Legislative Update 5/12/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
This is the last week of the session. As we learned last year, anything can happen. While we did not succeed in stopping all the legislation we had hoped, we still moved the needle. We have bent the arc a little more towards justice and equity. We have definitely made our voices heard. Please join us after session ends for our End of Session Report. Stay tuned for the date and time.
Thank you all for every piece of testimony you submitted, for every call you made, every email you sent, every step you took on Lobby Day, for every zoom you attended.
Thank you for helping grow MoEEP and MoEEP Action.
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
There are no committees hearing bills we are monitoring as of publication.
There will not be a Thursday zoom on May 16. Please stay tuned for the End of Session LegUp date and time.
THERE ARE NO CALLS
TO ACTION THIS WEEK
RECAP OF LAST WEEK
Three bills were signed into law:
SB 727 - Vouchers (May 7)
HB 2287 - Virtual Education with Voucher bill “fixes” (May 7)
HB 2634 - Defunding Planned Parenthood (May 9)
2 bills were voted out of Senate committees
HJR 86 (Black) - House version of Initiative Petition
HB 1900 (Proudie) - Crown Act
The Budget was passed by the Constitutional Deadline
WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK
The House will move the FRA (Federal Reimbursement Allowance for healthcare) through their side of the rotunda.
The Senate will likely take up Initiative Petition.
Legislative Update 5/5/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
There are just two weeks left before the 2024 regular session ends, including this week. We will continue to closely monitor Chamber debates, and remain in contact with others in our partnership to determine next steps as remaining legislation moves, or does not move. Sometimes things happen quickly, unexpectedly, and at odd hours of the day or night. It is not uncommon to send out updates with single-issue calls to action during these last weeks. We will keep you informed.
We want to congratulate the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom campaign for submitting over 380,000 signatures to Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft. They brought a U-Haul of boxes to his office on Friday, May 3 and held a well attended celebration on the north side of the Capitol after delivery. This effort represented a thousand grassroot volunteers collecting signatures in every single county in Missouri. Those who organized and ran this campaign worked tirelessly for just under 90 days to marshal the volunteers who attended events, stood outside businesses, made house calls, and knocked on doors to send this powerful message to government leaders and people of the state: Missourians believe in healthcare freedom and reproductive rights. Thank you to everyone who made this herculean effort successful!
Thank you, also, for all you have done and
will continue to do as session winds down!
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
Please there are no committees hearing bills we are monitoring.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
CALL YOUR SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST SJR 74. This bill makes direct democracy much harder in Missouri and misleads voters.
CALL GOVERNOR PARSON TO URGE A VETO OF SB 727 AT 573-751-3222! This voucher bill opens a door that will totally change the landscape of Missouri public education, leaving out struggling and rural districts and has a huge pricetag.
DEMAND GOVERNOR PARSON VETO HB 2634! This bill defunds Planned Parenthood in Missouri, and eliminates one more resource of publicly funded healthcare for folks who need it.
Legislative Update 4/28/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
We are down to three weeks left before the end of session, including this week. This week is likely the last week we will travel to Jefferson City to testify in hearings. However, we will continue to closely monitor Chamber debates, and remain in contact with others in our partnership to determine next steps as remaining legislation moves. Sometimes things happen quickly, unexpectedly, and at odd hours of the day or night. It is not uncommon to send out updates with single-issue calls to action during these last weeks. We will keep you informed. We continue to plant seeds.
Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
CALL YOUR SENATOR TO VOTE AGAINST SJR 74. This bill makes direct democracy much harder in Missouri and misleads voters.
CALL GOVERNOR PARSON TO URGE A VETO OF SB 727 AT 573-751-3222! This voucher bill opens a door that will totally change the landscape of Missouri public education, leaving out struggling and rural districts.
DEMAND GOVERNOR PARSON VETO HB 2634! This bill defunds Planned Parenthood in Missouri, and eliminates one more resource of publicly funded healthcare for folks who need it.
Legislative Update 4/21/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
We have four weeks left before the end of session, including this week. We will continue to closely monitor Chamber debates, and remain in contact with others in our partnership to determine next steps as remaining legislation moves. The passage of SB 727 has been a bitter pill to swallow, but we will continue to focus on what we can do. We continue to plant seeds and make changes that seem small right now, however; small drops of water wear down mighty mountains over time.
We will send messages to our elected leaders via ballot boxes in the August primaries and general election in November.
Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!
Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE MO HOUSE WHO VOTED AGAINST SB 727! Though the vote did not go the way we hoped, many of these folks pushed for Missouri students until the very end, and we are grateful for their representation.
SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY AGAINST HB 2938! This bill will allow individual districts to confer teaching certificates to anyone with an associates’ degree..
THANK SENATOR GREG RAZER (SD7) FOR HIS YEARS OF SUPPORT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION! He will be resigning his MO Senate seat soon to serve on the MO Tax Commission.
Sign up to testify with PROMO! Senate testimony is IN PERSON only.
4/18/24 URGENT CALL TO ACTION
THIS IS TIME SENSITIVE! The House is working to take this bill up very soon.
CALL/EMAIL YOUR REP AND URGE A NO VOTE!
Look up your rep if you’re unsure who they are.
Let us know you’ve made your voice heard by posting on social media or email us.
Legislative Update 4/14/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
There are only five weeks left before the end of session on May 17, including this week. We have testified and notified our leaders, and now comes the time when we sometimes have to wait and watch in order to know the best course of action to take. Therefore, our focus will shift to close monitoring of the Chamber debates, and remaining in contact with others in our partnership to determine next steps. Sometimes things happen quickly, unexpectedly, and at odd hours of the day or night. It is not uncommon to send out updates with single-issue calls to action during these last weeks. We will keep you informed.
Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do!
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALL TO ACTION
CONTACT ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO PROTECT DIRECT DEMOCRACY!
Urge a vote against SJR 74 (Coleman) if this comes up for debate. This resolution will change the Initiative Petition process and undermine one person-one vote.
Legislative Update 4/7/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
Last week, we saw concrete evidence that grassroots activism makes a difference and can absolutely turn the tide. We are still celebrating school board elections around the state which rejected hate and voted for students rights to attend diverse and inclusive schools, and bent the arc closer equity and justice. Communities put equity candidates on boards all over the state; one municipality saw a clean sweep and changed their city council to a more equitable and diverse board in this single election! We are making a difference.
There are six weeks left before the end of session on May 17, and this week is short. Hearings will slow down because there is not really enough time to get things through both chambers. Our focus will shift to close monitoring of the Chamber debates, and sometimes things happen quickly, unexpectedly, and sometimes at odd hours of the day or night. It is not uncommon to send out updates on individual asks. Please know, though, that every email, every piece of written testimony, every share of the calls to action and updates moves the needle in some small way. We need everyone to keep bending the arc towards justice.
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
The House and the Senate will hold technical sessions on Monday, April 8 due to the solar eclipse. The Senate has two hearings scheduled that day, but no bills we monitor appear on the agenda as of publication.
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
CONTACT ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES!
Contact the Regulatory Oversight Committee before Tues 4/9, 4:30pm to oppose SB 727 (Koenig), the education omnibus, and protect public education based on these talking points.
Contact the Legislative Oversight Committee by Tues 4/9, 3:30pm to vote against SJR 74 (Coleman) and preserve direct democracy.
ALSO Call YOUR representatives and urge them to oppose BOTH of these bills.
Submit written testimony to the Special Committee on Education Reform!
HB 2938 (Baker) will allow anyone with an associate degree to be certified by individual districts.
APR 2 URGENT CALL TO ACTION
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
CALL/EMAIL YOUR REP ASAP AND URGE A NO VOTE on SB 727 Vouchers/Omnibus!
SB 727 was voted out of committee 4/2 and is one step closer to the House Floor. IF IT PASSES, SOME VERSION OF THIS WILL BECOME LAW!
Credit Vouchers and charter expansion threaten public education, stripping funding from rural and urban schools alike by depleting overall state revenue. Please review some of these talking points.
Look up your rep if you’re unsure who they are since redistricting.
Let us know you’ve made your voice heard by posting on social media or email us
Legislative Update 3/31/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
We are starting a very unpredictable phase of the legislative session, and will do our best to stay on top of action and post calls to action as things change. If you have not joined our companion organization, please join Missouri Equity Education Partnership and receive alerts via email. You can also follow us on Facebook.
We understand that this can be exhausting and seem overwhelming, and truly appreciate everyone who has taken action this session, and in past sessions. Every email, every piece of written testimony, every share of the calls to action and updates moves the needle in some small way. Many small pushes over time is a force , though. Over the next several weeks, let’s keep pushing to move the needle.
It really does make a difference.
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
The Legislature will not convene on Monday, April 1 (no fooling!); it’s Easter Break.
