Missouri House Wraps Up Legislative Session
Dear Citizens: After nearly five months of hard work and numerous negotiations and compromises, the General Assembly wrapped up the 2022 legislative session with a long list of substantive policy wins for Missouri families and businesses.
In total, the House and Senate reached final agreement on nearly 60 bills and sent them to the governor for his approval. Legislators addressed issues such as tax relief for Missouri taxpayers, enhanced transparency and integrity for Missouri’s elections process, expanded educational opportunities for Missouri young people, safeguards for the rights of Missouri’s landowners, and stronger protections for victims of sex trafficking and sexual assault. After months of discussion, lawmakers also reached a final agreement on a new map for Missouri’s congressional districts that will maintain Missouri’s current congressional split with 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats. During their time in Jefferson City, legislators also approved a state operating budget that makes record investments in education, infrastructure and assistance for Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens.
The General Assembly officially adjourned on Friday, May 13, which concluded the portion of the legislative session when bills can be passed. The governor will now have the opportunity to act on the various bills sent to him. He has the option to sign bills into law or veto legislation he finds problematic. The legislature will return in September for an annual Veto Session in which members could potentially override any vetoes made by the governor.
Priority Bills Passed During the 2022 Session Include:
Tax Relief for Missouri Taxpayers – HB 2090will provide substantive tax relief in the form of a one-time economic recovery tax credit for Missouri residents who paid personal income tax in the state for 2021. The plan caps the total amount of non-refundable tax credits issued at $500 million and allows anyone filing an individual Missouri personal income tax return to receive a credit equal to their tax liability up to $500. Married couples filing jointly would receive up to a $1,000 credit. The credits are limited to taxpayers earning $150,000 or less for an individual, or $300,000 or less for a married couple.
Election Integrity – HB 1878contains a number of provisions designed to ensure safe, secure elections with timely, accurate results. The bill will require Missourians to present a photo ID when they go to vote, but will also allow people without a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot. In order for the provisional ballot to be counted, election officials would have to verify the voter’s signature based on voter records, or the voter would need to return later that day with a valid form of identification. The bill also requires the use of hand-marked paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines, mandates the use of air-gapped election equipment that prevent the possibility of electronic manipulation, authorizes the Secretary of State to audit election results, and requires all election authorities or political subdivisions to have cybersecurity reviews. The bill also allows no-excuse absentee voting up to two weeks prior to the date of an election, bans private donations to fund elections, and eliminates the Presidential Preference Primary and establishes Missouri as a caucus state.
Congressional Redistricting – HB 2909will establish new boundaries for Missouri’s eight congressional districts. The map approved by the General Assembly was created with input from legislators representing their constituents, public testimony from citizens across the state of Missouri, and 2020 census data. The map contains compact and contiguous districts as required by the constitution while also keeping communities of interest and like-mindedness together. Supporters say it maintains Missouri’s current congressional split with 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats. The final map approved by the General Assembly can be viewed at the following link: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills221/maps/Map.5799H.02P.pdf
Creating a New Tool to Fight Trafficking – HB 1472will provide another tool for law enforcement to combat human trafficking. The bill will modify the offense of money laundering to include when a person conducts a financial transaction with the purpose to promote or aid criminal activity, to disguise criminal activity, to avoid reporting requirements under federal law, or to aid any terrorist threat. The bill specifies that a “financial transaction” includes a transaction involving the movement of funds by wire; a transaction involving monetary instruments such as cryptocurrency, personal checks, bank orders, or money orders; the transfer of title to any real property; or a transfer involving the use of a financial institution as defined in federal law. By updating the definition, law enforcement will be better able to track and trace the movement of funds. Bill Sponsor –Pike.
For more information, contact Representative Patricia Pike at Patricia.Pike@house.mo.gov or call 573-751-5388.
