Voting Rights

Bill #: HJR 104, HJR 122, HJR 149

LWVMO SUPPORTS these bills 

Short Description: This amendment would remove the rule that a serving member of the General Assembly can serve no more than eight years in one house. It would also prohibit any member from serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives for more than three terms and as President Pro Tem of the Senate for more than two terms.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17 at 8:00 AM in the Elections Committee.

Talking points:  

• Elections serve as a very effective form of term limits and rigid laws prevent constituents from retaining effective representatives

• By relaxing limits, lawmakers can build the institutional knowledge necessary to resist outside influence from unelected lobbyists and bureaucrats

Link to the summary of the bill: HJR 104, HJR 122, HJR 149

Call to action: Submit testimony to SUPPORT HJR 104, HJR 122 and HJR 149 HERE.  Make sure to mark “in Support of” under reason in testimony form.

LMV Position: In 1991, the League announced its opposition to term limits for members of the US Congress on the grounds that such limits would adversely affect the accountability, representativeness, and effective performance of Congress and, by decreasing the power of Congress, upset the balance of power between Congress and an already powerful presidency. The 1992 Convention reaffirmed opposition to term limits and authorized state and local Leagues to use national positions to take action on term limits for state and local offices. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 73)

Bill #: HJR 121

LWVMO neither supports or opposes FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Upon voter approval, beginning with the 2030 decennial census,this resolution changes the number of members in the Missouri House of Representatives from 163 to 103.

Status of the Bill:  Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17 at 8:00 AM in the Elections Committee.

Link to the summary of the bill: HJR 121

Health Care

Bill #: HCS HJR 154

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Amendment for work requirements for Mo HealthNet. 

Status of the Bill: This bill has been taken up for a third read in the Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, February 16 at 2:00 PM.

Talking points:  

• Those who can't work, don't earn enough, or where no jobs are available, should have the right to income and/or services to meet basic needs

• This bill reduces the number of people on Medicaid by making the work requirements so onerous that people give up

• The bureaucratic paperwork involved is a deterrent to those trying to comply

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HJR 154

Call to action: Contact your individual legislator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your representatives here.   

LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that one of the goals of social policy in the United States should be to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families and that the most-effective social programs are those designed to prevent or reduce poverty. Persons who are unable to work, whose earnings are inadequate, or for whom jobs are not available have the right to an income and/or services sufficient to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and access to health care. (LWVUS Impact on  Issues 2024-2026, p. 170-171)

Education

Bill #: HB 2061

LWVMO neither opposes or supports FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Monday, February 16 at 2:00 PM in the Fiscal Review Committee.

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2061

Links to further reading: 

Combat Antisemitism.org   

Human Rights and other civil society groups urge U.N to respect Human Rights

LWV Position: Supports equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p.57)

Social Justice

Bill #: HB 2047. HB 2747

LWVMO SUPPORTS 

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 17 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:   

• Expungement of eligible charges with certain conditions  

• Expungement of such records will help with finding employment and subsidize/low income housing in particular 

• This bill will better enable reentry to better paying jobs and therefore contribute to a better MO economy

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2047, HB2747

Call to action: Email committee members and tell them you SUPPORT these bills. Members of the Economic Development Committee can be 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)

Climate and Environment

Bill #: HB 1873

LWVMO OPPOSES 

Short Description: Requires the Air Conservation Commission to terminate by January 1, 2028, the operation of any motor vehicle emissions inspection program established under the Air Quality Attainment Act.

Status of the Bill:  Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17 at 4:30 PM in the Transportation Committee.

Talking points:  

• Sponsor of the bill says it's for financial reasons without considerations of environmental impact

• The League promotes protection of air quality for Missourians

• Motor vehicle emissions are a significant source of air pollution

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1873

Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HB1873 HERE.  Make sure to mark “in Opposition to” under reason in the testimony form.