Latest news with #HouseBill567
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kehoe to decide on 60+ bills from Missouri legislature
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has dozens of decisions waiting for him as the Legislature sent him more than 60 individual items throughout this year's session. Many of the bills are omnibus legislation, with several other bills stacked together into one. While Kehoe's office said it was thoroughly review all legislation sent to the governor, many pieces of legislation were backed by Kehoe himself. This includes House Bill 567 as well as a tax plan that would eliminate capital gains taxes in Missouri. The governor has up to 30 days to respond to legislation. If he doesn't take action, the bill will automatically become law. Most of the bills on his desk would go into effect on August 28 of this year. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri Legislature passes bill to repeal Prop A's paid sick time, cost-of-living provisions
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri is one step closer to repealing part of Proposition A, or 'Prop A,' which increases the state's minimum wage and requires paid sick time. The Missouri Senate on Wednesday passed House Bill 567, modifying provisions related to employee compensation and paid sick leave. Missouri lawmakers approve referendum to repeal abortion-rights amendment Prop A was approved by voters in the November 2024 election and took effect on May 1. It requires employers to give workers at least one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, consecutive or otherwise. The passage of House Bill 567 also repeals the provisions establishing paid sick time for certain private employees. Current law provides that the minimum wage rate shall be $13.75 per hour for the 2025 calendar year, with an increase to $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2026—and cost of increases or decreases each year thereafter, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index. House Bill 567, however, repeals the yearly cost-of-living increases. These changes are set to take effect as soon as Governor Kehoe signs the bill into law, which he is expected to Supreme Court upholds voter-approved minimum wage, paid sick leave initiative Where do Missouri's challenges to voter-approved abortion, sick leave laws stand? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri Supreme Court upholds voter-approved minimum wage, paid sick leave initiative
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri's highest court on Tuesday upheld the election results of Proposition A, also known as 'Prop A'. The ballot initiative increases the state's minimum wage and requires paid sick time. Missouri's Supreme Court upheld the initiative in a unanimous opinion, although one judge dissented on the reasoning. Missouri voters continue to wonder whether Prop A will go into effect 'Prop A' is set to take effect this Thursday, May 1, but some challengers are still trying to repeal this portion of the proposition, saying rules on sick leave shouldn't have been lumped in on the ballot with a minimum wage increase. Missouri's Restaurant Association is among those challengers. FOX4 caught up with the restaurant association's CEO, Buddy Lahl, on Tuesday after leaving Jefferson City. Lahl and a coalition of restaurant owners were meeting with State Senators about House Bill 567, which would repeal the earned sick pay portion of the proposition. It passed the House, but has been met with filibusters in the Senate. As it stands now, starting Thursday, employers will have to calculate at least one hour of sick leave for every 30 hours worked, consecutive or otherwise. 'This is going to hurt small businesses in Missouri,' Lahl said. 'It's not going to hurt the larger employees as much because they have systems in place, they are going to have to adhere to these guidelines and regulations.' Right now, only businesses with an annual revenue of less than $500,000 are exempt. Lahl said he'd support sick time regulations if businesses with fewer than 100 employees, or at the very least 50, were exempt. 'We are happy to work with businesses on successful implementation and really doing what voters intend,' said Richard van Glahn, director of Missouri Jobs with Justice. 'When the business groups and some legislators are really seeking to do is undermine what voters clearly intended…that's where we have a problem. 'I don't think the courts should have ever been asked to overthrow the will of 1.7 million people,' he added. Without a repeal, Lahl said suffering small businesses may be forced to cut other benefits or lay off employees. 'And what will absolutely happen is they will have to raise prices; as you incur additional expenses, you have to raise prices,' Lahl said. If Missouri's Legislature does vote on the bill, it will have to happen before the Legislature adjourns on May 16. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
