• Legislators listen more closely to constituents - if you are in their district, tell them
• Legislators are interested in personal stories about how the proposed legislation will affect you and your pocketbook - look at the summaries and talking points and think about how the bill will affect you and talk about that in your phone call, testimony or email
• Look at the whole list of Calls to Action and pick the most important to you - we will be responding for months to come - don't get overwhelmed in the first few weeks
  

Citizen Initiative Petitions

Bill #: SCS SJRs 47, 30, & 10

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Would require concurrent initiative petition passage with both statewide majority and majority of state House districts. Unnecessarily restricts foreign involvement.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Tuesday, April 22 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Currently measures must pass by a statewide majority which fairly reflects will of ALL Missourians

• Requirements to have a constitutional amendment pass by both statewide majority and a majority of state representative districts will create a rule by minority, undermining the will of all Missourians

• Requiring a two-condition threshold is unnecessary and cumbersome

• Article VIII, Section 23 of the MO Constitution already prohibits contributions from foreign sources; this bill contains unnecessary repetitive language

Link to the summary of the bill: SCS SJRs 47, 30, & 10

Call to action: Look up and contact your Senator HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position: The League believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, 2024 - 2026, p. 11)

Bill #: SS#2 SCS SB 22

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Creates a process that would make it difficult for courts to re-write summary statements for statewide ballot measures, including both citizen initiative petitions and legislatively referred constitutional amendments.

Status of the Bill: Delivered to the Governor.

Talking points:  

• Includes both citizen initiative petitions and legislatively referred constitutional amendments

• Removes the ability of citizens to challenge unconstitutional or misleading language in legislatively referred constitutional amendments by prohibiting courts from changing summary statements

• Missouri has a history of misleading summary statements that have been rectified only through action by courts

Link to the summary of the bill: SS#2 SCS SB 22

Call to action: Contact Governor Kehoe HERE and tell him you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position:The League believes that democratic government depends upon informed and active participation at all levels of government. The League further believes that governmental bodies must protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026,  p. 59)

Education

Bill #: HB 875 (This is a House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Prohibits public institutions of higher learning from discriminating against religious, political, or ideological associations.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Wednesday, April 23 at 10:00 AM in the Senate Education Committee. 

Talking points:  

• This bill proposes an exemption for religious student organizations and other "belief based" student groups from non-discrimination policies in public higher education institutions

• It could potentially be used to legitimize discriminatory practices

• This is not a First Amendment issue. Any student club can gain recognition and access funds by adhering to the school's nondiscrimination policy 

• If a club chooses to impose membership and leadership requirements conflicting with the school policy, it will not be silenced or expelled from campus; rather, it will simply not receive official recognition and funding

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 875

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed for Senate hearings. Contact members of the Senate Education 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: The League of Women Voters believes 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 (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p.140).

Health Care

Bill #: HB 842

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Provides home blood pressure monitoring devices for pregnant and postpartum women.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Tuesday, April 22 at 12:00 PM in the House Health and Mental Health Committee.

Talking points:  

• MO HealthNet plans providing maternity benefits must offer coverage for a home blood pressure monitoring device for pregnant and postpartum women 

• Monitoring blood pressure is an essential part of prenatal and postpartum care 

• Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a significant driver of maternal morbidity and mortality

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 842

Call to action: Submit Testimony HERE and tell them you SUPPORT this bill.

Links to further reading: Postpartum remote home blood pressure monitoring: the new frontier

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters believes that a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost should be available to all US residents. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 157)

Firearms

Bill #: HCS HB 328 (this is a House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms on public transportation and lowers the age requirement for concealed carry permits.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Tuesday, April 22 at 2:00 PM in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. 

Talking points:  

• Allows guns on public transportation including buses

• Lowers the age of a concealed carry permit to 18

• Public transportation riders do not want more guns on public transportation (see article below)

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HB 328

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed for Senate hearings. Contact members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety  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.

Links to further reading: Missouri House Committee hears legislation expanding gun access

LWV Position: Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility of guns. Support regulation of firearms and ammunition for consumer safety.(LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p. 60)

LGBTQ Rights

Bill #: SB 100

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: No certificate of birth shall be amended if the sex of the individual was changed for reasons other than a medically-verifiable disorder of sex.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Tuesday, April 22 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• A standard to determine who is transgender or not would be created even though not all trans adults desire undergoing surgery and no transgender minors have access to surgery (PROMO - promomissouri.org)

• This is another way of banning transgender youth from accessing appropriate methods of healthcare that affirm who they are (PROMO)

• According to the ACLU, this is also a breach of privacy; every time a person shows important documents, transgender people would be forced to out themselves

• Every time someone has to show an ID for employment or to a store clerk, security guard, or TSA agent, that fails to match their gender,  they are at risk (PROMO)

• A birth certificate from other states could be changed leading to confusion for individuals born elsewhere but living in Missouri

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 100

Call to action: Contact your Senator using the Legislative Lookup HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position: Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, 2024-2026, p.135)

Elections

Bill #: HCS for HJR 23 & 3 (this is a House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO:  This bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Subject to voter approval, the Missouri constitution would be amended to require the Jackson County assessor to be elected as is required for all other charter counties in Missouri.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Calendar House Bills on Third Reading on Tuesday, April 22 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Supporters say the assessor position in Jackson County should be elected as is the case for all other charter counties in Missouri

• Some have voiced concern that this issue should be decided by Jackson County voters rather than by a statewide vote

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS for HJRs 23 & 3

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