By Otto Fajen, MNEA Legislative Director
FOLLOW MISSOURI NEA WEEKLY UPDATES ON FRIDAYS THIS SESSION
The MNEA Weekly Legislative Update will be distributed this session on Fridays. This will allow the Weekly Update to include information regarding committee hearings posted on Friday for meetings the following week. The MNEA Legislative Update will keep you informed in a timely manner concerning developments on legislation affecting students and schools and will advise you of actions you can take to affect the legislative process. Subscribe >
SESSION BEGINS!
The 2024 legislative session began at noon on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. The is the second session for this General Assembly, so members have already been sworn in and key leadership positions were selected last session.
Returning Senate leaders include Sen. Caleb Rowden as President Pro Tem, Sen. Cindy O'Laughlin as Majority Floor Leader, and Sen. John "J.J." Rizzo as Minority Floor Leader. Sen. Rowden offered brief opening remarks that focused on overcoming the political stalemate that blocked legislative action at the end of last session.
Returning House leaders include Rep. Dean Plocher as Speaker, Rep. Jonathan Patterson as Majority Floor Leader and Rep. Crystal Quade as Minority Floor Leader. Rep. Plocher offered opening remarks that resembled Rowden's and urged members to put statesmanship ahead of politics and personal interest. The House convened in technical sessions on January 4 and January 5 to refer bills to committee in preparation for hearings next week.
The Senate adjourned on January 4 and will reconvene on Monday, January 8. Senate Majority Floor Leader Cindy O'Laughlin had announced that the final order of business would be "second reading" of bills, the process by which the Senate President Pro Tem refers bills to committee. However, a protracted and contentious debate between two Senators delayed that process, and Sen. O'Laughlin eventually made a motion to simply adjourn until January 8 without referring bills to committee. This delay will make it procedurally more complex for most Senate committees to properly hear bills next week.
TEACHER SALARY PROVISIONS
The House Committee on Government Efficiency and Downsizing will hear HB 1648 (John Black) regarding public employee compensation on January 10. The bill allows state agencies and school districts to offer financial incentives for employee retention and to reward "exemplary achievement". The bill also includes language from HB 1447 (Ed Lewis) to allow school districts to identify hard-to-staff schools and hard-to-staff subject areas and designate a higher placement on the salary schedule when hiring such teachers. The Association believes decisions regarding extra compensation and salary schedule placement should be a matter for collective bargaining at the local level.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FILING
The House Committee on Elections and Elected Officials will hear HB 1744 (Renee Reuter) regarding school board candidate filing on January 9. The bill changes the filing location for school board candidates to the county election clerk's office, rather than the school board office. As filed, this change only applies to school districts located entirely within a single county. The change addresses issues that can arise for candidates filing at the end of the filing window in late December when most schools are closed for a holiday break.
MNEA'S EDUCATION ADVOCACY
Students are at the center of Missouri NEA’s legislative advocacy. MNEA believes that every child has a basic right to attend a great public school. The Association strives to ensure that all students have the time and resources to learn, caring and qualified teachers and an education that inspires their natural curiosity and desire to learn.
MNEA also continues to lead the fight to defeat the proposals that would harm public education. The Association’s legislative advocacy must ensure that legislators fulfill their commitments to stand up for children and public education during the legislative session.
BECOME AN MNEA EDUCATION ADVOCATE!
Commit to being an advocate in your legislative district! MNEA’s Education Advocate program seeks members who will be a contact with their respective State House or Senate members on public education issues. MNEA’s Government Relations department will pair members with their legislators and provide information, talking points, and resources to conduct important legislative outreach throughout the year.
You can find more information and sign up at https://www.mnea.org/edadvocates.