budget Update
The new $100 million Missouri accounting system, called MOVERS, is still disrupting the budget process. The system was purchased in 2022 and is supposed to help the budget process, including tracking state appropriation decisions. However, the system has now failed twice both during critical times throughout the House and Senate budget process which has led to ongoing delays and confusion regarding appropriated line items. To date, the MOVERS system is still not functioning and has delayed the budget process for another week.
With time quickly running out, many are hopeful they can get the system operational enough to continue the budget process next week as the full budget must be completed and approved by both chambers by May 9.
Anti-SLAPP Bill Expanded
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee voted “Do Pass” on Senate Committee Substitute for HCS HB 176, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Cameron Parker (R-Campbell). The committee vote was 6-0. The Senate Committee Substitute adds to the bill modification of the standard for review for a state agency’s interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and other sub regulatory documents (SB 221). The original House bill establishes provisions relating to electronic estate planning, the Missouri Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act. Previously added to the bill by the House is 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 bill 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.
Records of Complaints
The Senate Committee on Families, Seniors and Health convened Wednesday morning to discuss passage of 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 child care facilities. The bill prohibits DESE from releasing information to the public about those who make complaints. Additionally, the bill contains an Emergency Clause. After no discussion, the committee passed the bill by a 6-0 vote.
Judicial Proceedings Legislation
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 1259, sponsored by Rep. Bill Hardwick (R-Dixon). The committee vote was 6-0. The Senate Committee Substitute adds to the bill modification of the standard for review for a state agency’s interpretation of statutes, rules, regulations, and other sub regulatory documents (SB 221); adds the Judicial Privacy Act, the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act or anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), sunset extensions to the Cybercrimes Investigation Fund and the Basic Legal Services Fund, and establishes the Missouri Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act, among other judicial proceedings.
Protecting Children, Vulnerable Persons
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 1464, sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis (R-Moberly), a bill relating to the protection of children and vulnerable persons. The committee vote was 6-0. The bill deals with child pornography and establishes the Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children. The Senate Committee Substitute adds a portion of SB 143 relating to juvenile detainment; provisions regarding trespass by illegal aliens, human trafficking, restraints on children in juvenile courts, childhood sexual abuse actions, adult cabaret performances (SB 295), sexual trafficking of a child in the second degree (ages changed from 15 to 20 years), and the sunset extension for the Cybercrimes Investigation Fund. The bill also adds a provision, 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.
Condensed County Financial Statement and More
On Thursday morning, the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs met in executive session and voted to reconsider SB 2, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). The bill had previously been voted “do pass.” However, on Thursday, a House Committee Substitute was added to SB 2 by a “do pass” vote of 11-2. 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. The House Committee Substitute is lengthy with the following issues added to the bill: Township counties may allow property taxes to be paid annually, semi-annually, or quarterly like non-township counties; Pro-rated vehicle property tax bills if vehicle was totaled or salvaged in mid-year; Local governments shall provide a proposed budget to each board member at least 7 days before voting on it; Local ordinances may be online and if so they don’t need as many paper copies available to the public; The State Tax Commission picks which vehicle guide assessors use; Homes used as short-term rentals shall be property taxed as residential property, not commercial; Allows county park sales taxes to be used for storm water management projects; and Allows sales tax revenue to be withheld from counties that disobey State Tax Commission’s orders to lower their assessments. 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 reducing or eliminating fines for certain political subdivisions that do not file annual financial statements under certain circumstances.
Water Exportation
The House Committee on Conservation and Natural Resources convened Tuesday afternoon to discuss SB 82, sponsored by Senator Jamie Burger (R-Benton). The bill specifies that it is unlawful for any person to withdraw from any water source inside the state of Missouri for export of more than 30 miles outside the state unless a water export permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources is held or a special exemption has been granted. The bill also establishes a 120-day review process with a public comment period and requires all permit holders to annually file a publicly available report detailing the volume, withdrawal rates, and end use of all exported water. Finally, the bill outlines the process for renewing issued permits and establishes a civil review process for the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute complaints against permit holders. During committee discussion, a committee substitute was adopted to include HB 995, which modifies certain provisions requiring annual testing of school drinking water sources for lead and HB 928, which provides a fix for the St. Louis Port to access the Waterways and Ports Trust Fund. Once modified, the committee passed the bill by a 9-0 vote.
