Missouri House Votes to Protect School Children

In the waning hours of session, the House third read and passed HB 1108. This bill contains several provisions related to public safety, but one provision in particular is worth special note. The provision that, subject to appropriation, the state will fund requirements that a school district have bullet-resistant doors and windows on all first-floor entryways and bullet-resistant glass for each exterior window large enough for an intruder to enter through. Upon passage of this bill, Perkins commented, “There is an obvious need to harden our schools against these horrendous attacks. This bill does just that, and I fully support it. It is unfortunate that this was largely a party line vote, and I encourage those on the other side to set aside political expediency and support the children and staff at our schools.”

House Approves Legislation to Protect and Strengthen Second Amendment Rights (HB 282)
The Missouri House has approved legislation that would expand the rights of concealed carry permit holders. By a vote of 102-45, House members approved HB 282 to allow law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves on public transportation.

The legislation allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation. Anyone with a permit may also carry a firearm while traveling by bus. The bill does not apply to property of Amtrak or any partnership in which Amtrak engages.

“Violence and crime don’t discriminate,” said the sponsor of the bill. “We all have the potential of running into situations where we have to utilize self-defense to protect ourselves and those we love. Prohibiting lawful citizens from carrying concealed is like putting all the sheep in a pen and telling the wolf where they’re at.”

He added, “I believe that this legislation will discourage criminal activity on our public transportation systems, but most importantly it will ensure that we maintain our constitutional right to self-defense.”

HB 282 also allows a person with a valid concealed carry permit to lawfully carry firearms in churches and other places of worship. Additionally, the bill lowers the age requirement from at least 19 to 18 years of age or older for concealed carry permits. The bill also removes the ban on eligibility for a concealed carry permit or a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit if the applicant has pled guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere of certain crimes.

Lawmakers Approve Funding for Critical Infrastructure Projects (HB 17, HB 18, HB 19, and HB 20)
House members this week approved four bills that appropriate more than $5.4 billion in funding for vital infrastructure projects and programs across the state.

Lawmakers approved HB 17 to re-appropriate funding for state parks around Missouri. In total the bill contains nearly $431 million in funding. House members also gave their stamp of approval to HB 18 to continue ongoing funding that will keep state facilities maintained and repaired. The bill allocates a total of more than $588 million for that purpose.

With the approval of HB 19 legislators authorized more than $1.7 billion in funding for crucial capital improvement projects. Included in that total is $859 million in funding to widen and rebuild the I-70 corridor. The plan is a priority of Gov. Mike Parson who called for the funding to expand the highway to six lanes from St. Louis to Warrenton, Kansas City to Odessa, and extending both East and West from Columbia. The governor said the expansion would improve inter and intrastate travel for Missourians, visitors, and goods and services as well as reduce traffic injuries and deaths.

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