Missouri NEA Weekly Legislative Update Week 3, January 23, 2025

By Otto Fajen

MNEA Legislative Director

LEGISLATURE CONVENES AFTER MLK HOLIDAY

The legislature convened on January 21. Several Senate and House committees met this week, though meeting times were affected by the MLK holiday and shortened week.

HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee met for the first time this session on January 22. Rep. Ed Lewis will now serve as committee chair. Former chair Brad Pollitt remains a member of the committee. NEA member Kathy Steinhoff will serve as the ranking member, and newly elected NEA members Stephanie Boykin, Martin Jacobs, Dr. Kem Smith, and Connie Steinmetz are also on the committee.

The committee heard two bills:

• HB 371 (Brad Pollitt) to require DESE to add a performance level descriptor to the MAP to indicate whether a student is doing grade-level work in a subject. This level will fall between the level of "basic" and the level of "proficient". The Association supports the bill.
• HB 477 (Oehlerking) to require written parental consent for changes to individualized education programs (IEPs).

The committee will hear two bills on January 29:

• HB 538 (Dane Diehl) to modify background check requirements for school bus drivers. 
• HB 711 (Brad Pollitt) to create a public-school open enrollment program. The Association believes that public school choice plans with state funding may harm students and our public schools unless essential criteria are in place for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating their effectiveness.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

The committee met for the first time this session on January 23. The committee heard SB 89 (Stephen Webber). The bill provides that Veterans Day shall be a public holiday for all employees of the University of Missouri System.

The committee will meet on January 28 to hear testimony from DESE Commissioner Karla Eslinger and departmental staff regarding education issues in Missouri.

TARGETING "DEI" IN STATE AGENCIES

The House Emerging Issues Committee heard HB 742 (Ben Baker) on January 22. The bill would ban state agencies from spending funds on diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The bill defines DEI using politically charged language that differs from the normal concept of "DEI" initiatives and thus may have symbolic effect but little substantive impact on the work of state agencies.

TAX CUTS

The House Special Committee on Tax Reform heard several tax cut bills on January 22, including HB 425 (Jeff Vernetti) to eliminate the corporate income tax and HJR 35 (Ben Keathley) to gradually eliminate the personal income tax while capping state appropriations. The Association is concerned that these significant tax cuts would further weaken the legislature's capacity to support public education and other vital services.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.