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The Week of April 2, 2024

On the Floor

The Senate began discussing Senate Bill 739, which would prohibit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from issuing a permit for the operation of a solid waste disposal area located in the city of Kansas City without receiving approval from an adjoining municipality if such area is located within one mile of such municipality, instead of the current half-mile standard.

Additionally, the Senate gave initial approval to Senate Joint Resolution 78, which would, if approved by voters, prohibit ranked choice voting in elections, and Senate Bill 1351, requiring that all information obtained by the Missouri Geological Survey remain confidential and prohibited from release to the public in response to any request, including records requests, except certain information relating to water usage. This legislation was defeated on the vote that would have sent it to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration.

Finally, the Senate third read and passed the following bills:

Bills and Committees

Senator May’s Legislation:

This week, I presented Senate Bill 1504 to the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Pensions Committee. It would modify the contributions rates for the Public School Retirement System for the City of St. Louis. Currently, the member contribution rate varies based on hire date. My legislation would maintain the current member rates with the potential for a lower member rate if the system’s funding ratio is greater than 100%. Similarly, employer contribution rates are set at 16% and decrease by .5% until the rate is capped at 9%. My bill would set the rate at 14% with annual evaluations depending on the funding ratio. I believe this bill puts in place firm safeguards for retirees and current employees of the St. Louis Public School System.

Commerce Committee:

The committee heard three bills this week. Senate Bill 892 modifies provisions regarding permits to construct solar farms and the taxation of solar energy projects. Senate Bill 805 creates provisions relating to the construction of electric transmission facilities. Senate Bill 1470 repeals certain provisions relating to maximum penalties for violations of federally mandated natural gas safety standards and provides that the maximum penalties must not exceed an amount as determined by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States.

Capitol Visitors

Senator Karla May with members of the St. Louis Boys and Girls Club.

Other News

Senior Property Tax Freeze Credit

The application for the City of St. Louis Senior Property Tax Credit is now open. This tax credit was passed as a part of Senate Bill 190 during last year’s legislative session and signed into law by the governor. It allows the city to provide senior citizens with fixed city property tax rates while protecting other tax rates such as public schools, the public library, the St. Louis Zoo, museums, etc., from revenue reductions. Eligible seniors can apply for this credit online, via paper form or in-person at the assessor's office. Applications are due by June 30, and individuals can learn more about eligibility and necessary documents at the link above.

House advances ‘minority veto’ over constitutional changes 

Both the House and Senate versions of initiative petition reform seek to impose a concurrent majority requirement of both a simple majority of votes cast statewide, as well as approval in at least five of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. Ratification traditionally has required only a simple statewide majority. According to an analysis by the Missouri Independent, it would be mathematically possible under this system for just 23% of voters to thwart ratification.

House Joint Resolution 86 also includes several pieces of so-called “ballot candy” – unrelated provisions intended to entice voters into supporting legislation they likely otherwise would oppose. Those provisions include specifying that non-citizens can’t vote and that foreign governments can’t sponsor or finance initiatives – provisions that merely reinforce existing law.

Although the Senate stripped the ballot candy from its version – Senate Joint Resolution 74 -- prior to passage, the House Elections Committee restored it before voting along party lines to send the measure to the full House for debate. However, changing SJR 74 in the House would require the measure to return to the Senate. Since the ballot candy was removed to overcome a filibuster, its chances of winning another Senate vote are uncertain.

 If either SJR 74 or HJR 86 clears the Legislature, it automatically would go on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. However, the governor could exercise his authority to move the measure to the Aug. 6 primary election in order for the concurrent majority requirement to have a chance of being approved before the November abortion rights vote.

Senate likely to overhaul House’s $50 billion budget plan

The Missouri House of Representatives on April 4 advanced a $50.07 billion state operating budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the Senate, which is expected to completely rewrite the spending plan to restore much of the nearly $2 billion in additional spending authority recommended by the governor. The House also approved another $717.19 million in spending authority for various capital improvement projects.

While the House plan largely avoids major spending cuts to existing programs, several lawmakers were critical of the passed budget, which fails to use the state’s large revenue surplus to invest in public education, health care and other areas where spending has failed to keep up with inflation. Efforts to improve minimum teacher pay, increase state childcare subsidies and bolster funding for in-home care providers and other items were rejected during debate.

With the process now moved to the Senate, just five weeks remain for lawmakers to grant final passage to the various appropriations bills that make up the FY 2025 operating budget by the May 10 constitutional deadline. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

Panel approves locking abortion ban into state constitution

The House General Laws Committee on April 3 voted 10-5 in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment to make it a felony to perform or induce an abortion in nearly all circumstances and prohibit future lawmakers from enacting exceptions without voter approval. 

House Joint Resolution 131 would constitutionally prohibit abortion “from the moment of conception” except in cases of medical emergency when a pregnant woman is at “serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function” or to avert death. The joint resolution would provide no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. Violation of the measure would be a felony punishable by between five and 15 years in prison.

This legislation mirrors Missouri’s existing statutory ban on abortion. However, enshrining the ban in the state constitution would prohibit lawmakers from later repealing or relaxing restrictions without asking voters to ratify another amendment. Instead of informing voters of its intent to constitutionally ban abortion rights, HJR 131’s ballot language instead says it would “guarantee that abortion laws protect a pregnant mother from serious risk to life or physical health.”

If approved by the Legislature, HJR 131 automatically would go on the Nov. 6 statewide ballot where it likely would compete with a rival constitutional amendment seeking to protect reproductive rights, including abortion and access to contraception. An initiative petition to put the abortion rights measure to a statewide vote is currently being circulated and is expected to be  submitted by the early May deadline for qualifying for the fall ballot.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in the legislative process. I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that are important to you this legislative session. If there is anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 573-751-3599.