Pass or Veto: A look at the bills signed by Gov. Greitens, and what could reappear in veto session

With the final day to sign bills into law come and gone, we’re taking a look back at what has been signed into law by first-term Governor Eric Greitens, as well as the bills that did not make it past his desk, thanks to his veto. By our count, the Governor signed off on 31 House bills and 36 Senate bills, for a total of 67 bills. He also vetoed five items before the deadline. 81 bills were passed by the legislature during the regular session.

Of the sixty-plus bills signed by the Republican governor, roughly one-third of them were budget bills. But several of the bills signed delivered on promises made by the incoming governor, including the passage of right-to-work, tort reform, as well as a number of labor laws.

• The Governor also allowed the passage of another bill without signing it. That bill is HB 1194, which prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a minimum wage that exceeds the requirements of state law.

 

Here’s a breakdown of each bill signed into law by Gov. Eric Greitens:

HB 2 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the State Board of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

HB 3– Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education

HB 4– Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Revenue and Department of Transportation

HB 5 –Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Office of Administration, Department of Transportation, and Department of Public Safety

HB 6 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Conservation

HB 7 – Appropriates money for the departments of Economic Development; Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration; and Labor and Industrial Relations

HB 8 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Public Safety

HB 9 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Corrections

HB 10 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Mental Health, Board of Public Buildings, and Department of Health and Senior Services

HB 11 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, and distributions of the Department of Social Services

HB 12 – Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of statewide elected officials, the Judiciary, Office of the State Public Defender, and General Assembly

HB 13 – Appropriates money for real property leases and related services

HB 14 – To appropriate money for supplemental purposes for the several departments and offices of state government

HB 17 – To appropriate money for capital improvement and other purposes for the several departments of state government

HB 18 – To appropriate money for purposes for the several departments and offices of state government; for projects involving the maintenance, repair, replacement, and improvement of state buildings and facilities

HB 34 – Changes the laws regarding the Uniform Commercial Code to adopt the current version of Articles 1 and 7

HB 50 – Changes division designations for circuit and associate courts in the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit

HB 51 – Authorizes county commissions that oversee cemetery funds to utilize investment managers

HB 93 – Changes the laws regarding job training

HB 115 – Modifies provisions relating to the sale of intoxicating liquor in airports

HB 130 – Enacts provisions relating to transportation network companies

HB 151 – Requires the department of revenue to issue REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses unless the applicant requests a license that is not compliant with the REAL ID Act

HB 153 – Modifies provisions relating to expert witnesses

HB 190 – Allows community college police officers to establish regulations to control vehicular traffic on any thoroughfare owned or maintained by the college

HB 292 – Changes the laws regarding powers of banks

HB 336 – Provides that riders, endorsements, and amendments to life insurance policies may contain suicide exclusions or limitations

HB 339 – Modifies provisions relating to tort claims

HB 451 – Specifies that a change in population shall not remove a city, county, or political subdivision from the operation of a law

HB 452 – Modifies definitions of “employee” and “physician employee” in actions against health care providers for personal injury or death

HB 662 – Changes the laws regarding the misuse of herbicides

HB 1  – (Extraordinary Session) – Gives the public service commission authority to approve certain special utility rates for an aluminum smelting facility or a steel works facility under certain circumstances

SB 8 – Modifies the law relating to flashing lights on motor vehicles and equipment

SB 16 – Exempts delivery charges from sales and use taxes

SB 19 – Creates new provisions of law relating to labor organizations

SB 31 – Modifies provisions relating to the collateral source rule and provides that parties may introduce evidence of the actual cost, rather than the value, of the medical care rendered

SB 34 – Modifies and creates new provisions relating to criminal offenses

SB 35 – Modifies public notice and hearing requirements for certain land purchases made by the Department of Natural Resources or the Commissioner of Administration on behalf of state departments

SB 43 – Modifies the law relating to unlawful discrimination

SB 49 – Modifies several provisions relating to local sales taxes

SB 50 – Modifies several provisions relating to health care

SB 52 – Creates several provisions relating to suicide awareness and prevention

SB 62 – Modifies provisions regarding various pension systems and forfeiture of a pension benefit due to a felony conviction

