Senator Barbara Anne Washington's Legislative Column for April 5, 2023
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
- Week of April 7, 2023
Welcome to this week’s update and thank you for reading my legislative column. The month of April is such a welcome sight around the Capitol and in our Jackson County community. Forsythia bushes, tulips and hyacinth are in full bloom, the days are equally divided between daylight and darkness and the Legislature is quickly approaching adjournment on May 12.
I welcomed the opportunity to present Senate Bill 443 to members of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on April 5. My bill will prevent family courts from barring parents who are medical marijuana cardholders from visiting their child. Now that marijuana use is legal in Missouri, it should never be used as a wedge between parents and children.
Two of my other proposals were able to spring forward this week when they passed out of committee. Senate Bill 424, or the Crown Act, will prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles in our educational institutions and change the definition of “race” in the Missouri Human Rights Act to include traits historically associated with race. Aspiring young journalists will be happy to hear my “Cronkite New Voices Act” passed and will help protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media. Both of these bills may now be taken up for debate by the entire Senate body.
Our community will directly benefit from a measure the Senate has sent to the House, authorizing the Department of Social Services to establish Missouri’s fifth adult high school in Jackson or an adjacent county. An estimated 500,000 Missourians do not have a high school diploma. Without this level of education, individuals are oftentimes facing a limited job market and trapped in poverty. I’m hopeful this bill passes quickly in the House and thankful our community was chosen for this essential educational resource.
The House has passed its version of the FY ’24 operating budget, and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I look forward to starting the “markup” process next week. If the Senate makes any changes to the House’s version, a conference committee consisting of members from both chambers will hammer out the differences. Passing a balanced budget is the only action required of the Legislature in our Constitution. The General Assembly must have an agreed upon budget on the governor’s desk by May 5, a week before adjournment.
Call for Vendors Now Open for Public Health and Safety Fair
On June 24, I will host the annual Public Health and Safety Fair at the Urban Youth Academy, and we are now accepting submissions from vendors and sponsors. If you have a resource or product that would benefit our community, please sign-up today.
Below is a list of the bills I have sponsored in 2023. If you have questions or need additional information or assistance, please reach out.
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2023
|
Bill Number |
Description |
Status |
|
Modifies provisions relating to certification of juveniles for trial as adults. |
Passed by Judiciary Committee and combined with SB 406 |
|
|
Creates new provisions on discriminatory practices relating to hair. |
Passed out of committee 4/5.. |
|
|
Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of certain homes. |
Referred to Economic Development |
|
|
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products. |
Referred to Economic Development |
|
|
Authorizes a tax credit for providing services to homeless persons. |
Referred to Governmental Accountability |
|
|
Creates a Text-to-Donate program for homeless services in certain cities. |
Referred to Governmental Accountability |
|
|
Authorizes a tax credit for providing housing to victims of domestic violence. |
Referred to Governmental Accountability |
|
|
Creates a pilot program for incarcerated mothers to have access to their children. |
Referred to Judiciary |
|
|
Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a handgun. |
Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety |
|
|
Establishes the “Cronkite New Voices Act” to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media. |
Passed out of committee 4/5. |
|
|
Creates provisions relating to firearms. |
Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to concealed firearms. |
Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to medical marijuana program participants in family court matters. |
Hearing conducted 4/5. |
|
|
Creates provisions relating to reporting requirements of law enforcement agencies. |
Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to use of force by law enforcement officers. |
Referred to Judiciary |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to restitution for individuals who are actually innocent. |
Referred to Judiciary |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to criminal records. |
Referred to Judiciary |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to expungement. |
Referred to Judiciary |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to earned discharge from probation. |
First Read |
|
|
Creates new provisions relating to state contracts for minority and women’s business enterprises. |
First Read |
|
|
Creates a DWI diversion program. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. |
First Read |
|
|
Creates provisions relating to parole eligibility. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to terms of probation. |
First Read |
|
|
Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to the certification of juveniles for trial as adults. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to offenses against employees of election authorities. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to legal representation for certain court proceedings involving children. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to the offense of filing false documents. |
First Read |
|
|
Enacts provisions relating to health insurance coverage of maternity services. |
First Read |
|
|
Establishes standards for demographic data collection by certain entities. |
First Read |
|
|
Creates a health advocate program in the Department of Health and Senior Services. |
First Read |
|
|
Enacts provisions relating to motor vehicle sales tax payment plans. |
First Read |
|
|
Modifies provisions relating to tax increment financing. |
First Read |
|
|
Relates to voter registration. |
First Read |
|
|
Apologizes for the State of Missouri’s role in slavery. |
Referred to Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics |
|
|
Places limits on increases of the assessment of certain properties. |
Referred to General Laws |
|
|
Exempts from taxation real and personal property of citizens over the age of 65. |
Referred to General Laws |
It is an honor representing the great people of Kansas City’s 9th Senatorial District. If you need assistance navigating state government or understanding the legislative process, please contact me by calling 573-751-3158 or emailing Barbara.Washington@senate.mo.gov. My team is here for you!