MISSOURI — In the featured image, Rep. Perkins joins Vernon Wallsmith and Kristina Spears who are in the Capitol for Legislative Disabilities Day

The members of the Missouri House of Representatives completed the first half of the legislative session with a flurry of activity that resulted in the passage of several legislative priorities. As members headed into the mid-session break, they were able to approve bills giving parents more control over their children’s educational options, protecting the rights of patients to have visitors, and safeguarding the integrity of the elections process.

The priorities passed during the final week before the break join a long list of legislative accomplishments produced by the House. So far during the 2022 legislative session, House members have approved bills to protect Missourians from burdensome mandates, to prevent efforts to defund law enforcement, to strengthen the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, to support and promote Missouri agriculture, and to provide critical funding to the state’s K-12 education system. Members also approved a new congressional map based on the latest Census data, backed efforts to reform Missouri’s initiative process, and supported proposed reforms for the state’s Medicaid program. In total, the House approved and sent nearly 40 pieces of legislation to the Senate before the break.

Lawmakers will now spend the next week working in their districts before returning to the Capitol on March 21 to begin the final 8 weeks of the legislative session. When they return, House members will focus their efforts on approving the Fiscal Year 2023 state operating budget. The state spending plan must be approved by both the House and Senate by Friday, May 6. The House and Senate also will work to pass a number of other legislative priorities before the session concludes on Friday, May 13.

The bills approved by the House during the first half of the 2022 legislative session include:

Protecting Missourians’ Freedoms (HB 1686 and HB 2358 & 1485) – During the first half of the 2022 legislative session, the Missouri House approved two bills designed to protect Missourians from mandates that would take away their right to decide whether to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. HB 1686 would make it clear that public entities such as government agencies and public schools cannot require a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. It also prohibits fines or other penalties based on an individual’s vaccination status. Additionally, it reaffirms an employee’s right to raise a religious objection to receiving a vaccination. HB 2358 & 1485 clearly affirms the right of an employee to receive an exemption from a COVID-19 vaccine requirement if the employee requests one based on certain sincerely held beliefs. The bill clarifies the religious exemption includes theistic as well as non-theistic beliefs. The bill would require an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for the request unless clear and convincing evidence proves it would cause an undue hardship or be a direct threat to other employees or customers. HB 2358 & 1485 also ensures an employee who is injured, disabled, or killed due to an employer-required COVID-19 vaccination would be compensated.

No Patient Left Alone Act (HB 2116 and HB 1861) – Legislation approved before the break advocates for patients and protects their right to have visits from loved ones during a hospital stay. The House approved two bills that would empower a patient to designate at least three essential support persons, in addition to a spouse or legal guardian, and allow the spouse or guardian and at least one support person to be present with the patient at all times during their stay. The bills also state that long-term care facilities will allow compassionate care visitation as needed by the resident.

Preventing Efforts to Defund Law Enforcement (HB 1986) – House members have passed legislation this session designed to ensure the Kansas City Police Department receives the funding it needs. HB 1986 is a response to efforts by the city to remove $42 million from a previously-agreed-upon budget for the department. The goal of the bill is to ensure the city is not able to artificially manipulate its general fund in order to cut the budget for the Kansas City Police Department.

Addressing the Substitute Teacher Shortage (HB 2304) – During the first half of session, members of the Missouri House took action to address the substitute teacher shortage that is causing major problems for schools around the state. The House approved legislation to create opportunities to increase the number of substitutes that are available to schools. HB 2304 would provide a four-year certificate for individuals who want to substitute teach. Under the bill, applicants for certification must complete a background check and also have at least 36 college hours or have completed a 20 hour online training. The bill also requires individuals to have a high school diploma or equivalence. Additionally, the bill provides an alternative route to certification for qualified individuals with technical or business expertise or Armed Forces experience and a superintendent sponsorship.

When we return from Spring Break, I look forward to continuing our work passing important legislation that will benefit the 40th District and Missouri as a whole.