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Final week in the House: Thursday, May 16

During the last week of the session, the Missouri Times will bring you updates of floor activity of each chamber. Below is all the floor activity in the House from Thursday, May 16. For live updates on the Senate, click here.

House has adjourned. 


HB 656, ballot regulation, passes with 132-8 vote

The bill repeals a provision prohibiting voters from allowing their ballots to be seen.


HCR 4, ‘National Day of the Cowboy,’ passes with 122-13 vote

The resolution designates the fourth Saturday in July each year as the “National Day of the Cowboy” in Missouri.


Rep. Bruce Franks announces this is his last session

In a heartfelt speech that had some of his colleagues reaching for the tissues, Rep. Bruce Franks announced this session will be his last as a state lawmaker.

He cited his family and mental health as the reasons for his departure but vowed to keep being active in his community.

Franks resigns, citing family, mental health


HB 399, disabilities health care, refuses to adopt Senate changes

The bill prohibits any third-party payer for health care services from limiting coverage or denying reimbursement for treatment for physical, cognitive, emotional, mental, or developmental disabilities in specified situations.

Multiple amendments were added in the Senate. One particular provision, according to Rep. Chuck Basye, needs to be stripped out. The provision under debate is an amendment on who insurance companies pay for air ambulance transportation.


SCR 2, U.S. Capital statuary hall, TAFP

The resolution requests the U.S. Congress replace the statue of Thomas Hart Benton in the Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Harry S. Truman.


SB 174, taxation, TAFP with 129-4 vote

The underlying bill exempts interest received on deposits held at a federal reserve bank from Missouri adjusted gross income.

The House Committee Substitute added multiple provisions including surviving spouses tax credits, telecommunications sales tax, bank franchise tax, and more. But the House voted to recede back to the version voted out by the other chamber.

“I begrudgingly go back to the Senate position,” said Rep. Dan Shaul, the House handler of the legislation.


HB 447, coroners, TAFP with 136-4 vote

The bill establishes the “Coroner Standards and Training Commission.” It also establishes the “Missouri State Coroners’ Training Fund” and creates a $1 fee for all death certificates issued in the state, which will be deposited into the fund.


HB 565, ‘Stars and Stripes Day,’ TAFP with 120-11 vote

The bill designates Nov. 9 as “Stars and Stripes Day” to commemorate Missouri’s role in the creation of the newspaper of the United States Armed Forces. It also designates July 7 as “Missouri Sliced Bread Day” and selects the “Show Me” tartan as the official tartan of Missouri.


SB 282, disposition of human remains, passes with 133-4 vote

The bill modifies provisions relating to the disposition of human remains, including regarding the death registration process, the right of sepulcher, organ donation, and outdoor cremations.

Added to the bill was an amendment by Rep. Ingrid Burnett to correct an error from the 2018 session that took away benefits from the surviving spouses of those in the military who are killed in action.

The now goes back to the Senate for approval of the changes made in the House.


SB 228, employment security, passes with 138-2 vote

The bill allows the Division of Employment Security to send notices by certified mail directed to the last known address of the employer.


SB 84, geological resources fee, TAFP with 134-4

The bill extends the sunset date on certain geologic resources fees from December 31, 2020, to December 31, 2025.


SB 147, transportation, sent back to conference

The bill alters the cost of license fees, vehicle inspections, turning left on red to a one-way street, digital driver’s licenses, and multiple other provisions.

It would also partially repeal the helmet requirement for some adult motorcyclists.

Senate green-lights partial motorcycle helmet law repeal despite minor roadblocks on the floor


At 3:36 p.m., the House recessed until 4:36 p.m.


SB 89, commercial driver’s license, TAFP with 92-44

The bill, among other provisions, provides that commercial driver’s instruction permits shall be nonrenewable, and lengthens — from six months to one year — the period for which the permits are valid.


SCR 17, ‘Resiliency Week,’ TAFP with 140-3 vote

The resolution establishes September 8-14, 2019 as “Resiliency Week.”


SB 368, transpiration, TAFP with 120-22 vote

The bill allows for dealer license plates to be displayed on motor vehicles owned by a dealership for use by a customer while the customer’s vehicle is being serviced or repaired.


SB 291, public safety, TAFP with 134-10

The bill is a fix to the 911 legislation passed during the 2018 session, which “created confusion.”

Dozens of amendments were added in committee, but following a tongue-in-cheek motion, the House Committee Substitute was not adopted.


SB 397, museum and culture district, TAFP with 140-3 vote

The bill extends the period of time in which a petition to create a museum and cultural district shall be filed from five years after a presidential declaration establishing the disaster area to 15 years after the declaration.


SB 29, reimbursement allowance taxes, TAFP with 141-2 vote

The bill extends the sunsets from September 30, 2019, to September 30, 2020, for the Ground Ambulance, Nursing Facility, Medicaid Managed Care Organization, Hospital, Pharmacy, and Intermediate Care Facility for the Intellectually Disabled Reimbursement Allowances.

Senate passes FRA reauthorization following lengthy debates


SB 514, health care, passes with 142-3 vote

Under the bill, championed by Sen. David Later and Rep. David Wood, persons who reside in Missouri, are at least 18 years of age and under 26, and who have received foster care for at least six months in another state shall be eligible for MO HealthNet benefits.

A provision in the bill also allows nursing homes who invest in their facility the ability to apply to have their rates readjusted.


Shortly before noon, the House recessed until 2 p.m.


SCR 4, recognizes Kansas City Chiefs as official professional football team, TAFP with 112-22 vote

The Senate resolution recognizes the Kansas City Chiefs as the official professional football team for the state of Missouri.


SCR 13, encourages public high schools to offer classes on the Bible, TAFP with 105-39 vote

The Senate resolution calls on public high schools to offer courses that include teachings on the Old and New Testaments in the Bible as well as requires world literature courses to include three weeks of lessons “on wisdom literature” from the religious book.

Additionally, the resolution says Missouri high schools should not “endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or discourage, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective.”

Senate adopts resolution pertaining to Bible classes in public high schools


SB 414, insurance innovation task force, TAFP with 133-17 vote

The bill creates the “Missouri Health Insurance Innovation Task Force” with the purpose of soliciting concepts and making recommendations for a section 1332 innovation waiver application under the Affordable Care Act.


SB 138, reports issued by state auditor, TAFP with 146-2 vote

The bill requires the State Auditor to make suggestions or recommendations, to the extent allowed under governmental auditing standards, to any auditee that requests them following the issuance of a report on an audit that deemed a practice of the auditee inadequate.


SB 213, state demographer, TAFP with 142-3 vote

The bill lays out provisions in which the nonpartisan state demographer must adhere to while drawing legislative districts.


SB 185, state retirement, TAFP with 135-3 vote

The bill provides eligibility for all employees of the Missouri Housing Development Commission and of the Environmental Improvement Energy Resource Authority for membership in the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System.


House gavels in at 10:01 a.m.

The legislative day officially got underway shortly after 10 a.m. with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then introduced special guests and approved the House journal from May 15, 2019.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn contributed to this report.