• 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
  

Other Action:

The House voted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act by a margin of 220-208. This bill would require eligible Americans to provide documentary proof of citizenship in person to register to vote.  

It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in federal or state elections. The bill’s requirement of a document to prove American citizenship to register to vote in federal elections would unnecessarily burden many communities of voters. If the Senate also passes the SAVE Act this Congress, voters must present citizenship documentation to re-register every time they move.  

Please thank your congressperson if they voted no on the SAVE Act or express your disappointment if they voted yes on the SAVE Act.

Voting Rights

Bill #: HB 1055

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description:This bill creates a process for voters to provide missing

information on an absentee ballot envelope.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 AM in the House Elections Committee.

Talking points:  

• Currently if an absentee ballot has a clerical error, it is rejected

• Allows the ballot to be cured

• Repeals the five day limitation for election authorities to prepare absentee ballots for tabulation; permits preparation of absentee ballots for tabulation upon receipt

Link to the summary of the bill: HB1055

Call to action: Submit testimony HERE to SUPPORT HB 1055.  Make sure you choose a position:  oppose or support.

LWV Position: The League supports no-excuse absentee voting either by mail or in person, advance voting and measures that facilitate participation in the election process and expand all forms of early voting and work to reduce election administration stress. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p. 7)

Reproductive Rights

Bill #: SB 681

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Authorizes a taxpayer to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to one hundred percent of contributions made to pregnancy resource centers (up from the present 70%).

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Wednesday, April 16 at 10:15 AM in the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee.

Talking points: 

• Crisis pregnancy centers say they provide counseling and other prenatal services

• Crisis pregnancy centers only provide services from an anti-abortion perspective

• Many of these facilities are not actually medically licensed therefore they are not burdened by the same regulations medical providers face

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 681

Call to action: Only in-person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Contact the members of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the member’s picture to get to their home page and contact information.

Links to further reading:

Why support for crisis pregnancy centers is surging after the end of Roe v. Wade

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right to privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the Leagues commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (LWV 2024-2026 Impact on Issues, p.64-68)

Bill #: HCS HBs 195 & 1119

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Prohibits abortion after a heartbeat is heard.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Wednesday, April 16 at 8:00 AM in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee. (This is a House bill now in the Senate.)

Talking points: 

• Missourians voted for an amendment to allow abortion up to fetal viability. 

• This bill dismisses majority rule and imposes the will of a minority

• This bill is in conflict with protections for medical professionals embedded in the Reproductive Freedom Amendment that voters approved by majority vote on November 5, 2024

• Intrudes into a woman’s medical decision-making with her health care providers

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 195 & 1119

Call to action: Only in-person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Contact the members of the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the member’s picture to get to their home page and contact information.

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right to privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the Leagues commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (LWV 2024-2026 Impact on Issues, pp.64-68)

Bill #:  HCS HJR 73

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Proposes a Constitutional Amendment that would prohibit abortion except in cases of medical emergency, rape or incest, no later than 12 weeks gestational age and only if reported to law enforcement within at least 48 hours of the procedure. Also contains language regarding gender transition.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the House Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, April 14 at 8:00 AM. 

Talking points: 

• Missourians voted for The Reproductive Freedom amendment on November 5, 2024 to allow abortion up to fetal viability. 

• This bill dismisses majority rule and imposes the will of a minority

• Two of every three sexual assaults are not reported to police (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network and the Bureau of Justice Statistics)

• Research  (JAMA Internal Medicine) estimates that since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, thousands of women and girls in the 14 states with abortion bans in place became pregnant after being raped

• This bill is in conflict with protections for medical professionals embedded in the Reproductive Freedom Amendment that voters approved by majority vote on November 5, 2024 (HB195)

• Contains “ballot candy” by adding in language about gender transition surgeries, hormones or drugs

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HJR 73

Call to action: Contact your Representative using the legislator look-up HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position: The League believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right to privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the Leagues commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 64-68)

Health Care

Bill #: HB 825

LWVMO  SUPPORTS this bill (This is a House bill now in the Senate)

Short Description:Telehealth or telemedicine may include audio-only or audio-visual technologies, not limited to select 3rd party platforms.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Wednesday April 16 at 8 AM in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee.

Talking points:  

• Telehealth services provide a cost effective means to treat a range of health concerns given transportation challenges and other barriers traveling to health visits 

• This is especially valuable to older people and people who live in rural areas

• This bill would greatly expand and enhance offerings for telehealth services across the state by allowing for audiovisual and audio-only technology

• This legislation would help more people access the benefits of telehealth 

• In a time where costs only seem to be rising, this is a sound way of helping hold down costs to both consumers and providers

• Adding the audio-only component to qualifying telehealth services increases the amount of reach and equity benefits that telehealth can provide

Link to the summary of the bill: HERE

Call to action: Only in-person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Contact the members of the Senate Families,Seniors and Health Committee HERE tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Click on the member’s picture to get to their home page and contact information.