SB 189 Converted Into an Omnibus Crime Bill
On Thursday morning, the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs met in executive session and voted “do pass” on House Committee Substitute for SB 189, sponsored by Sen. Justin Brown (R-Rolla). The committee vote was 11-2. The original bill adds vehicles operated by county or municipal park rangers to the definition of “emergency vehicle.” A 134-page committee substitute was added to the bill. Items in the HCS include: crime incident reporting and data that documents case clearances, law enforcement agency requesting assistance from another agency of another jurisdiction, including outside the state but within the United States; the sheriff of St. Louis City shall be required to hold a valid peace officer license within two years of being elected as sheriff, bullying and cyberbullying in public schools and charter schools, possible fingerprint requirements for teachers and substitute teachers in public schools with fingerprints and any required fees sent to the State Highway Patrol central repository, child pornography and child sexual abuse offenses, community paramedic services, State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services, fingerprint submissions for emergency medical technicians (EMTs), MO HealthNet providers, occupational therapists, clinical perfusionists, new motor vehicle franchise dealers, interpreters, and dozens of applicants for licenses throughout Missouri state agencies, commissions and boards, the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, background checks and fingerprint submissions of providers in the private home used for emergency placement of a child, creation of the Safe Place for Newborns Fund in the state treasury, creation of the Statewide Council Against Adult Trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the office of Attorney General, reauthorizing the Line of Duty Compensation Act, the Firefighters’ Procedural Bill of Rights Act, nondisclosure agreements by any party to any child sexual abuse claim shall not be judicially enforceable in a dispute involving any child sexual abuse claims and shall be null and void, child sex trafficking, the offense of unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter, interference with first responders, drug trafficking of carfentanil, creation of the Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund in the state treasury and payments to support victims, four hours of basic training for peace officers regarding canines, and closure of records of a minor under 18 years old held by a city, town, village, or park board.
Disclosure of Vital Records
The Senate Committee on Families, Seniors and Health convened Wednesday morning to discuss passage of SB 598, sponsored by Senator David Gregory (R-St. Louis). The bill repeals a provision of law permitting the Department of Health and Senior Services to disclose a listing of persons who are born or who die on a particular date upon a person's request. After no discussion, the committee passed the bill by a 6-0 vote.
Disclosure of Intimate Digital Depictions
On Wednesday afternoon, the full House perfected by voice vote HB 362, as amended, sponsored by Rep. Cecelie Williams (R-Dittmer). Another House vote is needed to send the bill to the Senate. Except as provided in HB 362, a person who is the subject of an "intimate digital depiction,” as defined in the bill, that is disclosed without the consent of the person and made by a person who knows or recklessly disregards that the individual has not consented, can bring a civil action against the other person. The bill lists what an individual may recover in the event of a civil action based on disclosure of an intimate digital depiction, what the court may order as relief, and in what situations an individual may not bring an action for relief. The bill establishes the offense of disclosure of an intimate digital depiction, which a person commits if the person discloses or threatens to disclose an intimate digital depiction: with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten, alarm, or cause harm to the depicted individual; or with the actual knowledge that, or reckless disregard for whether, such disclosure or threatened disclosure will cause harm to the depicted individual. The bill lists the penalties associated with the offense of disclosure of an intimate digital depiction as well as whether certain defenses can be applied to the offense. A House floor amendment states that nothing in the bill shall be construed to impose liability upon the following entities: (1) an interactive computer service; (2) a provider of public mobile services or private mobile radio services; and (3) a telecommunications network or broadband provider.
Newspaper Notices and Catalytic Converters
On Tuesday afternoon, the full House third read and passed HB 757, sponsored by Rep. Don Mayhew (R-Crocker). The House vote was 126-16, and the bill now moves 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. 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 that 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.
