Voting Rights

Bill #: SB 986

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote; requires circuit clerk to send a list of those rejecting jury duty due to lack of citizenship, and requires local election authorities to report anyone on that list who voted.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Local Government Elections and Pensions Committee on Monday, March 2 at 2:00 PM.

Talking points: 

• Online and third party voter registration would not be possible 

• The bill would establish 2-tiered voter registration in Missouri, as Missouri is required to allow registration on federal form, which does not require documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC). There would be a list of voters eligible to vote in federal elections who do not need to provide DPOC, and another list of voters eligible to vote in Missouri elections, who would have to provide DPOC

• The bill would disproportionately affect women who have taken a married name and other marginalized populations

• People’s citizenship changes. A list of those excused from jury service in the past doesn't necessarily reflect those ineligible to vote in the present or future

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 986

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.

Links to further reading: Proof of citizenship requirements by state per Ballotpedia

LWV Position: The League also opposed amendments that required proof of citizenship to register to vote…the League lobbied and testified against the Voter Eligibility Verification Act, which sought to create a federal program to verify the citizenship of voter registrants and applicants, arguing that the program was not necessary, would not work, and would depress voter participation. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024 - 2026, p. 30)

Bill #: HB 2480

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Reinstates the presidential preference primary.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Elections Committee on Tuesday, March 3 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Voting happens anonymously through a secret ballot

• Primaries are run by — and paid for by — state and local governments

• Primaries use state-controlled election procedures

• Primary process is a familiar one of official ballots and secure submission of votes

• Primaries are local and more accessible than caucuses for working

people, people needing child care, etc

• Early voting is a feature of primaries, supporting their accessibility

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2480

Call to action: Contact committee members and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the House Elections 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 supports measures to increase the informed participation of Missouri citizens in the selection of presidential nominees. The League…supports open primaries rather than caucuses.(LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 26)

Reproductive Rights

Bill #: SJR 72

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Defines “person” in relation to the equal protection of laws.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee on Monday, March 2 at 1:00 PM.

Talking points: 

• U.S. Constitution law has consistently rejected the idea that embryos or fetuses are “persons” under the 14th Amendment 

• Conception based personhood would create un-administrable legal obligations, including criminal liability for miscarriage or natural embryonic loss 

• Pluralistic society avoids enforcing one moral or religious belief through law; it contradicts science, medicine, and constitutional rights 

• An unborn child being identified as a "person" is not consistent with all religious beliefs of US citizens. Judaism and Islam, among others, do not recognize personhood at conception. This can cause concerns for religious freedom provisions and the First Amendment

Link to the summary of the bill: SJR 72

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 Emerging Issues and Professional Registration 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: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the League's 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)

Education

Bill #: HB 2195

LWVMO this bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: The bill would require the department of elementary and secondary education to vet sample safe driving lessons and make those sample lessons available to public schools and charter schools to use as they see fit.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00 PM. 

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2195

Links to further reading: Bill would bring back driver's ed classes to public schools per Columbia Missourian

Social Justice

Bill #: HCS HBs 2747 & 2047

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill

Short Description: Restoration of vote upon release from incarceration.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, March 2 at 2:30 PM.

Talking points:  

• Expungement of eligible charges with certain conditions

• There already is an expungement law which allows for this expungement; however, the cost to complete the process is high and fewer than 1% of the formerly incarcerated are actually able to have an expungement done 

• This bill would have MO expunge electronic records at their expense 

• Currently this legal remedy is only available to that 1%, which is unfair

• Expungement of such records will help with finding employment and subsidize/low income housing in particular and will better enable reentry to better paying jobs and therefore contribute to a better MO economy

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 2747 & 2047

Call to action: Contact Committee members and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the House Fiscal Review 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: Support 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 2024-2026, p. 15)

Bill #: HB 2967

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill

Short Description: This bill provides funding for Missouri to do expungements.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Fiscal Review Committee on Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00 PM.

