Voting Rights/Elections

Bill #: HB 3146

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: This bill increases the word limit on summary statements for ballot measures proposed by the General Assembly from 50 to 100 words, excluding articles.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for hearing in the House Elections Committee on Tuesday, February 10 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• This bill 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

• It is critical that summaries of ballot issues be accurate and not misleading in order for voters to make informed decisions on how they choose to use their votes

• Under this proposed law, if the courts find that the summary language is flawed, rather than rewriting it, the court will have to send it back to the Secretary of State up to three times, causing unnecessary delays. This would negatively impact the time needed to inform voters about a ballot measure

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 3146 

Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HB 3146 HERE. Make sure to mark “in Opposition to” under reason in the testimony form.

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States 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)

Bill #: SB 983

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Current law requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the Department of Revenue (DOR) to enter into an agreement to match information in the voter registration database with information in the motor vehicle system. This act requires such agreement to include information pertaining to the citizenship status of those within DOR's database.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for hearing in the Senate Local Government, Elections, and Pensions Committee on Monday, February 9 at 2:00 PM.

Talking points:  

• Burden of proof of citizenship shifts from SOS to DOR; whether this is more efficient or not hinges on drivers license offices’ lines/wait times, as well as procedure between the two departments

• License office staff are not employees of the DOR or State of Missouri. License offices in Missouri are privately owned and operated

• When a state contracts with a private entity to administer services in an agency that is required to offer voter registration, the ultimate responsibility for ensuring provision of voter registration services remains with the state

• The voter registration application may not require any information that duplicates information required on the driver’s license portion of the application, and may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process

• The LWVMO supports efforts to ensure that Missouri is in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 983

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Please contact committee members and let them know you OPPOSE this bill. Members of the Local Government, Elections, and Pensions Committee are found HERE. Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

LWV Position: In 2009, the League filed an amicus brief in the Arizona voter ID case, Gonzalez v. Arizona, asking the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to recognize that the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 prohibits a proof of citizenship requirement when using the national mail voter registration application form. The League again filed an amicus brief when the case was argued before the Supreme Court in 2013. The League and its allies finally prevailed. In the renamed ITCA v. Arizona, the Court agreed that the NVRA preempts state law. (LWVUS Impact On Issues 2024-2026, p. 35)

The LWVMO should support efforts to ensure that Missouri is in compliance with the NVRA and that the Missouri DMV has incorporated voter registration services into their driver’s license application, renewal, and change of name and address processes, as NVRA compliance facilitates voter registration. The league should litigate or take other actions when the State of Missouri fails to comply with the NVRA….” (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 18)

Social Justice

Bill #: HB2747, HB2047

LWVMO SUPPORTS these bills

Short Description: These bills establish an automatic record-clearing or expungement process for closing records pertaining to a “clean slate eligible offense”, which is an offense not excluded from the eligibility for expungement. 

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, February 10 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• "Clean slate" legislation would automatically seal certain nonviolent criminal records, eliminating the need for costly legal intervention.

• This bill would facilitate reintegration by removing barriers to employment and housing for rehabilitated individuals

• This bill would contribute to the MO’s economy by helping fill labor shortages and boost economic activity

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2747 HB 2047

Call to action: Email committee members and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the House Economic Development Committee are found HERE. Click on the representative’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information. 

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters 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. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, p. 137)

Bill #: HB2834, HB2787, HB 2592

LWVMO SUPPORTS these bills

Short Description: These bills allow a person on probation or parole to vote, unless the person was convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with the right of suffrage and allow a person to vote while confined under a sentence of imprisonment for a misdemeanor.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee on Monday, February 9 at 12:00 PM.

Talking points:  

• This bill eliminates the requirement to complete all probation/parole before regaining voting right

• Incarcerated people can vote, once registered, upon release except if convicted of a voting-related crime

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2834 HB 2787 HB 2592

Call to action: Email committee members and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee are found HERE. Click on the representative’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information. 

LWV Position: Citizen’s Right to Vote. Protect the right of all citizens to vote and encourage all citizens to vote. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 12)

Taxes

Bill #: SB 1239 

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill

Short Description: Current law taxes retail sales of food, as defined in current law, at a rate of one percent. This act provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state sales taxes.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee on Wednesday, February 11 at 10:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• MO applies a sales tax on food eligible for purchase with food stamps of 1.225%. However, most municipalities add city and county sales tax to this amount which in some counties could be as high as 7.975%

• This bill would initially exempt food from state sales tax and gradually reduce the permitted sales tax assessed by municipalities on food. Eliminating the tax on food will benefit the working poor, because food is a large part of the working poor's budget

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 1239

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Please contact committee members and let them know you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee are found HERE. Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

Links to further reading: Bill to end Missouri sales tax on groceries draws resistance from local governments