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Hello Colleagues,
We are well into session and are working hard for you in Jefferson City! Below, find some of the work being done by myself and NASW-MO’s lobbying team. NASW-MO is still active in the Capitol representing social work, your clients, and Missouri’s most vulnerable. Consider getting involved in the following ways!
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Stay informed about bills in Missouri by signing up for VoterVoice on the NASW-MO website. This powerful tool also lets you search for bills by topic (try searching “Medicaid” or “gender”) and find your elected officials. Fill in your address information to ensure action alerts related to your specific legislators are sent to you!
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Attend our Legislative Advocacy calls (click here for the Zoom link) on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, from 3-3:30pm.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES!
1. Anti-Poverty Efforts – NASW Missouri Chapter supports policies to relieve financial hardship and provide adequate assistance for individuals living in poverty. Bills related to this policy area include:
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Create a series of tax credits to spur investment in childcare to improve access and affordability. HB 1488, sponsored by Representative Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph), has passed the House as well as the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee. SB 742, sponsored by Senator Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City), is on the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar. NASW Missouri Chapter testified in support of these bills in committee.
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Remove the restrictions blocking individuals with felony drug convictions from accessing SNAP benefits. NASW Missouri Chapter supported HB 1777, sponsored by Representative Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green), in committee. This bill needs a final vote in the House to advance to the Senate.
2. Children and Youth – NASW Missouri Chapter advocates for policies to educate and protect Missouri’s youth, especially marginalized individuals, such as LGBT+ youth, homeless youth, youth living in poverty, and youth of color. Bills related to this policy area include:
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Criminalize the negligent discharge of firearms in municipal limits. Blair’s Law is named in memory of a child killed by celebratory gunfire in Kansas City. NASW Missouri Chapter has supported bipartisan Blair’s Law bills in committee. This language has been added to multiple packages, including HB 1659, sponsored by Representative Lane Roberts (R-Joplin), which passed the House and is in the Senate Judiciary Committee; and SB 754, sponsored by Senator Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville), which passed the Senate.
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Provide homeless youth with a free copy of their state ID. HB 1775, sponsored by Representative Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green), is on the House Informal Perfection Calendar. SB 772, sponsored by Senator Elaine Gannon (R-DeSoto), is on the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar. NASW Missouri Chapter supported these bills in committee.
3. Health and Behavioral Health – NASW Missouri Chapter supports affordable access to physical and behavioral health services, with an emphasis on individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or Medicaid participants. Bills related to this policy area include:
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Streamline the prior authorization process for healthcare providers by providing a pathway for providers to be exempt from prior authorization requirements. HB 1976, sponsored by Representative Melanie Stinnett (R-Springfield), is on the House Informal Perfection Calendar. NASW Missouri Chapter supported this bill in committee.
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Codify that audio-only technologies can be used for telehealth services. This is essential to ensuring access for individuals without sufficient broadband access. NASW Missouri Chapter supported three versions of this language in committee: HB 1907, sponsored by Representative Melanie Stinnett (R-Springfield); HB 1421, sponsored by Representative Mike Stephens (R-Bolivar); and HB 1873, sponsored by Representative Patty Lewis (D-Kansas City). These bills have all passed committee.
4. Human Rights – NASW Missouri Chapter advocates for policies that affirm the dignity of all individuals, especially marginalized communities such as LGBT+ individuals and people of color. Bills related to this policy area include:
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Protect students against discrimination based on hair texture or protective hairstyles. NASW Missouri Chapter supported the Missouri CROWN Act bills in the House and Senate. HB 1900, sponsored by Representative Raychel Proudie (D-St. Louis), is awaiting a final vote in the House. SB 969, sponsored by Senator Barbara Washington (D-Kansas City), passed the Senate Progress and Development Committee.
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Increase risks for discrimination against LGBT+ students on college campuses by enshrining additional protections for religious and ideological campus groups. NASW Missouri Chapter opposed HB 1518, sponsored by Representative Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair), in committee. This bill passed the House and is awaiting referral to a Senate Committee.
5. Protecting the Social Work Profession – NASW Missouri Chapter advocates for policies that protect the profession of social work and the individuals we serve, including licensure standards, continuing education requirements, and scope of practice. Bills related to this policy area include:
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Require social workers to complete two hours of continuing education relating to sex and human trafficking awareness each renewal cycle. This language was filed on HB 1706, sponsored by Representative Jeff Myers (R-Warrenton), and SB 906, sponsored by Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold). NASW Missouri Chapter has instead proposed requiring educational hours on human trafficking awareness for initial licensure. This would build a better understanding of trafficking while preserving flexibility in social workers’ CEs on an ongoing basis.
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Enact onerous restrictions on DEI-related programs in healthcare training institutions. NASW Missouri Chapter opposed HB 2567, sponsored by Representative Ben Baker (R-Neosho), in the House General Laws Committee. It has not yet received a vote in committee.
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