JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Hardy Billington says the integrity of elections will be at the forefront of his legislative priorities for the upcoming 2022 legislative session.
On Wednesday, Billington filed several pieces of legislation for the upcoming session, ranging from election integrity, initiative petition reform, abortion, Second Amendment rights, Critical Race Theory, and more.
Three bills filed by Billington this year center around election issues. HB 1454 seeks to modify provisions for voter identification which he said will require a photo ID to cast a vote. Billington also filed HB 1455, which prohibits the sending of unsolicited absentee ballot request forms, and HJR 65, which modifies the process of how an initiative petition would be put on the ballot.
“Strengthening confidence in our elections is critical for our democracy, and it will be one of my top priorities this session,” Billington, R-Poplar Bluff, said. “The integrity of our elections is completely dependent on our voters having faith in the system.”
In addition to his pre-filed bills on election matters, Billington has also filed the following bills for the 2022 legislative session:
• HB1451 - Designates Jan. 12 each year as “Rush Limbaugh Day”
• HB 1452 - Requires the performance and explanation of an obstetric ultrasound and auscultation of fetal heartbeat prior to an abortion
• HB1453 - Prohibits an employer from terminating an employee for having a firearm in the employee’s vehicle on the employer’s premises
• HB 1456 - Changes the law regarding catalytic converters
• HB 1457 - Prohibits the use of the 1619 Project initiative of the New York Times in Missouri public schools