Kansas City Democrat: This is what the Republicans are going to do this session

(From Rep. Ingrid Burnett, D-Kansas City)

As usual, the opening session on January 3 was rather boring. We opened with the traditional color guard and reading the US Constitution Bill of Rights preceded by a speech from the Speaker to welcome members and attempt to set a tone of continued partisanship. 

In his speech, however, House Speaker Plocher started off celebrating the usual hot-button topics from our last session of abortion bans, gun rights, and “federal overreach” during the COVID pandemic. He championed the legislation that stripped gender-affirming care for children, followed by a call for us all to come together and pass “good legislation.” You can listen to his speech here if you like. It starts at time marker 12:15.

Another priority area for House Republicans is the initiative petition. Currently, one is being circulated to put a proposed amendment to the state constitution on the November ballot that would protect abortion rights, and House Republicans said they will make a last-ditch effort to require supermajority approval to ratify amendments. 

However, any changes proposed by lawmakers also would need to be approved by voters to take effect, and voters in other states have proven resistant to limiting their own power. I’m sure there will be more to follow on this as the session progresses. I also expect an emphasis from the Majority Republicans to push through some form of school choice in the form of open enrollment and vouchers. 

One issue I hope to see some bipartisan agreement on is to reauthorize the Medicaid Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA). This is a highly successful private/public partnership that is a major source of funding for MO Health Net – Missouri’s Medicaid program. You can learn more about the FRA here. The FRA is a major source of revenue for the state, surpassing all but the two largest sources of general revenue by maximizing the allowable federal reimbursements.

This year Republicans outnumber Democrats 24-10 in the Senate and 111-51 in the House of Representatives, which has one vacant seat last held by a Democrat in St. Louis. The last day of the legislative session is May 17. The constitutional deadline for granting final passage to the state budget for the 2025 fiscal year, (which begins July 1), is one week earlier on May 10.

LEGISLATION UPDATES

One of the pieces of legislation that made it through the process was the exemption of Social Security from State income tax. It took effect on January 1 of this year which means that if you collect social security, starting with your 2024 benefits and going forward, your social security payments will not be taxed by the state. 

Current law allows taxpayers with certain filing status and adjusted gross income below certain thresholds to deduct 100% of certain retirement and Social Security benefits from the taxpayer's Missouri adjusted gross income, with a reduced deduction as the taxpayer's adjusted gross income increases. 

For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024, this act allows the maximum deduction to all taxpayers regardless of filing status or adjusted gross income.




I plan to file several bills this session. Most are bills I have filed previously but were not given the opportunity to be heard. Nonetheless, I think it’s important to put them forward and give them some airtime. Once again I’ve filed HJR32 which urges the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Another bill I plan to file again would repeal the ban on the prohibition of local governments regulating paper and plastic bags. I also plan to refile a bill that establishes the offense of unlawful dog tethering or chaining. I will keep you posted on other bills I file.