April 24, 2023 Capitol Report

Things are getting pretty intense in the Missouri Legislature these days. Besides late nights and previous questions (where we vote to end debate), we’re passing harmful legislation on hot-topic issues while doing very little to help the people of Missouri.

Meanwhile, we have two weeks left to finish the Budget, which is in the Senate now. I believe that the funding for libraries has been restored and the DEI language has been removed. That is good, because they are only two issues in a 47 billion dollar budget that has hundreds of items.

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 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17. It is not yet scheduled for a vote.

• HB 1058 is in the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not been scheduled for a hearing.

• 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. Heard in the Senate Emerging Issues committee on April 18.

• 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 is in the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

• 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. Was not allowed to be discussed as an amendment to HB 188.

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

Bill of the week - SB 411 and 230

I didn't think it was possible to loosen Missouri's already-lax education regulations, but here we are. SB 411/230 establishes a new form of homeschooling.

Under Missouri's current "compulsory education" law 167.031:

• Parents can elect not to enroll their kids in school before they turn 7;

• Children who are 14 or older can be excused from school if the child is legally employed;

• Only the local prosecutor can evaluate home school records to verify they meet the compulsory attendance standard - not the local school attendance officer, the board of education, the juvenile officer, or children's division (in an evaluation of educational neglect).

Missouri's current "compulsory education" law also prohibits all departments or agencies of the state of Missouri from dictating through rule, regulation or other device any statewide curriculum for private, parochial, parish or home school.

HB 411/230 repeals 167.042, which allows home school parents to let the Recorder of Deeds or the Chief School Officer of an intent to homeschool.

HB 411/230 repeals 167.071, which allows school districts to appoint a school attendance officer to enforce compulsory attendance laws.

HB 411/230 also adds a section allowing school districts to offer classes in the Hebrew Scriptures or the New Testament. The school cannot mandate any specific translation be used as the textbook, and "A course offered under this section shall not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective." Missouri statute already allows books of a religious nature to be used in a course. We have no other statutes authorizing specific material to be used in a classroom.