This week committees began to work on legislation for 2023 and appropriations committees began to work on budget proposals from state departments. 

I had the honor of being the acting Chair during the Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee’s public hearing over House Bill 301 on Thursday.

House Committee Advances Initiative Petition Reform Legislation (HJR 43)

Legislation designed to protect the sanctity of the Missouri Constitution is moving quickly through the legislative process and is now on track for discussion on the House floor. HJR 43 was approved by the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee by a vote of 11-5. It now moves to a House Rules Committee, which must approve the bill before it moves to the floor for discussion. The committee also passed three other proposed constitutional amendments (HJR 30, HJR 24, and HJR 25) that would modify the requirements to approve constitutional amendments.

  If this legislation is approved by the legislature and voters, the proposed constitutional amendment would change the threshold required to approve changes to the state constitution. Currently, changes to the constitution require only a simple majority for approval. HJR 43 would raise the threshold to 60 percent voter approval for passage.

Legislation

This week the General Laws Committee heard my HB 337 (Protecting Girls Sports). HB 337, if passed, will prohibit boys from playing on girls’ sports teams. If a school would allow a boy to play on a girls’ sports team they would lose state taxpayer funding. The next step is for the committee to vote on the bill.

This week in Jefferson City

Texas County Sheltered Workshop manager, Sharon Tyger, participated in the Sheltered Workshop Products and Services Day at the Capitol, and joined us on the floor of the Chamber to be recognized for her service to the county.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission met with legislators from the area to discuss this year’s legislative priorities for the Meramec region.

Committee Updates:

Health and Mental Health

The Health and Mental Health Policy Committee received a report issued by the Interim Committee on Veterans’ Mental Health and Suicide and discussed suicide prevention methods with a focus on the importance of the 988 hotline.

Professional Registration and Licensing

The Professional Registration and Licensing Committee heard testimony on HB 115 and HB 99. This legislation expands the scope of practice for Physical Therapists. The two bills state that physical therapists no longer need a prescription or referral from a doctor in order to evaluate and initiate treatment on a patient, as long as the physical therapist has a Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree or has five years of clinical practice as a physical therapist.

Crime Prevention and Public Safety

The Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee heard testimony on HB 301. This bill discusses special prosecutors, minimum sentences for offenders, law enforcement training and other criminal justice issues.