A few times each month, a staff member in the Missouri House prepares of summary of information relevant to week.   I have copied his report for your review.   If any of the information peaks your interest and you would like more information, please reach out to me.

General Assembly to Convene
for Annual Veto Session

Legislators will make their way back to Jefferson City on September 11th for their annual veto session. As required by the Missouri Constitution, members of the House and Senate meet each year to consider bills that were vetoed by the governor.

Veto session provides legislators with the opportunity to override the governor’s vetoes and put a bill into effect as law despite the governor’s objections. A successful override requires the support of a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

For the 2024 veto session, no legislation was vetoed by the governor, but House and Senate members have the ability to attempt to override any 173 vetoes from the state operating budget that Gov. Parson announced in July, citing concerns over future financial stability and the inclusion of special projects and interests.

The Governor cited the following as reason for his line-item vetoes:

• Firstly, Senate Bill 727 is projected to cost the state an estimated $400 million more annually once fully implemented.

• Secondly, necessary increases in the K-12 Foundation Formula are expected to cost $300 million over FY25 levels, beginning in FY26.

• Thirdly, the General Assembly spent nearly $300 million more in general revenue over Governor Parson’s FY25 recommendation.

• Lastly, the General Assembly over-appropriated Budget Stabilization Funds.

“The use of the veto pen is not something I do eagerly, but today these vetoes represent the elimination of unnecessary pet projects and the protection of the taxpayer dime,” Parson said in a news release. “We may be leaving $1.9 billion on the bottom line, but that doesn’t mean we spend for the sake of spending.”

In the history of the state, the legislature has successfully overridden 119 vetoes. Of those overrides, 49 have been on budget line-items and 70 have been on non-appropriations bills. Prior to the administration of Gov. Jay Nixon, veto overrides had been extremely rare with the legislature completing a total of only 22 overrides in its history. During Nixon’s eight years in office from 2009–17, the number of veto overrides increased dramatically as the Missouri General Assembly overrode 97 of his vetoes.

 Missouri House to Hold Hearings Over Childcare Subsidy

Missouri legislative leaders are working to address a significant backlog in the state’s child care subsidy program, which has led to financial struggles for many child care providers, with some forced to close. The delays in disbursing federal funds are attributed to technical issues following the transfer of the subsidy program from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade have both called for investigations. O’Laughlin criticized the Office of Childhood within DESE, labeling it a “disaster” and urging for an interim Senate committee to investigate. Quade highlighted the crisis’s impact on families and providers, requesting a House investigation.

In response, two House committees — the Budget Committee and the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee—have scheduled hearings in September. DESE, which blames a contracted vendor, World Wide Technology, for the delays, stated that it is working to resolve the issues, including hiring additional staff and contractors to clear the backlog. The department acknowledges the ongoing problems and has expressed a commitment to transparency during the upcoming hearings.

 Backlog of Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Cases Down More Than 80% This Year

Missouri has significantly reduced its backlog of unresolved child abuse and neglect cases by over 80% since January, with expectations that the backlog will be fully cleared by the end of the year. Previously, there were over 10,000 open cases each month between September and January, mostly in St. Louis, which sparked concerns about child safety. By July, the number of open cases statewide had dropped to 1,869, with St. Louis cases reduced from over 6,000 in January to just 74 in July.

This progress is attributed to increased staffing in the Children’s Division, which had struggled with vacancies in recent years. State law requires investigations to be completed within 45 days, involving assessments of child safety and determining if abuse or neglect occurred. The Children’s Division is close to resolving all backlog cases, aiming to complete this by year’s end.

 Federal Appeals Court Declares Missouri’s ‘Second Amendment Preservation Act’ Unconstitutional

A federal appeals court in St. Louis unanimously ruled that Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act, which aimed to declare certain federal gun regulations invalid, is unconstitutional because it violates the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause. The law, passed in 2021, penalized police for enforcing specific federal gun laws, including fines for law enforcement agencies that infringe on Missourians’ Second Amendment rights. The U.S. Department of Justice challenged the law, arguing it hindered federal investigations. The ruling upheld a previous district court decision that blocked the law’s enforcement, and the U.S. Supreme Court had previously denied Missouri’s request to enforce the law during the appeal. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is reviewing the decision.

New Law Expands Powers of the State Auditor

A new Missouri law has expanded the powers of State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, allowing him to initiate audits of local governments without needing consent from governing boards or a petition drive. Previously, Fitzpatrick could only audit local governments if their governing bodies agreed or if enough citizens signed a petition. This change was motivated by instances like the audit of Excelsior Estates, where a former mayor was found to have misappropriated funds. The new law empowers the auditor to act when initial investigations suggest improper activity, such as fraud or legal violations.

The law was driven by concerns over cost overruns at a school district project in St. Charles County, highlighting the limitations of the auditor’s previous powers. The change is expected to streamline the process of holding local officials accountable, especially in cases where petition drives would be impractical.

The auditor’s office, which has seen a decline in the number of audits due to staffing shortages and increased workloads, is currently rebuilding its staff. The new authority is not expected to interfere with the office’s existing statutory responsibilities but will provide the auditor with the discretion to pursue audits when necessary.

 Updates on Renovation Projects at the Missouri State Capitol

As lawmakers reconvene for the annual veto session, restoration work is underway at the Missouri State Capitol. A major focus is the Great Window stained glass laylight, which was removed for restoration in Pasadena, California, and is now being reinstalled, with completion expected by early fall 2024. Scaffolding is in place near the Grand Staircase and will be added to other areas for additional painting.

The Legislative Library is also undergoing restoration to return it to its historic design, with repairs to the plaster and dome completed. The library is expected to reopen by the end of 2024 after maintenance and flooring work are finished. The project will then focus on stone repairs, bookshelf adjustments, and restoring the space’s original finishes and furnishings. The total cost of these restorations is currently $3.8 million.

 Preparing for a Potential Surge
of COVID

The recent summer COVID surge in Missouri, driven by a highly contagious variant, appears to be waning. Health officials hope this decline will encourage more people to get the newly approved COVID vaccine, expected in pharmacies next week. The vaccine is recommended annually for everyone aged 6 months and older, but with the end of federal emergency funding, concerns have arisen about the cost for uninsured individuals. Missouri has secured over $1 million in federal aid to cover around 12,000 doses for uninsured residents. With colder weather approaching, another COVID wave is anticipated, making vaccination crucial to prevent severe illness and COVID. While the vaccine is widely available, including free options for some, it’s important to get vaccinated soon, especially for those at high risk. Testing and precautionary measures like mask-wearing are also recommended to reduce the risk of infection and COVID.

 Your reaction to the activity in state government is always welcome.   My email address is bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov If you prefer to call, my legislative assistant Jill Ryals could also provide for you some clarification to questions about out state government. My office number is (573) 751-6668.