Talking points: 

• The "Clean Slate" bills do not include funding

• This will provide funding

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2967

Call to action: Contact committee members and tell them you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the House Fiscal Review 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: Support 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 2024-2026, p. 15)

Climate and Environment

Bill #: SCS/SB 838 

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Adds "nuclear" to renewable energy.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, March 2.

Talking points:  

• Nuclear power is not renewable energy 

• The re-definition can mislead the public and policy makers about progress toward truly renewable, sustainable energy sources  

• The bill reduces statewide renewable energy requirements from 15% to 7.5% renewables  

Link to the summary of the bill: SCS/SB 838

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your Senator HERE.

LWV Position: The League supports policies that limit reliance on nuclear fission and action by appropriate levels of government to encourage the use of renewable resources and energy conservation through funding for research and development, financial incentives, rate-setting policies and mandatory standards. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 111)

Bill #: SB 849

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Places moratorium on all solar projects. 

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, March 2.

Talking points:  

• The Public Service Commission already conducts a months-long review of all utility-scale solar projects in the state

• The bill makes the false claim that construction and operational hazards require a moratorium in the name of public safety

• No other source of energy has construction or operation regulated by Department of Natural Resources

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 849

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your Senator HERE

Link to further reading:  Missouri Coalition for the Environment Oppose SB 849

LWV Position: The League supports policies that limit reliance on nuclear fission and action by appropriate levels of government to encourage the use of renewable resources and energy conservation through funding for research and development, financial incentives, rate-setting policies and mandatory standards. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 111)

Bill #: SB879

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Creates and modifies provisions related to electric utilities, i.e. solar energy.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, March 2.

Talking points:  

• Places unfair burdens on solar energy projects that are not applied to other forms of electricity generation

• Limits tax exemptions from applying to solar farms

• Adds extra tax burdens that will slow clean energy development 

• Caps solar development at just 2% of cropland per county

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 879

Call to action: Contact your Senator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your Senator HERE 

Links to further reading: Missouri Coalition for the Environment Opposes

LWV Position: The League supports policies that limit reliance on nuclear fission and action by appropriate levels of government to encourage the use of renewable resources and energy conservation through funding for research and development, financial incentives, rate-setting policies and mandatory standards. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 111)

Bill #: HB 2598 (similar to SB 1116)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Establishes the "Missouri Nuclear Energy Advancement Act", which specifies that there will be no prohibition on the construction or operation of nuclear electric generation facilities in the State.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the House Utilities Committee on Wednesday, March 4 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Currently, there are no long-term solutions for nuclear waste 

• High costs of nuclear plant construction could place an extra price burden on ratepayers    

• Nuclear power plants  can harm local ecosystems and kill aquatic wildlife

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2598

Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HB 2598 HERE. Make sure to mark “in Opposition to” under reason in the testimony form.

Links to further reading: 10 Cons of Nuclear Energy from greenamerica.org

LWV Position: The League supports policies that limit reliance on nuclear fission and action by appropriate levels of government to encourage the use of renewable resources and energy conservation through funding for research and development, financial incentives, rate-setting policies and mandatory standards. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 111)

Bill #: SB 1116 (similar to HB 2598)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description: Establishes the "Missouri Nuclear Energy Advancement Act", which specifies that there will be no prohibition on the construction or operation of nuclear electric generation facilities in the State.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Commerce, Consumer protection, Energy and Environment committee on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 AM. 

Talking points:  

• Missouri should not support industries that generate radioactive waste  

• Nuclear energy is not a renewable energy source  

• Length and high cost of construction can cause extra cost burdens on ratepayers

Link to the summary of the bill: SB 1116

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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment committee can be 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: 7 reasons why conventional nuclear energy is not the answer to solve climate change from One Earth

LWV Position: The League supports policies that limit reliance on nuclear fission and action by appropriate levels of government to encourage the use of renewable resources and energy conservation through funding for research and development, financial incentives, rate-setting policies and mandatory standards. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 111)

Bill #: HB 2510

LWVMO this bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Establishes the Missouri Critical Minerals Development and Security Act.

Status of the Bill: is scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee on Tuesday, March 2 at 1:00 PM.