SB 64 – Gives designation to certain infrastructure

SB 66 – Modifies provisions of law relating to workers’ compensation

SB 88 – Establishes a two-year statute of limitation for claims of malpractice or negligence against veterinarians

SB 95 – Extends the expiration dates on certain provisions relating to public funds

SB 108 – Grants reemployment rights to members of the military

SB 111 – Modifies various provisions regarding bonds issued by a political subdivision, qualifications for candidates of public office, limited liability companies who own property in certain cities, public administrators, and guardianships

SB 112 – Modifies provisions relating to political subdivisions

SB 139 – Modifies provisions relating to health care

SB 160 – Modifies provisions relating to child protection

SB 161 – Establishes the Ozark Exploration Bicentennial Commission

SB 182  – Modifies provisions of law relating to project labor agreements

SB 222 – Modifies provisions relating to vehicle lighting equipment

SB 225 – Modifies provisions relating to transportation

SB 240 – Creates a statewide license for electrical contractors

SB 248 – Repeals the expiration date for tax refund contributions to the Organ Donor Program Fund

SB 279 – Adds certain forms to the list of documents sufficient to demonstrate eligibility for a veteran designation on an applicant’s driver’s license or non-driver identification card

SB 283 – Enacts provisions relating to political subdivisions

SB 322 – Designates certain memorial infrastructure

SB 329 – Modifies provisions relating to motor vehicle franchise practices

SB 376 – Designates “Old Drum” as the historical dog of the state of Missouri and “Jim the Wonder Dog” as Missouri’s wonder dog

SB 395 – Modifies provisions relating to the practice of public accounting

SB 421 – Modifies provisions relating to the conveyance of state property

SB 486 – Authorizes the conveyance of a certain state property located in Cole County to the City of Jefferson

SB 501 – Modifies provisions relating to health care

SB 503 – Requires the Committee for 911 Oversight to designate a state 911 coordinator

 

Here’s a breakdown of the bills vetoed by Gov. Eric Greitens

HB 850 – Changes the law regarding military complaints against a commanding officer in the National Guard

HCB 3 – Modifies provisions relating to funds for vulnerable senior citizens

HCR 19 – Authorizes the issuance of public bonds for half of the financing of a new conservatory building at UMKC

SB 65 – Exempts vessels propelled by outboard jet motors and vessels not originally manufactured with adequate guards or railing from the provisions prohibiting passengers from riding in certain areas of a boat

SB 128 – Modifies various provisions regarding criminal offenses, the Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, child support and custody, trusts and estates, guardianships, judges, court surcharges, court reporter fees, and victim’s of crime

 

Many wonder about what a potential veto session might consist of, as the six bills vetoed would be up for consideration. But when comparing the bills in question and the fact that the legislature has been called back for two special sessions, it stands to reason that the legislature may not choose to try and override any of these vetoes.

Indeed, some of the vetoed items may not have any need to be overridden. The governor’s veto of HCR 19 could be considered unnecessary since UMKC has already made it clear they intend to locate the funding elsewhere.

As for HB 850, Greitens said he sees no need for the military complaint process to be taken any further than The Adjutant General, saying the military is completely capable of policing their own.

SB 65 was vetoed when members of law enforcement expressed concern.

That would leave two bills as options for a veto session: SB 128 and HCB 3.

SB 128 could be brought forward, as it was a criminal justice measure that addressed a wide range of topics.

Greitens said it violated the Constitution’s ban on laws containing multiple subjects, but the real reason lawmakers may be interested in taking it up once again is because it had a provision in it that sought to bring more transparency to the state’s legal settlements, which has cost the Show-Me State millions in recent years. The proposal would have required the attorney general to provide monthly updates on the state’s legal expense fund.

But HCB 3 might be the most likely of the three, as it caused the most controversy in the last few weeks of the session.

The issue at hand was how to provide care to a group of more than 8,000 low-income seniors, veterans and people living with disabilities and minor health care issues. The bill sought to pull $35 million from various state funds into general revenue as a one-time payment.

Greitens called the bill a “budget gimmick,” but the emotions witnessed on both the House and the Senate floors this past session in regard to this bill suggests that this particular item may be the most likely to see another chance.