• Legislators listen more closely to constituents - if you are in their district, tell them
• Legislators are interested in personal stories about how the proposed legislation will affect you and your pocketbook - look at the summaries and talking points and think about how the bill will affect you and talk about that in your phone call, testimony or email
• Look at the whole list of Calls to Action and pick the most important to you - we will be responding for months to come - don't get overwhelmed in the first few weeks
  

Citizen Initiative Petitions

Bill #: SCS SJRs 47, 30, & 10

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Would require a concurrent initiative petition passage, meaning passage would be dependent on both a statewide majority and a majority of state House districts. Unnecessarily restricts foreign involvement.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, April 28 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Currently measures must pass by a statewide majority which fairly reflects the will of ALL Missourians

• Requirements to have a constitutional amendment pass by both statewide majority and a majority of state representative districts will create a rule by minority, undermining the will of all Missourians

• Requiring a two-condition threshold is unnecessary and cumbersome

• Article VIII, Section 23 of the MO Constitution already prohibits contributions from foreign sources; this bill contains unnecessary repetitive language

Link to the summary of the bill: SCS SJRs 47, 30, & 10

Call to action: Look up and contact your Senator HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position: The League believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, 2024 - 2026, p. 11)

Bill #:  HCS HBs 575 & 551  (House bill currently in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill 

Short Description:  Makes it harder for the public to use the Initiative Petition process.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a Hearing on Monday, April 28 at 2:00 PM in the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee.

Talking points:  

• Imposes restrictions on petition circulators

• Requires petition circulators to be citizens of the United States, residents of Missouri or physically present in Missouri for at least 30 consecutive days prior to the collection of signatures

• Places limits on who can circulate petitions, infringing on the rights of free expression and violating the right to free speech

• Challenges to the official ballot title or fiscal note can only be made by a Missouri “registered voter” instead of any “citizen”

• Repeals requirement for a public comment period within 30 days of Secretary of State certifying signatures

• Requires final adjudication of a challenge to the official ballot title or fiscal note to occur at least 8 weeks before an election date

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 575 & 551

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed for Senate hearings. Contact members of the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill. 

LWV Position: The League believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, 2024 - 2026, p.5)

Reproductive Rights

Bill #:  HB 1072 and HB 1417

LWVMO OPPOSES these bills

Short Description: Creates the Missouri Prenatal Equal Protection Act.

Status of the Bills: Scheduled for Executive Session on Tuesday, April 29 at 8:00 AM in the House Children and Families Committee.

Talking points:  

• Adds the definition of “person” in the criminal code to include an unborn child at every state of development from the moment of fertilization until birth

• Would abolish abortion

• Missourians have already voted for an amendment to allow abortion up to fetal viability 

Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1072  HB 1417

Call to action:

Contact the members of the House Children and Families Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE these bills.

LWV Position: Public policy in a pluralistic society must affirm the constitutional right to privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices. At the 2024 Convention, delegates passed a resolution reaffirming the Leagues commitment to fight for reproductive rights and justice, including bodily autonomy, privacy, reproductive health, and access to contraception and abortion. (LWVUS 2024-2026 Impact on Issues, pp.64-68)

Firearms

Bill #: HCS HB 328  (House bill currently in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description: Allows concealed carry permit holders to bring guns on public transportation.

Status of the Bill: Placed on the Senate Formal Perfection Calendar for Monday, April 28 at 8:00 AM.

Talking points:  

• Allows guns on public transportation including buses

• Lowers the age of a concealed carry permit to 18

• Public transportation riders do not want more guns on public transportation

• MPTA (MO Public Transit Association) doesn't want guns on buses (see article link) 

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HB 328

Call to action: Contact your Senator HERE using the Legislator Lookup site and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

Links to further reading: MO Public Transit Association

LWVMO Position: Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility of guns. Support regulation of firearms and ammunition for consumer safety. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p. 60)

LGBTQ Rights

Bill #: SS#2 SCS SB 10

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill  (Senate bill currently in the House)

Short Description: This act repeals the August 28, 2027, expiration date of the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation(SAFE) Act (Section 191.1720).

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for Executive Session on Tuesday, April 29 at 12:00 PM in the House Government Efficiency Committee.

Talking points:  

• Interferes with the medical decisions made by parents, their children and medical professionals

• Repeals a previously agreed expiration date, permanently  prohibiting these treatments

• Prevents medically necessary care established by professional medical organizations*, based on false claims of health outcomes for those with gender dysphoria* (*The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Psychiatric Assoc.,The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

Link to the summary of the bill: HERE

Call to action: Contact members of the House Government Efficiency Committee HERE and tell them you OPPOSE this bill.

LWV Position: LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice to all persons, regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2023-2025, p. 53)

To volunteer, join a committee, register for a special event, or view the Member Roster, please log in to your member account on our League website lwvkc.org: 

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