Legal | Unsplash by Tingey Injury Law Firm
Legal | Unsplash by Tingey Injury Law Firm
The Senate reconvened on Monday, February 20, 2023, while the House reconvened on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, for a shorter legislative week, following its observation of Presidents’ Day. At the close of the week, the General Assembly truly agreed and finally passed its first bill of the 2023 Regular Session. HCS HB 14, an early supplemental appropriations bill, was signed by the presiding officers on Thursday and presented to the governor. The appropriations bill includes an 8.7% cost of living adjustment and shift differential increases for state employees (including the Judiciary and the Office of State Public Defender).
The House sent an additional three bills to the Senate for consideration, bringing the total number of House bills and joint resolutions sent to the Senate this session to seven:
- HCS HB 184 (Murphy), requiring political subdivisions that require the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain businesses to pay the costs associated with the installation, maintenance, and operation of such stations
- HCS HB 417 (Henderson), relating to grants to employers to encourage employees to obtain upskill credentials
- HCS HBs 640 & 729 (Sharp), modifying provisions relating to the Kansas City Police Department
Entering next week, on the House Calendar, there are three House bills nearly ready for third reading:
- HCS HB 268 (Riley), establishing the Regulatory Sandbox Act
- HB 415 (O’Donnell), requiring dealers to collect and remit sales tax on motor vehicle sales
- HCS HBs 994, 52 & 984 (Parker), modifying and establishing provisions relating to judicial proceedings
HCS HBs 994, 52 & 984 originally dealt with the definitions of “adult” and “child” as they relate to orders of protection. Committee and floor amendments expanded the bill to include the following provisions:
- ORDERS OF PROTECTION – DEFINITIONS OF “ADULT” AND “CHILD” (Sections 455.010, 455.035, and 455.513)
- GUARDIANSHIPS AND CONSERVATORSHIPS (Section 475.050)
- COURT AUTOMATION FUND (Section 476.055)
- COURT REPORTER SALARIES (Section 485.060)
- CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS (Section 487.110)
- 22ND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LAW LIBRARY SURCHARGE (Section 488.426)
- JUROR COMPENSATION (Section 494.455)
- DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION (Section 509.520)
- UNIFORM INTERSTATE DEPOSITIONS AND DISCOVERY ACT (Sections 510.500,
- 510.503, 510.506, 510.509, 510.512, 510.515, 510.518, and 510.521)
- BAIL CONSIDERATIONS (Section 544.453)
- TAMPERING WITH A JUDICIAL OFFICER (Section 575.095)
- PUBLIC DEFENDER – FEDERAL AND OTHER FUND (Section 600.042)
To see more bills of interest, organized by subject or practice area, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center (and bookmark the page). These bills of interest feeds are automatically updated with the latest status of the bills listed and provide links to individual bill webpages. The bills of interest listed at the end of this update are just a sample of those already introduced this year, many of which could significantly impact the administration of justice, the integrity of the judiciary, or the dignity of the profession of law. If you have any questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact Government Relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.
Bar-Initiated Legislative Proposals (2023 Introduced Legislation)
COMMITTEE HEARINGS OF INTEREST
Senate
N.B.: The “Witnesses” links for Senate committees will lead to the “Committee Minutes” page of the relevant committee. On the “Committee Minutes” page, scroll to the appropriate bill number in the middle column of the page and click the “View” button.
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee met on February 20, 2023, and held public hearings on the following legislation:
- SB 74 (Trent), creating a DWI diversion program - Witnesses
- SB 146 (Roberts), creating provisions relating to compensation for wrongful convictions – Witnesses
- SB 253 (Williams), creating a civil action awarding damages for wrongful convictions – Witnesses
- SCS SB 189 (Luetkemeyer), modifying provisions relating to law enforcement animals – Do Pass by a vote of 5 to 1.
- SB 227 (Coleman), modifying provisions relating to the culpable mental state necessary for a homicide offense – Do Pass by a vote of 6 to 0.
The Senate Appropriation Committee met on February 22, 2023, and held public hearings on the following legislation:
- SB 30 (Luetkemeyer), authorizing sports wagering – Witnesses
- SB 1 (Hoskins), modifying provisions relating to gaming (VLT) – Witnesses
- SB 192 (May), authorizing the Video Lottery Control Act – Witnesses
The Senate General Laws Committee met on February 22, 2023, and conducted public hearings on the following legislation:
- SB 10 (Eigel), creating the Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act – Witnesses
- SB 95 (Koenig), modifying provisions relating to property tax - Witnesses
- SB 104 (Cierpiot), reducing the assessment percentage of personal property - Witnesses
- SJR 11 (Cierpiot), exempting noncommercial vehicles in excess of ten years old from property tax – Witnesses
- SJR 8 (Eigel), prohibiting expenditures of public funds to any person or facility, or affiliate of such, performing or inducing an abortion – Witnesses
- SB 160 (Schroer), Modifies provisions relating to public funding of abortion facilities and affiliates and provisions relating to MO HealthNet providers – Witnesses
- SJR 19 (Moon), recognizing that nothing in the Constitution of Missouri shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion – Witnesses
- SB 245 (Arthur), modifying provisions relating to funding for the Office of the Public Defender - Witnesses
The committee took action on the following legislation in executive session:
- SB 30 (Luetkemeyer), authorizing sports wagering – Do Pass by a vote of 11 to 1, with 2 absent.
- SB 1 (Hoskins), modifying provisions relating to gaming (VLT) – Do Pass motion failed by a vote of 10 to 2, with 2 absent.