The Missouri House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide if the current threshold to change the state constitution is too low.
If approved by both chambers and voters, HJR 79 would modify the requirements for initiative petitions to change the state constitution. Missouri is currently one of only 18 states that allow an initiative petition to change their constitution.
Currently, to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, an initiative petition requires signatures from 8% of voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to qualify for the ballot. HJR 79 would require signatures from 10% of voters in all eight congressional districts.
In the past, signatures had to be gathered in two-thirds of the congressional districts, so people could go to St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield and Columbia to gather all the signatures they needed. Now signatures will have to be gathered from all parts of the state — northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, and central Missouri.
Also, currently in Missouri, a proposed constitutional change requires the support of a majority of voters to be approved. Under HJR 79, a constitutional amendment would need the approval of a two-thirds majority for passage. During discussion on the House floor, members also approved an amendment to require the Secretary of State to conduct a review and comment process for the general public in each congressional district no less than 15 days before a proposed constitutional amendment appears on the ballot. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Supplemental budget bill receives House approval
The House has sent a supplemental spending plan to the Senate that will provide vital funding for K-12 schools and the state’s Medicaid program, as well as a statewide pay plan increase.
HB 3014 authorizes nearly $4.6 billion in funding to be utilized in the current fiscal year that ends in June. The bill includes more than $2.8 billion in funding for K-12 schools in Missouri. That total includes nearly $1.8 billion in Elementary and Secondary Education Relief funds that are allocated to local education agencies.
With this, Missouri’s school districts are fully funded.
The bill also includes more than $444 million for the Office of Childhood for stabilization services. Additionally, the plan allocates $75 million for the Close the Gap Grant Program for tutoring. I think there’s a great need for that in this state. We’ve seen a tremendous consequence of the pandemic has been learning loss, so this would hopefully help catch some kids up across the state and provide relief to those families.”
HB 3014 also includes more than $1.5 billion in funding for the state’s MO HealthNet program. The funds are necessary to avoid a funding shortfall in the program due to the increased Medicaid population. Additionally, the bill allocates more than $91 million for a pay increase for all state employees.
During public hearings in the Budget Committee, members learned state jobs have a 26% turnover rate and a more than 55% turnover rate in jobs that pay less than $30,000 annually.
The plan approved by the House would ensure that state employees working in direct care agencies would receive either a 5.5% pay raise or an increase to an hourly wage of $15 per hour, whichever is greater.
Employees in other state agencies would receive a 5.5% pay raise or an increase to a $12 per hour wage, whichever is greater.
The House Budget Committee chairman said the bill makes an investment in the state workforce “to help retain and attract talented employees.” The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
If you have any questions regarding any state matters or legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact email me at Darrell.Atchison@house.mo.gov or call 573-751-1066.