The Missouri House of Representatives third read and passed 19 bills Thursday morning, sending the bills to the Senate, before adjourning for Spring Break. The General Assembly will return to the state capitol on Monday, March 21, with eight weeks remaining in the 2022 regular session, and seven weeks to pass the FY2023 state budget.
This week was highlighted by more grousing and debate between Senate members of the Conservative Caucus and others. A bill expanding the rights of sexual assault survivors, sponsored by Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder (R-Sikeston), was derailed Tuesday when an amendment was offered by Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville) to charge school employees with misdemeanors who provide students with “obscene materials.” On Wednesday, led by Sen. Rehder, a group of 14 Republicans and eight Democrats, held a news conference saying they are tired of “non-controversial and necessary legislation” being stymied by “self-serving politicians.”
Ugliness continues, as the Missouri Congressional Redistricting Map continues to lie in wait for Senate action. This week a lawsuit was filed by Republican Paul Berry III, who is running in the 2nd Congressional District near St. Louis. Berry’s lawsuit seeks to block Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft from using the state’s current Congressional map in the 2022 statewide elections.
Because the General Assembly is not in session next week, Lathrop GPM Consulting’s next weekly report will be distributed on Friday, March 25. Stay safe, everyone!
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER RECEIVES SENATE APPROVAL
Among recent appointments by Governor Mike Parson (R), receiving unanimous Senate approval on March 10 is Kenneth Zellers, as the commissioner of the Office of Administration, effective Oct. 12, 2021. He was introduced at a March 9 Senate hearing by Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester). During brief questioning, Zellers told senators on the committee his major focus at OA has been on customer service, information technology, and teamwork. Early on, “I met with each one of our division directors and put together a list of what we are doing well and what we need to do better,” he said. Developing a plan to optimize leases of state-owned buildings and creating a robust diversity inclusion policy across the state are priorities, he said. Zellers is the former director of the Missouri Department of Revenue. He joined the DOR in September 2017 as chief operating officer. Before joining the DOR, Zellers held numerous senior roles at Anheuser-Busch InBev, including global quality director and several other positions. Zellers was born and raised in Missouri. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. He was appointed as OA acting commissioner when former commissioner Sarah Steelman stepped down in October 2021.
STATE OF THE JUDICIARY SPEECH DELIVERED BY CHIEF JUSTICE PAUL WILSON
Chief Justice Paul C. Wilson of the Supreme Court of Missouri delivered his State of the Judiciary address on March 8 before a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly.
During his comments, he mentioned the 750,000 circuit court cases that were resolved last year in Missouri, the 350 trial judges, and more than 3,000 court clerks, bailiffs, court reporters, juvenile officers, juvenile detention officers, and other staff working in the court system. “They are the ones who kept the courts open through the pandemic,” he said. He thanked the General Assembly for cost-of-living increases that have been given to court employees but said more is needed to retain workers. “A market-based approach to compensation will give us a fighting chance to attract and keep expert staff in our courtrooms and courthouses.”
He said in the last four years, 40 percent of Missouri’s trial and appellate judges have been new to their positions. Some of those changes came as the result of local elections, but more than three-fourths of the new judges during the last four years – including 109 trial judges and 13 appellate judges – were appointed by the Governor either under Article IV, Section 4, or under the Missouri constitution’s nonpartisan court plan. Justice Wilson then introduced the newest member of the Supreme Court, Judge Robin Ransom, who was appointed last May by Governor Mike Parson.
Justice Wilson urged legislators to continue working on legislative protections for Missouri’s judges. Security in the 120 courthouses around the state has always been a priority, he noted. “Missouri judges have been harassed online and at home, they’ve been threatened, and they’ve had their personal information posted on the web,” he said. “Those of us in public service are increasingly vulnerable. As public servants, we know we are not – and should not be – immune from public scrutiny and criticism … it comes with the job. But none of us – or our families – should be put in harm’s way.”
As for new court technology and online court proceedings allowed during the pandemic, Justice Wilson said “we’re excited by Governor Parson’s recommendations for broadband expansion around the state. Increased bandwidth, especially for our rural courthouses and the communities they serve, will help us better utilize online services to increase efficiency and access, making your courts more user-friendly for everyone.”
He closed the address, highlighting the need for drug treatment courts and more veterans’ courts and the importance of those courts to Missourians.
REGULATORY SANDBOX ACT
Senate Bill 1068 (Hoskins, R-Warrensburg) establishes the Regulatory Sandbox Act which creates a Regulatory Relief Office within the Department of Economic Development which would administer the provisions of the act for the purpose of identifying state laws or regulations that could potentially be waived or suspended for participating businesses during a two-year period in which the participating business demonstrates an innovative product offering to consumers. Hearing held March 8 in the Senate Small Business and Industry Committee. Groups including Cicero Action, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce testified in support of the bill. The Sierra Club opposed the bill stating the legislation could undermine environmental protections.
