I have worked on this piece of legislation for three years now. HB 183 is meant to promote fairness in competition and opportunity for female student athletes. The bill would prohibit public school districts and charter schools from allowing students grade six to twelve, and public and private postsecondary educational institutions from allowing any student to compete in an athletics competition designated for the opposite sex, as determined by the student’s official birth certificate. The bill clarifies that biological sex is only correctly stated on birth certificates if it was entered at or near the time of birth or modified to correct scrivener’s error. The bill also makes it clear a female student may be allowed to compete in an athletic competition designated for male students if there is no such athletic competition for female students offered.

The legislation specifies that any school district, charter school, or private school that violates the provisions of the bill will have a portion of their state funding withheld by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Any public postsecondary educational institution that violates the provisions of the bill would have to remit a fine in the amount of 25% of their current fiscal year state operating appropriation for a first violation, 50% for a second violation, and 100% for subsequent violations. The bill also allows postsecondary education institutions to be fined up to $1 million by the Coordinating Board of Higher Education.

This bill moves to the Senate for their consideration

HB1207

This week my HB 1207 passed out of the house and moved to the senate. HB 1207 adds any earthen basin constructed to retain and settle nontoxic, nonmetallic earthen materials to the activities excluded from construction permits.

Infrastructure Projects (HB 17, HB 18, HB 19, and HB 20)

House members this week approved four bills that appropriate more than $5.4 billion in funding for vital infrastructure projects and programs across the state.

Lawmakers approved HB 17 to re-appropriate funding for state parks around Missouri. In total the bill contains nearly $431 million in funding. House members also gave their stamp of approval to HB 18 to continue ongoing funding that will keep state facilities maintained and repaired. The bill allocates a total of more than $588 million for that purpose.

With the approval of HB 19 legislators authorized more than $1.7 billion in funding for crucial capital improvement projects. Included in that total is $859 million in funding to widen and rebuild the I-70 corridor. The plan is a priority of Gov. Mike Parson who called for the funding to expand the highway to six lanes from St. Louis to Warrenton, Kansas City to Odessa, and extending both East and West from Columbia. The governor said the expansion would improve inter and intrastate travel for Missourians, visitors, and goods and services as well as reduce traffic injuries and deaths.

House members also authorized $100 million in funding for maintenance and repair for the state’s minor and low volume roadways. The additional funding will help provide much-needed upgrades to overlooked roadways in the state’s rural areas.

The bill also works to improve public safety in Missouri by investing more than $30 million in funding for new facilities and training for law enforcement. It also prioritizes improving access to health care by allocating more than $26 million for construction and expansion of vital health care facilities across the state. Additionally, the bill appropriates $10 million to help address the lack of housing for the homeless in Springfield.

The final budget bill approved by the House, HB 20, re-appropriates approximately $2.7 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for various programs and projects.

All four bills now move to the Senate for consideration. The two chambers must reach final agreement on the bills by Friday, May 5.

House Approves Legislation to Protect and Strengthen Second Amendment Rights (HB 282)

The Missouri House has approved legislation that would expand the rights of concealed carry permit holders. By a vote of 102-45, House members approved HB 282 to allow law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves on public transportation.

The legislation allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation. Anyone with a permit may also carry a firearm while traveling by bus. The bill does not apply to property of Amtrak or any partnership in which Amtrak engages.