Jill Carter provides updates on SAFE Act, Local control school districts, constitutional sheriff proposal

(From Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby)

The week after Spring Break, the Senate passed the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (S.A.F.E) Act after an overnight filibuster from the Democrats. 

SB 49, 164, and 236 still includes a ban on sex change surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross sex hormones on minors under the age of 18. However, SB 49, which includes my version of the S.A.F.E. Act, SB 164, contains a grandfather clause and unfortunately a sunset in four years. The grandfather clause allows those currently taking puberty blockers or cross sex hormones to continue doing so. 

It is important to note that the current language does not allow a minor to switch from puberty blockers to cross sex hormones, thus providing a roadblock in the progression to full transition. There are differing opinions on the grandfather clause, but I will say that I have spoken with several de-transitioners that had horrible complications coming off these drugs too quickly. 

The sunset means that the law will no longer be in effect after four years unless it is extended by the legislature. The sunset does not apply to surgeries themselves, but rather cross sex hormones and puberty blockers. 

A huge rally and filibuster watch party was held overnight from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning. At the rally, we heard from transman Scott Newgent, Gays Against Groomers of Missouri, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, the House and Senate sponsors of the S.A.F.E. Act, and many more. 

At about 7:30 in the morning, the Democrats agreed to end their filibuster, and the Senate perfected the S.A.F.E. Act. Thursday morning, the Senate Third Read and passed SB 49, 164, and 236. It has now been sent over to the House for their consideration.

SB 85 Heard on the Senate Floor - Local Control School Districts

My bill to strip away the power of DESE (SB 85) and allow for more educational freedom for public schools and charter schools hit the floor last Wednesday. I am grateful to Majority Floor Leader Senator O’Laughlin for allowing this critical discussion to take place. 

SB 85 is the first major reform to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in over 30 years. I was not sure if there would be an appetite within the legislature to strip away power from DESE, but I am pleased to say that after years of tyrannical government bureaucracies yielding no results, the legislature is ready for that conversation. I expect SB 85 to come to the floor again soon.

60% vs. Concurrent Majority Ratification

Last week, the Senate debated HJR 43, which proposed to raise the threshold to amend the Missouri Constitution to a 60% popular vote. 

I believe the Constitution is a somewhat sacred document that should not be amended lightly or easily. HJR 43 does not make it harder to use the initiative petition to get an amendment on the ballot, rather it changes the requirements relating to its adoption. 

I support the sentiments of my SJR 28, using Concurrent Majority Ratification to amend the Constitution compared to simply raising the percentage required. There was an amendment offered to HJR 43 that proposed Concurrent Majority Ratification using Congressional districts, but some Democrat Senators filibustered for a few hours and the bill was laid over before the amendment could be voted on. 

My hope is to return to HJR 43 and debate using Concurrent Majority Ratification as opposed to raising the percent threshold. I am more favorable towards CMR using Congressional districts than I am to a 60% threshold, but am still the most supportive of CMR using state house districts.

Here is some information on my proposal: 

SJR 28 would require a concurrent majority for the ratification of amendments to the Missouri Constitution. Currently, a simple majority of 50% is all that is needed to amend the Missouri Constitution. 

My legislation would require a simple majority of the vote as well as a majority of the 163 State House districts, ensuring the voices of all Missourians are heard and not just Kansas City and Saint Louis. This is similar to how the Electoral College operates. Concurrent majority is the same principle we use to amend the United States Constitution, provide representation in the U.S. Senate, and pass laws in Congress or in the Missouri General Assembly. 

Twenty-two county Republican Central Committees have adopted resolutions in support of SJR 28 over all other reforms to the constitutional amendment process. Last month, the Jasper County Republican Central Committee unanimously passed a resolution supporting CMR.

SJR 42 - Constitutional Sheriffs

As covered by a previous Capitol Report, I recently proposed SJR 42 because of a meeting I had with over a dozen Sheriffs on this topic. If approved by the voters, this would put the office of Sheriff in the constitution. 

Putting this in the constitution would allow county Sheriffs the opportunity to stand up to government overreach. In Illinois, even though the state legislature and Governor passed gun control laws, more than 70 Sheriffs publicly vowed to protect their citizens' Second Amendment rights. 

 This is because in Illinois, Sheriffs derive their authority from the state constitution, not just statute. Therefore, they are independent of the Governor. They can still be voted out and are subject to prosecution by the Attorney General's office.

This week, I presented SJR 42 before the General Laws Committee. I then hosted a Press Conference with Senator Eigel, Senator Hoskins, Senator Moon, Senator Ben Brown, and Representative Cook. Dozens of Sheriffs from around Missouri. The Western States Sheriffs' Association sent a letter supporting SJR 42.