Latest news with #HB567
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After Prop A rollback, Missouri Jobs With Justice launches ballot fight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A newly passed Missouri bill aimed at reversing parts of Proposition A is now awaiting Governor Mike Kehoe's signature — and he's signaled he's ready to sign. In a dramatic move during one of the final moments of the legislative session, the Missouri Senate used a rare procedural tactic to end a filibuster and pass HB 567, a bill that removes the state's newly approved paid sick leave requirement. That means the sick day accrual policy, passed by voters just months ago, is on track to be eliminated. Kansas City man convicted in 2021, 2022 murder-for-hire plot The group Missouri Jobs with Justice is already preparing to fight back — filing paperwork to put the issue back on the ballot as a constitutional amendment. 'Missouri voters clearly support this policy — over 1.6 million people, or 58% of the state, voted for it,' Richard Von Glahn, the Policy Director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, said. While HB 567 doesn't entirely undo the state's new minimum wage increase — with the $15 per hour rate still set to take effect in January — it does cancel the automatic inflation-based increases that were scheduled to begin in 2027. KC Triathlon, Zoo pet vaccination event to shut down roads this weekend Supporters of the rollback say the changes will help businesses and protect jobs, but opponents argue this move is a clear case of lawmakers overturning the will of voters. 'We'll have to educate the public on why this is not in their best interest — this will stifle businesses opening up in Missouri,' Buddy Lah,l the CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, said. 'We also know that Missourians don't support politicians who overturn their decisions' von Glahn said. For now, the paid sick leave provision approved by Prop A remains in effect — but only until August 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Abortion rights, paid sick leave, minimum wage all back on the line in Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A dramatic end to Missouri's legislative session is setting up a fierce fight over some of the state's most hot-button issues — including abortion, paid sick leave, and minimum wage. Lawmakers before Missouri voters in 2026. This time, it's a proposed ban — with limited exceptions — just months after Missourians enshrined abortion protections into the state constitution in November. Black bear struck, killed in southern Missouri crash While abortion remains legal in Missouri, the newly passed measure sets up a direct challenge to those constitutional rights — and could undo them altogether. This controversial move came after Republican senators used a series of rare procedural tactics to block debate from Democrats before swiftly pushing the proposal through the Senate. 'What came out of the Legislature is purposefully deceiving,' said Emily Wales, president & CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes. 'It doesn't talk about abortion — it talks about creating exceptions. But what it actually does is take back the ability for Missourians to make decisions for themselves,' she said. Republican State Rep. Mike Steinmeyer acknowledged concerns over how the original amendment was presented to voters. 'My struggle with it was the ballot language. If the people of Missouri feel like they understood it properly and have a good grasp of it, they'll vote accordingly,' he said. That wasn't the only voter-approved policy the legislature moved to reverse. In a separate action, lawmakers passed House Bill 567, which would that took effect just this month and roll back future automatic increases to the state's minimum wage. Under Proposition A, voters had approved a plan to gradually raise the state's minimum wage — starting at $13.75 this year and reaching $15 by 2025 — along with guaranteed earned sick time for workers. Now, with HB 567 headed to the governor's desk, that plan could be wiped out entirely. 'People all across the board want to get their sick day. We all remember the puppy mills since the puppy mills. They have been going back on what their own people want to do. They think they know better and they are to represent us, not to control us,' said protestor Linda Rezny. Supporters of the rollback say the changes are necessary to protect small businesses from financial strain. 'My greatest concern is for the small business owners — if this puts them into a bad situation… The small business owners I know do the right thing, but I think it's a valid concern,' Steinmeyer said. Frustration has spilled into protests on the Capitol steps, with many Missourians asking how two ballot measures — passed just months ago — could now be under threat. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Prop A survived legal challenges and was upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court. Now, its future rests with the governor — who has signaled he plans to sign HB 567. As for abortion rights, the governor will decide when the newly passed referendum goes to the voters — but it will appear on the 2026 ballot. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's next as Missouri lawmakers move to repeal two voter-approved measures?
