May 1, 2023 Capitol Report
Crunch time - we have 2 weeks left in session. This year's legislative session ends at 6PM on May 12, 2023. Any bills that have not passed at that time will have to be filed again in another session if they would pass.
You would imagine that, by this time in session, we would be quite busy. However, things are moving unusually slow. We are working on Senate bills in the House, loading them up with amendments. The Senate worked on one House bill last week, HJR 43, which is initiative petition reform. They added amendments, so these changes will need to be worked out between the chambers.
The constitutional deadline to finalize the budget is this coming Friday. Budget bills are now in conference committees and I expect we will vote on them at the end of the week.
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.
Three bills have passed both chambers, and two have been signed into law: the Supplemental Budget Request and SB 51, which allows physical therapists to begin treatment without a physician's referral. The House has sent 157 bills to the Senate, and the Senate has sent 81 bills to the House.
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.
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 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
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.
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