It was a fairly quiet week in the Capitol this week. With inclement weather coming right in the middle of the week the House of Representatives was slowed down on Wednesday. Thankfully, on Monday and Tuesday we were able to work as usual and get quite a lot of business taken care of. When legislators continued work on Thursday, we third-read and passed 4 House Bills that we have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on, they will now be sent to the Senate for their consideration.
In terms of my own legislation, my bill that deals with motor vehicle assessments, HB. 816, has been scheduled for a hearing in one of the House Rules committees next week. This is the final step for bills that are in the committee process, the committee will have their discussion on the bill and then will vote on whether or not to give their approval and send it to the House Floor, where I will then present it to my colleagues in the House. Several of my other bills, HB. 249 and HB. 1071 have been referred to other committees to begin the process as well, I look forward to the opportunity to speak on those bills in committee and hear public comments on them as well.
Though progress in the House was slowed by the weather on Wednesday, I was still happy to welcome a few groups of visitors on Tuesday who came to visit the Capitol and speak with my colleagues and I.
Below, you can read some more in-depth information about our work in the Capitol this week.
As usual, my legislative assistant Blake is available Monday through Thursdays from 8:30 – 5:00 and from 8:30 – Noon on Fridays. You can contact my office by calling 573-751-3971 or emailing Rodger.Reedy@house.mo.gov. If you would like a courtesy resolution from the House of Representatives please contact my office. As always, it is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of District 57.
Rodger
House Passes Legislation to Address Child Welfare Issues
The Missouri House has passed out its first bill this session, making good on the promise of Speaker Jon Patterson, who said on the first day of the legislative session that legislation dealing with our state’s child welfare system would be the first bill passed out of the House and sent to the Senate.
HB 737 & 486 addresses several key issues related to children in the custody of the Children’s Division. The bill introduces changes to how benefits are managed for children in state custody, emphasizes consideration of religious faith in placement decisions, and clarifies circumstances under which children may engage in independent activities . . .
House Signs Off on Proposal to Eliminate the State Income Tax
The Missouri House advanced HB 594 & 508 this week, a bill that would grant a full income tax deduction for federal capital gains starting in 2025. Under the proposal, taxpayers could deduct 100% of capital gains reported on their federal tax returns for state income tax purposes.
House Passes Bill Protecting Religious Gatherings from Government Restrictions
HB 75, known as the "Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act," passed out of the Missouri House this week. The bill ensures that religious groups and places of worship can hold services or meetings without government interference. It prohibits public officials from issuing orders that would limit or ban such gatherings, with exceptions only in cases of imminent danger, such as natural disasters or hazardous material incidents. The bill also clarifies that religious groups using places of worship to plan or commit violence are not protected, and places of worship must still comply with building and fire codes.
House Passes Bill Limiting Local Regulations on Landlords
The Missouri House passed HB 595 & 343 this week, a bill restricting local governments from imposing certain regulations on landlords. The legislation prohibits cities and counties from requiring landlords to accept Section 8 housing vouchers, limiting how they screen tenants, capping security deposits, or mandating a tenant’s right of first refusal on a rental property. However, it does allow voluntary agreements between local governments and landlords to regulate rent for subsidized housing.
Budget Committee Weighs Educational Needs of the State
This week, the House Budget Committee received a presentation from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to discuss the department’s budget requests and funding.
Protecting Missouri Security Against Foreign-Made Drones
This week, the Missouri House Committee on Emerging Issues heard testimony on HB 751 and HB 930, two bills addressing concerns over foreign-manufactured unmanned aircraft systems.
HB 751 and HB 930 would enact "The Foreign Unmanned Aircraft Law," which would prohibit public entities from purchasing or using small drones manufactured or assembled by certain foreign entities, particularly those based in China and Russia. If passed, public entities would be required to phase out the use of these drones by May 1, 2027, though the Director of the Department of Public Safety could grant exceptions.
Seeking an End to Call Spoofing
Legislation aimed at curbing unwanted calls from unknown numbers is making its way through the Missouri legislature. The proposed bill, HB 564, known as the Caller ID Anti-Spoofing Act, seeks to penalize individuals who engage in caller ID spoofing. The bill also includes provisions to add business subscribers to the No-Call List and removes the need for individuals to renew their objection to receiving telephone solicitations.
Clarifying Ballot Language and Weighing Term Limits
The House Committee on Elections heard testimony this week on three bills concerning ballot language and term limits for state lawmakers. These bills aim to clarify who has authority over ballot summaries and propose changes to legislative term limits.
These bills now await further consideration as the committee weighs potential impacts on elections and legislative governance.