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
House Special Committee on Education Reform will vote on SB 727 (Koenig) , the education omnibus, which expands charters to Boone County and moves public money to non-public schools with little accountability. Click the button below for talking points. We oppose this bill. Deadline is Tues 4/2/24, 9am
House Elections and Elected Officials will vote on SJR 74 (Coleman) changing the initiative petition process by adding a concurrent majority of 5 of 8 congressional district majorities for signature gathering. We oppose this bill. Deadline is Tues 4/2/24, 11am
HB 2184 (Haffner), an assessment/accreditation bill, has been returned in hopes that a sub can combine it with HB 1851 (P. Brown) much better bill. We have called for testimony before this, but we get another chance to advocate for including more of Brown’s bill into this new version: growth model through the year, reliance on testing other than MAP. There will likely be a sub offered. The links above take you to the original bill texts
HB 1518 (Hudson) would allow organizations to discriminate based on beliefs and is poised for a Senate hearing. Students should feel safe on college and university campuses across the state and not have to worry about hate groups being able to legally form on campus. Share your story on any one of these topics:
Why student clubs and student activities are meaningful to you.
How clubs and activities have helped you develop leadership skills.
The safety you feel accessing student activities without the fear of discrimination.
Stories that share what it is like to be a higher education student in Missouri right now.
URGENT CALL TO ACTION
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
Legislative Update 3/24/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
Some committees have scheduled hearings yet as spring break has just ended. Upon return, there are two big items on the plates of both houses: the FRA, and the budget.
Please stay tuned as the week unfolds. This is the time of year when things happen quickly. We will need all voices to make ourselves heard.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
Submit testimony to protect public education!
HB 2937 (Davidson) is another voucher bill stripping public funds from public education without any oversight and little accountability. It also creates a new category of school, Family Paced Education, in an attempt to keep homeschoolers from opposing the legislation. We oppose this bill.
HB 2938 (Davidson) would create waivers for some DESE regulations if they show success. This bill also allows districts to grant certifications for anyone with an associate degree, placing them on the district salary schedule, grant tenure, and contribute to PSRS. The certificate would not need renewed. We oppose this bill.
Share your story about involvement in/with college organizations to counter a terrible bill poised to hit the Senate Floor soon:
HB 1518 (Hudson) would allow college organizations to discriminate against marginalized groups in membership and leadership. This bill has moved from House to Senate already and will probably continue to move. Lived experiences of real people make a difference. Help us provide stories to lawmakers so they can share them on the Senate floor! No names will be shared with them, just the stories.
Consider one or more of these questions when you share your lived experience:
Why are student clubs and student activities meaningful to you?
How have clubs and activities helped you develop leadership skills?
Can you describe the safety you feel accessing student activities without the fear of discrimination?
What is a specific example of what it is like to be a higher education student in Missouri right now?
After you’ve shared YOUR story, PLEASE share the link with at least ONE other person who would be willing to share their experience!
Legislative Update 3/17/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
Have a wonderful week and be ready when the Legislature reconvenes on Monday, March 25. We will REALLY need everyone ready to go!
THERE WILL BE NO ZOOM MEETING NEXT THURSDAY, MAR 21.
THIS WEEK’S CALL TO ACTION
HB 1518 (Hudson) would allow college organizations to discriminate against marginalized groups in membership and leadership. This bill has moved from House to Senate already and will probably continue to move. Lived experiences of real people make a difference. Help us provide stories to lawmakers so they can share them on the Senate floor! No names will be shared with them, just the stories.
PLEASE use this link to share your story about involvement in/with college organizations. Consider one or more of these questions:
Why are student clubs and student activities meaningful to you?
How have clubs and activities helped you develop leadership skills?
Can you describe the safety you feel accessing student activities without the fear of discrimination?
What is a specific example of what it is like to be a higher education student in Missouri right now?
After you’ve shared YOUR story, PLEASE share the link with at least ONE other person who would be willing to share their experience!
Legislative Update 3/4/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
.These folks keep coming back with the same old bills, the same old rhetoric, but their support is not growing; their ideas are not getting better. In fact, their own ranks are also starting to see that extreme edges are scary places to be. Do not let them wear us down. Do not fall for their insinuations that speaking truth to power is fruitless. We are planting seeds every time we speak in a hearing, visit with an elected official, write an email, submit testimony, or make a phone call.
What do you get when you plant a lot of seeds?
An orchard FULL of fruit.
Keep planting seeds.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
Join us in Jefferson City on Wednesday, March 6 to testify before House and Senate Committees opposing three bills.
1. Sign up here to testify to protect drag performances, or Submit written testimony if you cannot attend the House Special Committee on Public Policy in person March 6, 12 noon Joint Hearing Room 117.
