CHAOTIC SESSION COMES TO A CLOSE
The 2024 regular legislative session concluded on Friday, May 17, as the 102nd General Assembly ended as mandated by the Constitution. In a normal year, conference committee meetings and last minute negotiations on dozens of bills would occur in the days before the fall of the final gavel at 6:00 pm on Friday. But in a move that was the norm for almost the entire year, the Senate spent less than ten minutes in session on the final day, capping off a year marked by party infighting and extended filibusters. The final week was really no different than the rest of session, as the Senate was locked up in a filibuster and the House functioned normally, sending several bills to the Governor’s desk.
Throughout session, while there were many points of disagreement between the Freedom Caucus and other Republicans in the Senate, the main point of contention in the end was initiative petition (IP) reform. House members as well as the Freedom Caucus wanted add-on language about only allowing US citizens to vote and banning foreign money from interfering in the election process, which was called “ballot candy.” While Senate Democrats filibustered the ballot candy language, moderate Republicans refused to use a parliamentary maneuver to force the issue through. Since House members refused to move on the issue without the ballot candy language, and Senate Freedom Caucus members would not allow the Senate to debate any other bills until the IP measure was approved, the final week of session saw little progress on many important pieces of legislation. After a record breaking 50 hour filibuster by Senate Democrats, the sponsor of the IP reform resolution moved to send the legislation to conference committee. The House refused to grant the Senate a conference and the matter died, thereby ending the 2024 session in the Senate.
Despite there being over 2500 bills introduced this session, only 28 of those (excluding budget related bills) found their way to the Governor’s desk, which set an all-time record low. The previous record for least bills passed was 31 in 2020, although that session was shortened due to the pandemic. Last year only 41 bills were passed and sent to the Governor. This marks the fifth straight year the General Assembly has failed to crack the 50-bill mark.
The listing of bills awaiting action by Governor Mike Parson include:
- SB1453 - Designates the “Dr. Dan Brown Memorial Highway” in Phelps County
- SB1388 - National Nuclear Security Facility in Kansas City
- SB1359 - Financial Institutions
- SB1296 - Conveyance of Certain State Property
- SB1111 - Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Facility Licenses
- SB912 - Military Affairs
- SB895 - Provisions relating to Landlord-Tenant Actions
- SB894 - Promotion of Business Development
- SB872 - Income tax deduction for certain federal grant money
- SB802 - Business Investment Incentives
- SB756 - Property Tax Credit for Certain Seniors
- SB754 - Public Safety
- SB751 - 340B Contract Pharmacy Protections
- SB748 - Renewal of the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA)
- SB727 & HB2287 - Elementary and Secondary Education Package
- HB2634 - Prohibits Medicaid Funding for Planned Parenthood
- HB2134 - Fertilizer and Clean Water Laws
- HB2111 - Powers of the State Auditor
- HB2062 - Moratorium on Eviction Proceedings
- HB2057 - Video Services Providers
- HB1912 - Taxation of Pass-Through Entities
- HB1909 - Location of County and City Meetings
- HB1803 - Investments by the State Treasurer
- HB1751 - Landfill Municipal Approval Radius Increase
- HB1495 - Veteran Suicide Prevention
- SJR71 - (Ballot question) Sheriffs and Prosecutors Salary and Benefits Support
- SJR78 - (Ballot question) Bans Ranked-Choice Voting
LEGISLATION OF INTEREST TO THE FOP
Below, please a brief description of Senator Tony Luetkemeyer’s omnibus public safety bill that passed and is of specific interest to the FOP. For a full listing of the bills that were truly agreed and finally passed, please click on this link.
SB754, which is a wide ranging bill containing numerous provisions dealing with court proceedings, public safety, and crime has passed and is waiting for the Governor’s signature. Several of our priorities are contained in the bill including our language which limits the authority of civilian oversight boards; Valentine’s Law which enhances penalties for fleeing a stop or detention; and Max’s Law which provides for increased penalties for assault of a law enforcement animal. Other provisions in the bill include adding dispatchers, EMT’s and paramedics to those eligible to receive services from the Critical Incident Stress Management Program; minimum prison terms for ACA; provisions pertaining to the certification of juveniles to stand trial as adults; jurisdiction of juvenile courts; language which prohibits a court from issuing an arrest warrant for failure to appear or pay a fine related to a traffic infraction; and creation of a cybercrimes task force. The House gave final approval to the bill on the last day of session by a vote of 130-5.
BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS
As mentioned above, there was a record-low number of bills that passed this session. Many of the bills that have been around for several years failed to cross the finish line. Several of the bills we supported, while some we worked to kill. Some of those include:
- Control of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
- “Paycheck protection” which would harm all public employee unions
- Restrictions on the use of drones by public agencies
- Restrictions on shackling or restraining women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy
- Childcare tax credits to assist those with children entering the workforce
- Elimination of earnings tax in St. Louis and Kansas City
LOOKING AHEAD
Lawmakers now return to their home districts, where most will hit the campaign trail for the upcoming August 6 primary election. Capitol observers and legislators will also be watching as Governor Mike Parson makes his decision on the fate of all bills passed during the legislative session. The Governor must sign or veto budget related bills by June 30, while policy related bills must be signed or vetoed by July 14.
DATES OF INTEREST
- June 30- Deadline for Governor to sign or line-item veto FY2025 budget bills
- July 14 - Deadline for Governor to sign policy bills
- August 6 – Primary Election Day
- August 28 – Non-budget bills go into effect unless they have an emergency clause or date specific implementation
- September 11 – Veto Session
- November 5 – General Election
- January 8, 2025 – Start of 2025 Legislative Session
THANK YOU
I want to express my thanks for allowing me to be your voice in Jefferson City, and I appreciate the trust you place in me to represent your interests. Please let me know if you have any questions on the status of legislation that has passed or any other political happenings.
Mark Bruns
Bruns and Associates, LLC
