April 17, 2023 Capitol Report

Written By Sarah Unsicker

I am enjoying the recent spring weather, and I hope you are, too. We have four weeks left in session, and things are moving quickly!

Regarding the budget, I have heard that the DEI language will be taken off in the Senate and that funding for public libraries that was removed in the House will be restored in the Senate. To be sure, nothing is ever final until a vote is taken, and I have not seen language regarding either of these.

ERIC Voting Database

Some weeks ago, I asked Secretary of State Ashcroft about his decision to remove Missouri from an organization designed to combat voter fraud. ERIC"analyzes voter registration and motor vehicle department data, provided by members through secure channels, along with official federal death data and change of address data, in order to provide members with various reports. They use these reports to update their voter rolls, remove ineligible voters, investigate potential illegal voting, or provide voter registration information to individuals who may be eligible to vote."

I received a response from him recently that indicated that we will utilize state resources to verify death records through SSA and to receive address change information.

Trans Care

Last week was a difficult one for already-marginalized children who look to doctors for help, in that the Missouri Government took away access to healthcare that they otherwise had access to with their parents' and doctors' approval. Attorney General Bailey reported that he issued an emergency regulation surrounding trans care, and the Missouri House passed HB 419related to gender transition care.

State law requires that the Secretary of State publish an emergency rule on its website within 3 business days of promulgating the rule. The press release was published on Thursday, and as of 2:30 PM on Monday, the Secretary of State has not put the rule on its website.

Uniform Commercial Code Amendments

My office has received an unusual amount of communication from throughout the state requesting that I oppose HB 1165, which is an amendment to the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). I support the bill in its original and current form, and have issued an explanation letter. This bill has been scheduled twice for a vote in the House Rules committee, and it has not been brought to a vote either time.

You can see the list of all hearings to see what other bills will be heard and voted (executive session) on this week in House committees.

Bills

The final tally for the number of House bills that were filed this year was 1478, which averages out to almost 9 bills per member. (I filed 20.) In the Senate, members averaged 23 bills apiece, with 788 bills filed in total.

I have filed:

  • HB 500: States that the Courts shall follow current law relating to child custody and enforcement of custody orders.

  • Language has been amended onto HB 994 (Parker) and to HB 1058 (Hausman). Both bills have passed unanimously out off the House and both are in the Senate.

  • HB 994 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, April 17 at 12:30 PM in Senate Committee Room 1.

  • HB 605: Modifies the exemptions from licensure required for foster homes and child placing agencies

  • HB 606: Allows funds distributed from a MOST 529 account to pay up to $10,000 of student loans incurred for postsecondary education expenses

  • Referred to the Elementary and Secondary Education committee

  • HB 607: Adds tobacco products and vapor products to the Drug-Free Schools Act

  • Referred to the Elementary and Secondary Education committee

  • HB 608: Repeals provisions requiring absences from schools in St. Louis City to be reported to the children's division

  • HB 609: Abolishes the death penalty and specifies that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole

  • HB 610: Modifies and establishes provisions protecting immigrant tenants

  • HB 611: Modifies requirements for voter registration

  • HB 612: Modifies provisions relating to certified midwife services

  • HB 613: Modifies provisions relating to the pregnancy-associated mortality review board

  • HB 614: Requires the Department of Revenue to include information related to the Missouri as a Model Employer program in its annual combined financial report

  • Added to HB 971 and passed unanimously out of the House. Scheduled for hearing in the Senate Emerging Issues committee on Tuesday, April 18 at 2:00 in Senate Committee Room 1.

  • HB 615: Changes the laws regarding real property to require the filing of a certificate of value before transferring interest in real property

  • HB 616: Requires the Office of Administration to submit a certain report to the General Assembly

  • HB 1151: Establishes and modifies provisions relating to child custody and abductions

  • Passed the House Children and Families committee as HB 1058; this has been perfected on the House floor.

  • HB 1232: Establishes provisions relating to the attorney general appearing on behalf of or representing a state department or agency in cases

  • HB 1266: Establishes provisions relating to child abuse or neglect investigations

  • HB 1271: Relating to Guardians ad Litem

  • Hearing was held in the Judiciary committee

  • HB 1341: Related to reporting for the Courage2Report System

  • HB 1342: Authorizes the Department of Labor and the Attorney General to prosecute wage theft

  • HB 1343: Modifies Provisions related to the Champion for Children tax credit

Bill of the week - HB 188

Last week, Rep. Jim Murphy (R-St. Louis County) introduced HB 188 on the House floor. As he introduced it, he said that the bill would ensure immigrant workers have the same rights to get paid as other workers, and that it would help protect against labor trafficking.

I had an amendment on the bill to let the State bring wage theft claims against employers. Right now, if an employer does not pay a worker, the worker has to file a lawsuit in court to sue the employer for contract fraud. This is not a very strong right that workers have.

I was not allowed to talk on the bill or to introduce my amendment. It was perfected with widespread support and I expect it will be sent to the Senate this week.

Community News

MDC recommends avoiding invasive Callery pear tree during spring planting

Nonnative Callery pears multiply quickly and crowd out native Missouri tree species.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The spring season is underway and many Missouri plants and trees will be blooming with life and color. Unfortunately, one invasive tree species will soon be prominent along roadways and other natural open areas: the Callery pear tree. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) urges the public to avoid this nonnative tree species when shopping for a new tree this spring.

The Callery pear, also known as the Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat, is a highly invasive tree that multiples quickly and crowds out Missouri native plants.

“The Callery pear rose to fame as a popular ornamental landscape tree in the 1960s because it was inexpensive, it grew fast, and it provided white blooms in the spring,” said MDC Forestry Field Programs Supervisor Russell Hinnah. “But that’s where the list of benefits ends. Different varieties of the tree were planted close to each other, they cross-pollinated, and spread everywhere.”

Callery pears’ ability to cross-pollinate is why many roadsides, rights-of-way, parks, and other natural areas are filled with white blooms every spring.

The trees are infamous for the stinky smell, but also have poor branch structure. They don’t fare well in bad weather, often losing limbs or splitting apart.

MDC encourages homeowners and landscapers to grow native when picking a tree to plant this spring.

“The best decision is to plant a tree species native to Missouri, and there are several great trees to substitute,” said Hinnah. “Serviceberry trees produce similar white blooms in the spring and they have small red fruits that attract wildlife.”

Other great alternatives include American plum, hawthorn, eastern redbud, and Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood. Hawthorns provide bountiful fruit and attractive fall color, while dogwoods thrive in shady areas, but can be difficult to grow.

Learn more about native trees and landscaping on your property online at https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care.

CALLERY PEAR BUY-BACK EVENTS

Missourians with Callery pear trees on their property have the opportunity to cut down their trees and receive a free, noninvasive tree in return at several “buy-back” events around the state on April 18. The events are made possible through partnerships with the Missouri Invasive Plant Council, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, Forrest Keeling Nursery, and MDC.

Registration will be open beginning March 15. To qualify, participants must submit a photo of their cut-down Callery pear online. One free native tree will be provided to each registered participant at the selected location on April 18 from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Participating cities include:

  • St. Louis

  • Columbia

  • Cape Girardeau

  • Poplar Bluff

  • Springfield

  • Joplin

  • Lebanon

  • Hannibal

  • Kansas City

For more information on the buy-back events and how to register, visit moinvasives.org.

To learn about native trees for landscaping, planting tips, backyard tree care, and more helpful information, visit https://mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care.

Sarah Unsicker
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April 24, 2023 Capitol Report