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WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 05/06/2024

May 06, 2024

The Mood at the Capitol

We are facing the last two weeks of Session. The budget’s Constitutional deadline is Friday at 6pm. If the budget is not done by then, the legislature will have to pick it up again in a Special Session called by the Governor. That Special Session could happen any time between Saturday and when the fiscal year ends on June 30. The Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA) is far from done as it needs 1 more vote in the Senate and to go through the entire House process. At this point, it will require the waiver of some of the rules on timing to get done. Also causing tension is the lingering IP Restriction Resolution. All three of these issues are intertwined and all three of them are highly likely to spark a filibuster from one faction or another.

voting rights

SJR 74 (Coleman) is sitting on the Senate Senate Bills with House Amendments Calendar. Calendars do not indicate the day a bill will be debated, only that it could be brought to the Floor that day. Knowing that the bill will be filibustered when it comes to the floor, Senate leadership is going to spend most of this coming week focusing on the budget as they are constitutionally required to do so. MOVPC is asking everyone to remain calm and wait until you hear from Denise if the bill is brought up. We know there are threats around motion of moving the previous question (PQ), we are not overly concerned. Using the PQ is generally considered to be the end of the Senate because if it is used it will result in a cascade of PQ’s because all other debates will result in a filibuster. It is a last resort/nuclear option in the Senate and everyone wants to avoid this outcome at all costs. The JAG team will be monitoring the situation in the building and be in constant communication with everyone in the Senate as well as all of our coalition partners. Again, please keep an eye out for any MOVPC action alerts.

SJR 78 (Brown 26) was passed out of the House Elections Committee and has one more vote before heading to the House floor. Following a lengthy debate in committee it is clear that this bill has unforeseen consequences that could potentially be placed in the constitution. While at this moment, the House is sitting on all Senate bills so that the Senate can focus on the budget, this bill can be brought up anytime after this coming Tuesday. Please keep an eye out for any action alerts regarding this bill.

criminal justice

The increased tension and looming deadlines mean most other bills are stuck behind the log jam. However, there are several things poised to move quickly should the log jam break. Among those are HB2700 and HB2064, the “Comprehensive Criminal” and “Comprehensive Civil” bills respectively. Both bills are being tracked in our bill comparison spreadsheet linked below. They have been pared down to only provisions that won’t spark lengthy debate. They are also likely to continue to change slightly as the Senate finishes its work.

We are expecting Good Time Credit and the restoration of SNAP benefits to people with previous drug offenses to be added to HB2700. As of now, we aren’t expecting any bad language to be added, and are ready to object and get it removed if it is.

Please bear with us as we come to the end of this legislative session. Things move quickly and predictions are only good for the 5 minutes it takes to give them. This is also an election year so the political motivations are extremely high. We will notify everyone immediately should anything pass. Otherwise, just keep an eye out for these updates and we will send them when we can.

Crime Bill Comparison: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IPmHrOzKsTAyZJHI-jme37WmSku1cagN/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104630237112565542110&rtpof=true&sd=true

Call to Action

Tracking List

https://govwatch.net/report/M6q8o0GrzR

*This list is continually updated and improved. If you have questions, please contact Sharon Geuea Jones at sharon@jonesadvocacy.com.

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WEEKLY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 05/13/2024

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Successful First Weekend for Cape Girardeau NAACP Canvassing Team

By Pat McBride, President - Cape Girardeau 4048 • 09 May, 2024

This year the Cape Girardeau Branch is focused on voter registration. We have formed The Cape Girardeau Branch NAACP Canvassing Team, which consist of students from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). The students have registered more than two-hundred students on campus this school year, and are now working with me to register voters off-campus. They have named themselves the "SEMO Democrats." We have received donations from a variety of sources to support the students' efforts. Prior to canvassing the South Cape Community, the team received training from the Cape Girardeau County Clerk office and me. We wanted them to clearly understand that the NAACP Canvassing team is nonpartisan, what the requirements of the law for registrars currently is, and how to properly make sure only eligible voters are registering through us. We are serving people and not a particular party or agenda - other than the importance of voter participation. Within two hours, we knocked on fifty-three doors. We held several impromptu conversations on the street. We registered one convicted felon who recently regained their eligibility but wasn't aware. We met one person who did not want to complete voter registration. I will re-visit this door. The team also had the opportunity to canvass a community event who provided our hard working students food. I have been canvassing and working as a Cape Girardeau Election Officer since I retired from the State of Missouri in 2015 and have canvassed for voter registration since that time. I have learned that there is much need for voter registration and education activities in the South Cape community. We have families who are not registered to vote; ones who are registered but do not vote; some who need a voter registration record update ; and finally, many who have been on probation in the past and do not realize they are eligible to vote. I am proud of our students and our branch for making this project a priority. We plan to canvass weekly on Saturday (weather permitting) through October 2024. I will provide updates on our registration progress as we work to make sure every eligible voter in our area has a chance to register. We really appreciate the support of the MO State Conference of the NAACP!