Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17, 2025
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for April 17, 2025
Defending the Will of Voters on Workers’ Rights
The minority party stood in solidarity for hours on April 16-17 to force negotiations on House Bill 567. This proposal seeks to undo the will of voters who overwhelmingly passed Proposition A last November, approving an increase to the state’s minimum wage and a requirement for employers to provide earned sick leave to their workers. It appears that we may also have to take similar action to protect the reproductive rights voters enshrined in the Missouri Constitution with Amendment 3.
It’s exhausting and unconscionable that we have to continuously protect voters’ decisions from the people they elect to represent them. I will always defend voters’ ability to read and comprehend amendments on the ballot, as well as their ability to decide what they think is best for themselves, their families and the state.
Final Four
When I return to Jefferson City after a short Easter break, we will be down to the final four weeks of the 2025 legislative session. It seems like I was just being sworn in to serve my second term as your state senator, and here we are, approaching adjournment. Time sure flies when you’re making laws and balancing a nearly $50 billion budget! To give you some perspective on the scope of this process, the photo below was taken during budget discussions a few years back.
A majority of my week was spent in Senate Appropriations Committee hearings, where members deliberated and marked up 13 of the bills that will comprise the operating budget for fiscal year 2026. These proposals are divided by department and list each line-item allotment to fund and sustain vital services and programs across the state.
The Senate sent a handful of bills to the Missouri House of Representatives to deliberate this week, including Senate Joint Resolution 46. Unanimously supported in the upper chamber, SJR 46 will authorize a property tax exemption for disabled veterans, pending voter approval.
On April 14, the House Emerging Issues Committee passed my Missouri CROWN Act. Now eligible for floor debate in the lower chamber, Senate Bill 38 will prohibit hair-based discrimination in public and charter schools. The Missouri Creating an Open World for Natural Hair has been a priority of mine for years, so I’m hopeful it gets sent to and codified into law by the governor this year.
The Second Amendment Preservation Act has been resurrected by the majority party after it was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2024 for violating the United States’ supremacy clause. During the hearing with the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee on April 14, House Bill 1175 was overwhelmingly opposed by law enforcement agencies and multiple advocacy groups. I heard these witnesses loud and clear and remain opposed to HB 1175.
On April 13, I was honored to sponsor Jon Otto during his confirmation hearing in the Senate to serve on the State Board of Education. A corporate counselor, private attorney and board member of several advocacy associations, Jon’s expertise will be a great asset to this board.
Enter the Agriculture Photo Contest
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is hosting its annual photo contest, Focus on Missouri Agriculture, from April 4 - June 6. Open to all ages, the categories include Beauty of the Farm, Faces of the Farmer, Around the Barnyard and Everyday Life, plus a Kids corner for participants under 12. Visit agriculture.mo.gov/focus for more information or to view past entries. I am staunch advocate for urban farming and would love to see one of these sites highlighted in the contest. Winners will be on display at the State Fair in August.
News for the 9th
Updates to Social Security Identity Requirements
The Social Security Administration is taking a proactive steps to enhance the security of services by implementing stronger identify verification procedures. Under the updated policy, individuals who cannnot use a personal “My Social Security” account to apply for benefits may complete their claim entirely over the telephone or schedule an appointment at a branch office. You will need to prove your identity at a Social Security office if applying for retirement, survivors or auxilllary benefits. Call 800-722-1213 to schedule an appointment.
Please share the community event flyers below!
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2025
Bill Number | Description | Status |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene products. | Hearing conducted 3.4, Economic and Workforce Development | |
The Missouri CROWN Act prohibits hair-based discrimination in publicly-funded educational institutions. | Passed 4.11, House Emerging Issues | |
Expands and diversifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a handgun for a minor. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development | Passed 3.12 Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for qualified providers of employment, employment services or housing for homeless persons. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing housing assistance to victims of domestic violence. | Passed 2.25 Progress and Development Committee | |
Modifies provisions relating to emergency medical services | Hearing conducted 3.25 Emerging Issues | |
Creates the offense of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Establishes the Cronkite New Voices Act to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media. | Referred to Education | |
Modifies provisions relating to offenses against employees of election authorities. | Referred to Local Government, Elections and Pension. | |
Enacts provisions relating to health insurance coverage of maternity services to include midwifery. | Referred to Insurance and Banking | |
Designates every Feb. 20 as John Donaldson Day to honor Missouri native and Negro Leagues Baseball star pitcher. | Added to SB 348, Passed on April 9, House Special Committee on Tourism | |
Establishes May 8 each year as Amyloidosis Awareness Day in Missouri. | Added to SB 348, passed on 4.9, House Special Committee on Tourism | |
Modifies provisions relating to the offense of filing false documents. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Requires public and charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in grades 4-12. | Referred to Education | |
Creates provisions relating to lactating public and charter school students. | Referred to Education | |
Requires schools that receive state funds to give excused absences for attending scheduled elections with their parents. | Hearing conducted 3.4 Education | |
Requires school districts and charter schools to offer students who are 17 and ½ years the opportunity to register to vote. | Hearing conducted 3.4 Education | |
Creates a health advocate program at the Department of Health and Senior Services for eligible pregnant patients. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Modifies provisions relating to restitution for individuals who are actually innocent and exonerated based on evidence other than DNA. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to use of marijuana by family court participants. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Authorizes a tax credit for first time home buyers to purchase eligible blighted property. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Provides that no person, corporation, or other entity in Missouri shall manufacture, import, possess, purchase, sell or transfer any assault weapon or large capacity magazine. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Designates Officer James Muhlbauer K-9 Officer Champ Memorial Bridge in Jackson County. | Hearing conducted 3.4, Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to closed criminal records. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Creates that eligible offenses be automatically expunged without petition. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to earned discharge from probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Designates every Nov. 9 as Links, Incorporated Day in Missouri | Added to SB 348, passed on 4.9, House Special Committee on Tourism | |
Creates a DWI diversion program. | Hearing conducted 2.26 Judiciary | |
Creates provisions relating to parole eligibility after serving 30 years or more of a sentence. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Reduces the term of probation for a misdemeanor violation from 2 years to 18 months and removes the drug and alcohol screening for certain offenses. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to legal representation for certain court proceedings involving children. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Prohibits removing registered voters from the Missouri Voter Registration System unless the voter has not voted in the previous five calendar years or met other criteria. | Referred to Local Government, Elections and Pensions | |
Includes CLASS EA – esthetics and manicuring as a new classification for licensure for cosmetologists. | Referred to Emerging Issues and Professional Registration | |
Creates new provisions relating to state contracts for minority and women’s business enterprises. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Prohibits carrying concealed firearms in public libraries. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies continuing education requirements for peace officers. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for feminine hygiene product for all purchases made by qualifying organizations. | Referred Economic and Workforce Development | |
Designates the Kansas City Chiefs as the official professional football team of Missouri. | Hearing conducted 4.1, Progress and Development | |
Temporarily extends the hours which liquor may be sold by the drink during the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. | Referred to General Laws | |
Establishes the Missouri Entertainment Facility – Capital Assistance Program | Referred Economic and Workforce Development | |
Requires the agriculture education pilot program to be implemented at all elementary schools statewide | Referred to Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources | |
Places limits on increases in the assessment of certain properties, pending voter approval. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Eliminates the statute of limitations for civil actions based on certain sexual offenses. | Referred to Judiciary |
It is an honor representing the great people of Jackson County’s 9th Senatorial District. If you need assistance navigating state government or understanding the legislative process, please contact me by calling 573-751-3158 or emailing Barbara.Washington@senate.mo.gov. My team is here for you!