HB 1650 (Christensen) will classify businesses that allow drag performances as sexually explicit businesses, and those participating in performances open to the public at a child-friendly venue will be subject to felony charges.
2. The Senate Select Committee on Empowering Parents and Children will hear two bills in the Senate Lounge at 8 am
SB 918 (Hoskins) is ANOTHER attempt to censor history.
SB 819 (Ben Brown) weakens public schools by modifying homeschool requirements and definitions as well as establishing FLEX schools.
Only in-person testimony will be part of the official record, so if you cannot travel, please contact the committee to make your voice heard.
3. Higher education students, please use this link to share the importance of clubs and organizations in your life. HB 1518 (Hudson), which will allow some students to face discrimination, could be taken up on the House floor this coming week.
Legislative Update 3/10/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
There will be no update published nor Thursday zoom next week. Our elected leaders are on spring break from 3/18-3/22.
Stay vigilant, hydrate, and be ready!
We have work to do!!
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
1. The Senate could codify discrimination! HB 1518 has crossed over to the Senate and could be assigned to a committee soon and make it to the Senate Floor! This bill sanctions discrimination in college organizations.
Contact your senator and urge them to vote NO should it be taken up in the Senate.
Use this link to share the importance of clubs and organizations in your life.
2. Accurate history and DEI are on the line! Contact the members of the Senate Sel. Com. Empowering MO Parents and Children and voice opposition against
SB 1203 (Coleman) which has a hearing Tues, 3/12. This bill requires any DEI material for staff development or student instruction be placed online. The MO AG has enforcement and review power. Only in person testimony is accepted for the record, but still make your voice heard!
SB 918 (Hoskins) the anti-CRT bill. This could be voted out of committee at any time
3. Protect Voting Rights in MO! SJR 74 (Coleman) will have a hearing on Tuesday, March 12 at noon. This bill changes the Initiative Petition process. We need to flood the committee with written testimony and let them know direct democracy is vital!
Legislative Update 2/25/2024
Submit Testimony opposing vouchers using this link:
https://witness.house.mo.gov/Default.aspx?noticeid=8514
HB 1911 (Richey) is ANOTHER attempt to strip funding from public education for non-public schools.
We oppose this bill. PLEASE submit written testimony online by 11:59 pm Monday 2/26; MoEEP-A will be in Jefferson City to testify in person
Summary: https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/sumpdf/HB1911I.pdf
Contact YOUR representative to urge them to OPPOSE the following bills as they come to the floor.
The House GOP has prioritized bills attacking DEI initiatives and protections. TAKE ACTION!
HB 1518 (Hudson) would force discrimination of marginalized groups and cost taxpayer money in litigation, which the fiscal note confirms. We oppose this anti-equity anti-diversity, and anti-anti inclusion bill.
Summary: https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/sumpdf/HB1518I.pdf
SS/SJR 74 (Coleman) changes the initiative petition process by ending majority rule in Missouri. Please share how the IP process has positively impacted your life (medicaid expansion, repealing right to work, etc) We oppose this legislation.
Summary: https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=209
Find your representative’s contact information here:https://house.mo.gov/MemberRoster.aspx?year=2024&code=R3.
Contact the House Rules Oversight Committee and urge them DO NOT PASS!
DEI is under attack!
HCS/HB 2619 (Sharp) defunds DEI initiatives in any form from State agencies and institutions. We oppose this legislation.
Summary: https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/sumpdf/HB2619C.pdf
Contact information for ALL relevant committees is found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QK4WIthyrtXr5SCvKHMRQyLpo14EQW3o1u-H8iOT-3M/edit?usp=sharing
Support partner organizations!
Sign both Missouri ballot petitions to ensure Missourians get the opportunity to vote on policies that affect our health and ability to succeed in our jobs: Petition for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom and Petition for $15 Minimum Wage & Paid Sick Time.
ACLU Lobby Day: Tuesday, February 27th. Lobbying on: BIPA privacy bill, voting rights restoration, DEI attacks, SJR74/IP attacks. Registration has ended but reach out at https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/lobby-day-2024
Let’s Talk Initiative: Have one conversation a week with someone in your life about the transgender community. It can be anything from a conversation about the current political climate to offering to define a few vocabulary words to sharing your personal allyship journey. https://letstalkmissouri.com
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Sign up to collect signatures www.mobilize.us/mfcf
Contact Speaker Plocher and urge him to move on gun reform! House Democrats filed over 40 pieces of legislation for gun reform last week. Call 573-751-1544 or email Dean.Plocher@house.mo.gov