The members of the Missouri House of Representatives have given their stamp of approval to a $46.5 billion state operating budget.
While the budget approved by the House provides record funding in a number of areas, the plan also represents a reduction in spending of approximately $1.1 billion when compared to the plan recommended by the governor.
The House Budget Chairman chose to scale back some of the spending increases proposed by the governor in order to ensure the state has a healthy bottom line. The chairman of the House Budget Committee said, “This budget, while it is the state’s largest in history, uses a lot of the federal money we’ve been sent to prioritize things like education and various infrastructures such as water infrastructure and broadband infrastructure. We’ve spent a long time trying to plan and make sure that money is invested as wisely as it can be.”
The budget bills approved by the House now move to the Senate for consideration. The two chambers have until Friday, May 6, to come to a final agreement on the state operating budget. I will share more details about the budget after May 6, when it is Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed.
Other bills sent
to the Senate
HB 2012 would make it a felony offense to use or donate fetal tissue from an abortion for any purpose other than to diagnose anomalies, determine paternity or for law enforcement purposes. The bill would enact the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which mandates that a child born alive during or after an abortion or attempted abortion will have the same rights, privileges, and immunities as any other person, citizen, and resident of Missouri, including any other live-born child.
HJR 131 would, upon voter approval, clarify that only citizens of the United States are eligible to vote. The resolution requires that voters cast a single vote for each office or issue. The resolution also requires the use of paper ballots and voting records which are preserved for use in any election audit. Supporters say that the resolution clarifies that only United States citizens may vote in Missouri elections and also enacts the current practice that requires a single vote for each candidate or issue.
HB 1682 prohibits any county, municipality, or political subdivision from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless specifically authorized by state law.
HB 1562 specifies that the region of southeast Missouri that includes the counties of St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Crawford, Dent, Shannon, Oregon, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, St. Francois, Madison, Iron, Perry, Wayne, Reynolds, Bollinger, Scott, Mississippi, Stoddard, Ripley, Butler, Carter, New Madrid, Pemiscot, and Dunklin shall be designated the Stars and Stripes Historic Region of Missouri. Supporters say that the Stars and Stripes newspaper was established in Bloomfield, Missouri, and this bill would raise awareness of the historical importance of this newspaper and the surrounding area.
If you have any questions regarding any state matters or legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email at Darrell.Atchison@house.mo.gov or call 573-751-1066.
If you would like to sign up for my capital report follow this link: https://house.mo.gov/CapitolReport.aspx?district=153, or click on the link below to subscribe.
It is an honor to serve as your state representative.
Atchison represents District 153, which includes Carter and Ripley counties and parts of Wayne and Butler counties.