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday in efforts to roll back parts of two voter-approved measures passed last year: One that enshrines abortion protections in the state constitution, and another that expands paid sick leave and raises the state's minimum wage. In November 2024, Missouri voters approved Amendment 3 – a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion rights – and Proposition A – a statutory measure aimed at strengthening workforce protections for pay and sick leave. Now, more than six months later, the Missouri legislature has approved a referendum seeking to repeal Amendment 3 and a house bill aimed at undoing key provisions of Proposition A. New cat hoarding case linked to Wildwood mansion suspect Earlier this year, a spokesperson from the Missouri Sec. of State's Office told FOX 2, that 'There is no specific statutory protection in Missouri law that prevents lawmakers from challenging or altering voter-approved amendments or propositions.' Because of that, Missouri law does not prohibit lawmakers from pursuing changes to voter-approved measures, even for proposals that voters directly approved. Now that legislation has passed to challenge both Amendment 3 and Proposition A, at least in the forms approved by voters, many questions arise: What comes next? And what does the future hold for both measures? The answers ultimately depend on how each measure appeared on the ballot. Amendment 3, the abortion rights measure, was place on the November 2024 ballot as a constitutional amendment through the state's initiative petition process. Under Missouri law, constitutional amendments can only be changed through joint resolutions passed by both chambers of the Missouri legislature, followed by Missouri voters for approval. Since lawmakers approved House Joint Resolution 73, an effort to repeal Amendment 3 could appear on the November 2026 ballot, or perhaps sooner if Gov. Mike Kehoe calls for a special election before then. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Meanwhile, voters initially approved Proposition A as a statutory measure, which unlike constitutional amendments, can be altered through standard legislative action. Lawmakers are attempting to do so through House Bill 567. While Proposition A is currently in effect, Gov. Kehoe could simply sign HB 567 into law without any other steps required, a move that could change its provisions as early as August 28. In previous FOX 2 reports, some local election rights advocates argued that challenges to voter-approved measures often arise when the party in control of the state legislature opposes the outcome. With that in mind, one advocacy group known as the Respect MO Voters Coalition began gathering public input in March a possible future constitutional amendment that would prevent Missouri lawmakers from overturning or weakening voter-approved measures, citing concerns with how the current setup undermines direct democracy and disregards to voice of voters. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri Senate Democrats filibuster GOP effort to repeal voter-approved sick leave law
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Senate Democrats engaged in a lengthy filibuster Wednesday to block a Republican-back bill aimed at rolling back a voter-approved sick leave law. HB 567, sponsored by Rep. Sherri Gallick (R-Belton), would repeal several key provisions of Proposition A, a measure that voters passed in November to expand paid sick leave benefits for workers across the state. The Democratic-led filibuster stretched more than nine hours, beginning Wednesday and continuing into 1 a.m. Thursday before the Senate adjourned, according to the Missouri Independent. The salary needed to take home $100K after taxes in Missouri and Illinois Under Proposition A, which is currently in effect, most employees of private businesses are entitled to accrue one hour of 'earned paid sick time' for every 30 hours worked. Accrual is set to begin May 1, while employers were also required to post notice of their sick leave policies by April 15. The measure also included annual minimum wage increases tied to inflation. As currently in effect, Proposition A was passed with a 58% voter approval. However, it is now facing efforts in the legislature to overturn or weaken it. The Missouri Secretary of State's Office previously told FOX 2 that while voters can pass statutory ballot measures, the state has no guaranteed statutory protections to prevent lawmakers from challenging, modifying or repealing voter-approved propositions through standard legislative action. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to the Missouri Independent, some Republican lawmakers argue that the sick leave mandate creates a burdensome, one-size-fits-all policy for businesses. They've also questioned whether voters fully understood the measure when they approved it. Meanwhile, Missouri Senate Democrats, on social media platform X, acknowledged the filibuster as an effort from Democrats who are 'fighting back' to protect what they describe as essential rights for working families. HB 567 has already cleared the Missouri House, and with Senate approval, it would head to the governor's desk. Missouri's ongoing legislative session ends on May 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
