May 15, 2023 Capitol Report
Session ended with a whimper and a lot of frustration. The Senate spent most of the last week filibustering, which prevented quite a few Republican priorities from passing, But I have some real concerns about some of the bills that did pass.
Usually, when bills are filed, there's a Senate version and a House version. What really matters is the statutes they impact, not which bill they get put on. People spent a lot of time on compromise language on some of these bills in the House, but it didn't get put on the same language before it got out of the Senate. For several bills I had worked with others on, the bill that ultimately passed during the last days of session didn't have compromise language on it.
I plan to send a more comprehensive email next week with a list of bills that made it through, along with what priorities passed and what didn't. The final bills aren't printed yet. Session ended at 6PM on Friday, and the staff (hopefully) took a well-deserved break over the weekend. They work very hard throughout session, even more so during the last weeks, and I hope they get some downtime.
I saw a notice recently alerting Medicaid Recipients of scams and fraud attempts. I have more information in the Medicaid section below.
As session closes, I will be transitioning from working on legislation to campaign mode, and will be sending newsletters about the Missouri House less frequently. If you would like to receive emails related to my campaign, please email unsicker4missouri@gmail.com.
Bills
1478 bills were filed this year in the House, and 788 in the Senate. In the end, a total of 41 policy bills passed, and another 19 budget bills. This is the lowest number of bills that have passed in at least 30 years, other than the year that Covid hit and session shut down for six weeks.
Of the 41 policy bills that passed, 35 passed during the last week of session.
I filed a number of bills. The status of these bills have not been updated; however, I am proud that a bill relating to employment for people with disabilities did pass this year with quite a bit of my language on it.
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), as well as the House versions of SB 72, SB 198, and SB 213. It has not been heard in a Senate committee.
HB 994 was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 24, but has not yet been placed on the Senate calendar.
HB 1058 is in the Senate Judiciary Committee and has not been scheduled for a hearing.
HCS SS SCS SB 72 is currently in a Conference Committee with the language of HB 500 in it.
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
Similar bills HB 900 and HB 1148 have been voted do pass by the House Committee on Healthcare Reform.
HB 613: Modifies provisions relating to the pregnancy-associated mortality review board
HB 614: Requires the Department of Revenue to include information about tax credits in its annual combined financial report
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 information related to the Missouri as a Model Employer program to the General Assembly
Truly Agreed and Finally passed as SB 106, awaiting Governor's signature (see below).
Added to HB 971 and passed unanimously out of the House. Voted out of the Senate Emerging Issues committee on April 24.
Perfected in the House on HB 719.
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.
Is on the House version of SB 198, which is on the Senate Bills for Third Reading - Informal calendar
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 House 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
Administrative Rules
I recently signed up through the Secretary of State’s website to get notification when administrative rules are proposed or changed. When a rule change is first proposed, the public has 30 days to comment on it.
I wish I had signed up earlier.
There was a rule change proposed late last year to allow people who are placed on the child abuse and neglect registry to continue working with children or in residential care facilities until their appeal is finalized or they decide not to appeal. This rule will allow abusers to keep working with children.
Nobody commented when the rule was proposed.
Administrative rules govern much of the day-to-day workings of the state government. The legislature writes the laws - the basic framework. The administrative departments write the rules about how these laws are implemented.
Just like with the legislature, there is the opportunity for testimony on these rules. Usually, there is not a public hearing, but anyone can submit written testimony.
Administrative rules have gotten more notice recently because of the Secretary of State’s rule on libraries and the Attorney General’s rule on gender-affirming care. But there are many more that go unnoticed.
The Secretary of State’s Website has the Administrative Rules, as well as a listing of Emergency Rules and the Missouri Register, which contains proposed changes.
You can also sign up to be informed of administrative changes for specific issues.
Medicaid Update
Over the weekend, I saw an alert from the National Association of State Medicaid Directors about bad actors attempting to fraudulent extract money from Medicaid participants.
You should never be required to pay to renew your Medicaid.
While I have not seen anything from Missouri, other states have put out information about fraud relating to Medicaid renewals. In a Press Release, the Wyoming state Medicaid director said,
“Some of our clients are receiving text messages claiming their Medicaid coverage was at risk for cancellation or they have actually already lost benefits. When clients call the listed number, they are threatened and asked for $500 to continue their benefits,” said Lee Grossman, state Medicaid agent and Division of Healthcare Financing senior administrator with WDH.
“If someone pushes for money so you can continue to be covered by Wyoming Medicaid, they are not a real representative of our program,” Grossman said. “Rather, they are likely to be a criminal.”
Missouri has started the process of reviewing eligibility for all Medicaid participants. Participants will be processed by their renewal month (generally the month that the family initially signed up for Medicaid).
You can make the process flow much easier by updating your mailing address. The Medicaid system will check eligibility first by comparing the information it has against national databases. If the information lines up and the participant is still eligible, they will be automatically renewed.
You can update your address online, at a Family Services Division office, or by calling 855-373-4636.
FSD is currently checking information for participants who have a renewal date in June. It will be a rolling process, and those whose renewal date is in May will be processed last. After that, FSD will continue the renewal process for Medicaid participants annually.
Computer Security
Congress funds MS-IASC, a nonprofit that helps state and local governments run secure networks and computer systems. Membership in this organization is free and is open to all entities of state and local government, including water districts, the court system, counties, and everything in between. They offer free tools to their members like malicious domain protection, best practices help, webinars, and other services. They have a separate division that focuses just on election security. I had a conversation with them this morning, and they encouraged me to spread the word about their organization and encourage agencies to sign up.
Visiting Jefferson City
If you are visiting Jefferson City, please let Nancy know! She can help you schedule a tour of the Capitol or the Supreme Court building or give information about the city. She can be reached at 573-751-2883.
You can also schedule a tour of the Governor's Mansion!