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What did they do? How Missouri lawmakers spent the first half of the session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — As lawmakers return to districts or head on vacation during the legislative break, less than two months of work remains ahead of them during the session.

Here are some of a few of the key bills that passed since January, and where they might be headed:

Burlison
Burlison

Right-to-Work (HB 116 – Burlison) – For the first time in Missouri’s history, a chamber of the General Assembly passed a Right-to-Work bill and sent it to the other side of the building. Its fate in the Senate will be a major issue to watch in the final weeks. Will Republicans look to ram this one home, or will they make another trade with Democrats?

Municipal Court Reform (SB5 — Schmitt) – A lot of bipartisan love for this bill reducing the amount of money a city may collect through traffic fines and court fees from 30 percent of their annual budget down to 10. Some smaller rural areas will be able to retain a 20 percent cap, but this bill has been called a win by staunch fiscal conservatives and liberal civil liberties activists alike. It’s hard to imagine this bill not becoming the law of the land.

Dugger
Dugger

Voter ID Legislation (HJR 1 and HB 30 – Dugger) – Two pieces of legislation in the House— one a proposed constitutional amendment and the other a statutory change – would require voters present a valid government issued ID to vote. Supporters say it’ll shore up elections from fraud, and opponents howl it’ll only disenfranchise some voters. The House pushed their versions through with big numbers, but a handful of Democrats in the Senate have vowed a filibuster if the issue comes to the floor. This is an issue to watch.

Medical Malpractice Reform – The legislature called the state Supreme Court’s move to lift caps on medical malpractice non-economic damages “activism” and after lengthy negotiations between doctors and trial attorneys, a compromise and new caps have emerged. The real question now is reconciling the difference in the caps between House and Senate, which have swapped their versions of the bills.

Fiscal Year 2016 State Operating Budget – The state’s $26.1 billion state operating budget was passed by the House earlier than ever before as Republicans in both chambers prepare to dare Gov. Jay Nixon to begin vetoing items while lawmakers are still in session. The budget increases funding for K-12 education by $75 million to take total funding for public schools to the highest level in state history. But watch closely as the budget heads to the Senate, a provision eliminating Legislative Research may force a fight.

Welfare Reform – Republicans hailed this bill as the kind of good-government reform that entitlement programs need. Democrats blasted some of the more stringent new provisions, saying that children of adults not following new work requirements would suffer unjustly. The bill adds work requirements and halves the number of weeks any individual is eligible for funds. Both the House and Senate have passed their respective versions. A few days in conference committee to iron out the details, and this is a bill headed for Nixon’s desk.

Education Reform/School Transfers –The House version of this year’s attempt at a sweeping school transfer bill opens up charter schools and virtual schools to children in failed districts. But a Senate version of the bill has some key differences, and wrangling in the upper chamber has taken a little longer than expected. This is yet another bill whose fate is ultimately decided in conference committee.

Unemployment Reform (HB 150 – Fitzpatrick) – Not unlike the welfare reform legislation, Republicans have embraced this bill as a way to ensure unemployment benefits are available while also protecting Missouri businesses from excessive fees. The House has already passed this bill, which ties the length of benefits to the unemployment rate itself. Opponents said the bill would make unemployment an even steeper hole to climb out of, and said shorter benefit periods would punish individuals who look for the best job. The Senate has a similar bill that just left committee. Unemployment benefits have seen arm wrestling in the legislature for a few years, this could be the one that makes it to Nixon’s desk.

160 Reiboldt
Reiboldt

Dairy Revitalization Act (HB 259 – Reiboldt) – Vetoed last year largely due to a controversial provision on captive deer, this bill was embraced early during the legislative session and cited by leadership in both chambers as a top priority. Supporters say it will revitalize Missouri’s struggling dairy industry that has seen roughly 2,500 dairy farms close their doors in a decade. Opponents hissed that it amounted to a special taxpayer subsidy for dairy farmers. The bill is almost certain to arrive on Nixon’s desk.

Safety Standards for Clinics that Provide Abortions (HB 190 – Swan) – The bill has a fairly narrow impact, since only one place in Missouri provides abortions of any kind. The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis would be subject to annual inspections — current law only requires inspections when the Department of Health and Human Services it deems necessary — and requires the inspection results be made publicly available.

Pay Increase Rejection – One of the first actions of the session was to reject a proposed pay increase for lawmakers across the board. House and Senate leaders moved quickly to quash the increase.