LWV Position: The League 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)

Bill #: HB 1095  

LWVMO  SUPPORTS this bill

Short Description:This bill requires MO HealthNet coverage of doula services and childbirth education classes for pregnant women and a support person.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session Tuesday, April 15 at 12:00 PM in the House Health and Mental Health Committee.

Talking points:  

• Doulas can provide emotional and physical support to pregnant women

• Doula care is a proven, cost-effective means of reducing racial disparities in maternal health

• Doula care can improve health outcomes and lead to more satisfying birthing experiences

• All pregnant and postpartum people deserve access to full spectrum doula care  

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1095

Call to action: Contact members of the House Health and Mental Health Committee HERE and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. 

LWV Position: Every US resident should have access to affordable, quality health care, including birth control and the privacy to make reproductive choices (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 157) 

Bill #: SS#2/SB 79

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description:Modifies multiple provisions relating to health care.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Tuesday, April 15 at 12:00 PM in the House Health and Mental Health Committee. (This is a Senate bill now in the House.)

Talking points: 

• Expedited Partner Therapy should be available to clinicians as an option for partner therapy

• CDC recommends all pregnant women be tested, with their consent, for  syphilis, hepatitis B, or other similar diseases at the first prenatal visit and at delivery

• Missouri should require insurance to cover an extended supply of oral birth control as 23 states and DC already do

• Mandates MO HealthNet coverage of medically necessary cochlear implants and hearing instruments for all eligible participants

Link to the summary of the bill: SS#2/SB 79

Call to action: Submit testimony HERE to SUPPORT SS#2/SB79. Make sure you choose a position:  oppose or support.

LWV Position: Every US resident should have access to affordable, quality health care including birth control and privacy to make reproductive choices.(LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2025, p.157)

Firearms

Bill #:  HB 1175

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description:  Reestablishes the “Second Amendment Preservation Act”.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing Monday April 14 at 2 PM in the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. 

Talking points:  

• Undermines public safety: interferes with law enforcement's ability to enforce federal firearms regulations designed to protect citizens

• Hinders law enforcement cooperation: SAPA has disrupted collaboration between state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, making it more difficult to solve violent crimes

• Impedes domestic violence prevention: undermines efforts to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers by limiting cooperation between local and federal authorities

• Contradicts its stated purpose: While SAPA claims to protect citizens, it may actually expose them to greater harm by interfering with federal gun regulation

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1175

Call to action: Only in-person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Contact the members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee HERE  and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the member’s picture to get to their home page and contact information.

LWV Position:  Supports strong limitations on access to semi-automatic/automatic weapons, enforcement of strict penalties for the improper possession of and crimes committed with handguns and assault weapons. (Impact on Issues 2024-26, p. 179) 

Social Justice

Bill #: SS/SB 38

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Creates the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act".

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session Monday, April 14 at 4:30 PM in the House Emerging Issues Committee. (This is a Senate bill now in the House.)

Talking points:  

• Workplaces and schools are still able to discriminate against persons because of their natural or protective hairstyle

• Hair discrimination remains a source of racial injustice with serious economic consequences for Black people

• Black people in this country are shamed and punished for wearing hairstyles consistent with their natural hair

• Black Missourians are denied employment opportunities, unfairly targeted in education, and deprived of their dignity through dress code policies and concepts like ‘professionalism’ set by employers and institutions designed to discriminate against Black people

Link to the summary of the bill: SS/SB 38

Call to action: Contact members of the House Emerging Issues Committee HERE  and tell them you SUPPORT this bill.

LWV Position: The League supports federal efforts to prevent and/or remove discrimination in education, employment, and housing and to help communities bring about racial integration of their school systems. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p.59)

Education

Bill #: SB 326

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Prohibits public institutions of postsecondary education and proprietary schools from requiring the submission of diversity, equity, and inclusion statements.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Tuesday, April 15 at 9:00 AM in the Senate Education Committee. 

points:Talking   

• The bill defines Diversity, Equity and Inclusion as education or training requirements, policies or programs on the subjects of antiracism, implicit bias,or any other related instructions that promote differential treatment based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry

• Employees who violate this this act can be put on unpaid leave and be disqualified from further employment in other institutions in the state for a determined amount of time

Call to action: Only in-person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Contact the members of the Senate Education Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. Click on the member’s picture to get to their home page and contact information.

Link to the summary of the bill: SB326

League 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)

Bill #: SS/SB 160

LWVMO FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: This act prohibits public institutions of higher learning, such as state colleges, community colleges, and technical schools, from taking adverse action against a student association because of the association's beliefs or the actions of its leaders.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session on Monday, April 14 at 4:30 PM in the House Emerging Issues Committee. (This is a Senate bill now in the House)  

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

• This bill 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, it will simply not receive official recognition and funding

Link to the summary of the bill: SS/SB 160

To volunteer, join a committee, register for a special event, or view the Member Roster, please log in to your member account on our League website lwvkc.org: 

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