The 2020 Legislative Session ended Friday evening with both heartbreak and joy. We’re very proud of the bills and provisions our Democratic caucus introduced and passed, as well as what they were able to block.
Let’s take a look at what is being sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature:
- A provision to ensure COVID-19 testing is provided at no cost out-of-pocket for anyone whose doctor recommends testing.
- A narrow expansion of absentee voting which eliminates the excuse and notary requirements for voters 65+ or high-risk. All other voters will not need to state an excuse, but will need to notarize. A full and robust vote-by-mail bill introduced by Democrats was rejected by Republicans.
- The Sexual Assault Survivor’s Bill of Rights sponsored by Sen. Jill Schupp which will require all hospitals to provide rape kits and prohibits victims from being charged for rape kit testing.
We’re especially grateful our members blocked some truly extreme measures from becoming law:
- A dangerous new “Guns Everywhere” bill that would have allowed guns in schools, bars, casinos, churches, airports, courthouses, sporting events, college campuses, and on public transit.
- A provision endorsed by SOS Jay Ashcroft that would have strengthened Voter ID laws.
Meanwhile, the Republican majority:
- Refused to take up any further discussion of COVID-19 relief for families and small businesses.
- Voted to send Clean Missouri back to the ballot in November in hopes of getting a second chance to keep gerrymandered districts in place.
- Blocked the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program so that Missouri remains the only state in the union to not utilize this tool to combat opioid addiction.
- Let payday lenders tack on yet another fee to indebted consumers.
- Refused to classify frontline food, grocery, and pharmacy workers as temporary first responders while the pandemic is ongoing.
- Blocked the passage of MONA, Missouri’s Non-Discrimination Act for an astonishing 22 years in a row.
- Refused to address the continued issues with receiving unemployment assistance or with childcare for workers forced to return to their jobs.
- Legalized brass knuckles.
Democrats worked tirelessly to keep the GOP’s dangerous antics at bay and push legislation that improves the lives of people all across the state. The best thing we can do to thank them is to send them some brand new colleagues next year.
When we show up, we win.
Onward to victory