House Approves Initiative Petition Reform (HJR 79)
We approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide if the current threshold to change the state constitution is too low. If approved by both chambers and voters, HJR 79 would modify the requirements for initiative petitions to change the state constitution.
“Missouri is currently one of only 18 states that allow an initiative petition to change their constitution. We have one of the easiest processes in the country for amending our constitution. Since the last constitution was written in 1945, our constitution has been amended more than 60 times,” said the bill’s sponsor, who noted the United States Constitution has been amended only 17 times since 1791.
Currently, in Missouri, a proposed constitutional change requires the support of a majority of voters to be approved. Under HJR 79, a constitutional amendment would need the approval of a two-thirds majority for passage.
HJR 79 also proposes a change to the requirements to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Currently, an initiative petition requires signatures from eight percent of voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to qualify for the ballot. HJR 79 would require signatures from 10 percent of voters in all eight congressional districts.
I think petition circulators should have to go to all parts of the state – northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, and central Missouri – and gather signatures. I think all of the people of the state count equally, and they should have to go to all parts if they’re going to change something as sacred as our constitution.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Supplemental Budget Bill Receives House Approval (HB 3014)
The House has sent a supplemental spending plan to the Senate that will provide vital funding for K-12 schools and the state’s Medicaid program, as well as a statewide pay plan increase. HB 3014 authorizes nearly $4.6 billion in funding to be utilized in the current fiscal year that ends in June.
The bill includes more than $2.8 billion in funding for K-12 schools in Missouri. That total includes nearly $1.8 billion in Elementary and Secondary Education Relief funds that are allocated to local school districts.
More than $1.5 billion in funding for the state’s MO HealthNet program. The funds are necessary due to the increased Medicaid population.
Additionally, the bill allocates more than $91 million for a pay increase for all state employees. During public hearings in the Budget Committee, members learned state jobs have a 26 percent turnover rate and a more than 55 percent turnover rate in jobs that pay less than $30,000 annually.
The plan approved by the House would ensure that state employees working in direct care agencies would receive either a 5.5 percent pay raise or an increase to an hourly wage of $15 per hour, whichever is greater. Employees in other state agencies would receive a 5.5 percent pay raise or an increase to a $12 per hour wage, whichever is greater.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
If you have any questions regarding any state matters or legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact email me at Rick.Francis@house.mo.gov
or call 573-751-5912.
If you would like to sign up for my capital report following this link: https://house.mo.gov/CapitolReport.aspx?district=145
It is an honor to serve as your State Representative.
Representative Rick Francis
District 145