Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for July 11, 2025
Friday, July 11, 2025
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for July 11, 2025
Hello, Jackson County neighbors and friends. I hope everyone enjoyed the Independence Day weekend and made some lasting memories with your family. Seeing the utter loss and devastation from the flooding in Texas is a good reminder of how important time with family is. Please join me in extending your thoughts and prayers to those affected and the selfless volunteers who are helping with recovery and cleanup efforts.
Missouri CROWN Act Signed into Law
I was happy to make the drive to Jefferson City on July 10 to witness the governor sign my Missouri Creating a Repectful and Open World for Natural Hair, or CROWN Act, into law as a provision of Senate Bill 160. I have filed this legislation since taking the oath of office because I have witnessed firt-hand, with my own grandson, how others perceive and mistreat a child for the way they were born or wear their natural hair. Eliminating hair-based discrimination in elementary and secondary schools sends a strong message to Missouri children of the African diapora that they are welcome and belong, regardless of how they wear their hair.
Senator Washington and her family watch the governor sign SB 160 into law.
In addition to helping Black children embrace their heritage, SB 160 enacts Danny’s Law, named for a former Mizzou student who suffered life-altering damage from hazing several years ago, which strenghthens hazing laws on college campuses and provides safeguards for those who try to intervene. The law also provides added protections for student associations at universities.
Defending Diversity
During the interim, I have been appointed to serve on the Senate Select Committee on Equal Protection and DEI. Throughout my tenure in the Legislature, I have been quite boisterous about the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and their intended purpose to prevent discrimination in employment and across systems. I still haven’t heard a reasonable explanation for the nationwide attacks on DEI programs, so my focus on this committee will remain on equal treatment for all. I am proud to represent one of the most diverse senatorial districts in the state, so if you have a story to share about how cuts in funding or assaults on DEI have impacted your family, please send them my way.
Arts Asylum and Zou B Art Center Gallery at the Capitol
Throughout the 2025 legislative session, my Senate office has doubled as an annex gallery for some talented artists from the Arts Asylum and Zhou B art Center. We welcome youth and adults who are interested in exhibiting their artwork in my office next year. Contact my team for more information.
News for the 9th
AKA Black Dollars Expo a Smashing Success
Thanks to everyone who attended the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated’s 2nd Annual Black Dollars Expo. The event promotes Black-owned businesses and showcases their wares. This year, there were twice as many vendors as last, demonstrating the strength of our community and its growing support for local small businesses and entrepeneurs.
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Save the Date for the 12th Annual Minority Mental Health Awareness Event
Please mark your calendar for July 26 and plan to attend my annual mental health awareness event, Brunch with Bebe’s Sisters. This year’s forum will focus on youth mental health and building resilience in young hearts.
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. | Truly agreed as a provision of HB 594 | |
The Missouri CROWN Act prohibits hair-based discrimination in publicly-funded educational institutions. | Signed into law as SB 160 | |
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. | Signed into law as SB 348 | |
Establishes May 8 each year as Amyloidosis Awareness Day in Missouri. | Signed into law as SB 348 | |
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. | Truly agreed and finally passed | |
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 | Signed into law as SB 348 | |
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!