Reproductive Rights
Bill #: SJR 33
LWVMO OPPOSES this bill
Short Description: Prohibits abortion except in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape or incest; in cases of rape or incest the abortion must be performed or induced before 12 weeks gestational age and only if the rape or incest has been reported to law enforcement.
Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Wednesday, February 26 at 8:00 AM in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee.
Talking points:
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Overturns the Reproductive Freedom Amendment that voters approved by majority vote on November 5, 2024
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Imposes the will of a minority and ignores the majority of Missourians
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Discounts women and girls who may not report rapes or incest out of fear from their abusers or interacting with law enforcement
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Ignores the will of the people and demonstrates that legislators are not representing their constituents
Link to the summary of the bill: SJR 33
Call to action:
Only in person testimony is allowed for Senate hearings. Contact members of the Senate Families, Senior and Health Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the Senator’s picture to be taken to their individual page for their contact information.
LWV Position: Public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the League’s commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (Impact on Issues 2024- 2026, p. 64-68)
Bill #: SJR 8
LWVMO OPPOSES this bill
Short Description: Modifies the equal protection provision of the Missouri Constitution to define "person" as every human being with a unique DNA code regardless of age, including an unborn child; nothing in the Constitution shall be construed to secure or protect a right to abortion or the funding of an abortion.
Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Wednesday, February 26 at 8:00 AM in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee.
Talking points:
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Amendment 3, which passed by over 53% majority, protects the rights of Missourians to make their own reproductive health decisions, including options for birth control, miscarriage care and abortion care before fetal viability
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The will of the people should not be ignored and legislators should respect and represent their constituents
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An unborn child being identified as a "person" is not consistent with all religious beliefs
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Obstetricians are leaving states with strict abortion bans, making it more difficult for women in rural areas to find health care
Link to the summary of the bill: SJR 8
Call to action:
Only in person testimony is allowed for Senate hearings. Contact members of the Senate Families, Senior and Health Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the Senator’s picture to be taken to their individual page for their contact information.
LWV Position: Public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the League’s commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (Impact on Issues 2024- 2026, p. 64-68)
Education
Bill #: HB 1287
LWVMO: This bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Short Description: The bill seeks to address the growing concerns surrounding school violence and the support systems available for beginning teachers.
Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Wednesday, February 26 at 12:00 PM in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
Talking points:
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Proponents argue the bill is a necessary step to provide a safe learning environment and bolster the confidence of new teachers
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Critics are concerned about the potential risks of granting legal protections to teachers, leading to excessive force or inappropriate interventions
Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1287
Links to further reading: Citizen Portal: Legislature approves HB 1287
Bill #: HB 875
LWVMO OPPOSES this bill
Short Description: Prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against religious, political, or ideological associations.
Status of the Bill: Placed on the House Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, February 24.
Talking points:
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This bill proposes an exemption for religious student organizations and other "belief-based" student groups from non-discrimination policies in public higher education institutions
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This could potentially be used to legitimize discriminatory practices
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This is not a First Amendment issue. Any student club can gain recognition and access funds by adhering to the school's nondiscrimination policy
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Clubs that choose to impose membership and leadership requirements conflicting with the school policy will not be silenced or expelled from campus; rather, they will simply not receive official recognition and funding
Link to the summary of the bill: HB 875
Call to action:
Contact your Representative HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Scroll down to “Find Your Representative”.
Links to further reading:
MO NAACP Legislative Update 1/27/25
MO NEW Legislative Update 1/31/25
PROMO: Take Action
LWV Position: All levels of government share the responsibility to provide equality of opportunity for education, employment, and housing for all persons in the U.S. regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. (Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 140).
Health Care
Bill #: HB 398
LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill
Short Description: Allows for expedited partner therapy for STDs, improved prenatal testing for communicable diseases, reimburses healthcare providers for dispensing self-administering hormonal contraceptives, and repeals requirement to patient notification of completion of a mammogram.
Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Tuesday, February 25 at 12:00 PM in the House Health and Mental Health Committee.
Talking points:
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Improves the identification, education, and treatment for communicable diseases that can impact health and well being for individuals as well as newborns
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Accelerates and facilitates expedited partner therapy (EPT) thus reducing the chance for re-infection
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Reduces administrative and cost burden for entities communicating with patients after every mammogram
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Reduces cost burden for entities dispensing self-administered hormonal contraceptives
Link to the summary of the bill: HB 398
Call to action:
Submit testimony in SUPPORT of this bill HERE.
Links to further reading:
LWV Position: Every US resident should have access to a basic level of care that includes the prevention of disease, health promotion and education, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long-term care, and mental health care. (Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 157)
Social Justice
Bill #: SS/SB 40
LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill
Short Description: Creates the "Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force".
Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, February 24.
Talking points:
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Research shows there is an obvious inequity in the media coverage of missing white people and missing people of color
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Police and media go hand and hand when it comes to creating this inequity
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Police are gatekeepers for the information on missing persons cases
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This task force will study policies and measures to prevent violence against missing Black women in Missouri
Link to the summary of the bill: SS/SB 40
Call to action:
Contact your Senator using the Legislator Lookup site HERE and tell them you SUPPORT this bill.
Links to further reading: First Alert 4 article: Creating Task Force for Missing Black Women
LWV Position: Supports a criminal justice system that is just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedures, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry. (Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 15)
Climate and Environment
Bill #: SB 14
LWVMO OPPOSES this bill
Short Description: Allows pesticide manufacturers to advise users of the safety or hazards of their pesticides based on EPA required labeling.
Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, February 24.
Talking points:
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Puts the financial interests of pesticide manufacturers above the well-being of Missouri citizens by hampering the public's right to know the potential hazards and risks of their products - information which is currently required under state law
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Protects manufacturers of potentially harmful chemicals from being sued for the harm their products cause citizens by providing the manufacturers a diluted duty to warn of the hazards of using their product
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Relies on EPA warnings which are inadequate given the progress in studies testing the long term effects of pesticides, especially because the health effect studies are not conducted by a federal governmental agency- many times, these studies are conducted by the pesticides company and submitted to the governmental agency from which the Federal required warnings are drafted
Link to the summary of the bill: SB 14
Call to action:
Contact your Senator using the Legislator Lookup site HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.
Links to further reading:
MO Coalition for the Environment on identical bill from 2024
LWV Position: The most essential for the future of agriculture are encouraging sustainable agriculture. (Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 130)
The public has a right to know about pollution levels, dangers to health and the environment, and proposed resource management policies and options. (Impact on the Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 128)
The LWVMO supports the preservation of the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the ecosystem and maximum protection of public health and the environment. (Guide to State Action, 2023 - 2025, p. 65)