Health Forward apoya y construye comunidades inclusivas, poderosas y saludables dando prioridad a las personas que sufren las mayores injusticias en materia de salud. Trabajamos para eliminar esas injusticias a través de nuestro liderazgo, defensa y recursos.
With the Kansas session concluding April 11 and Missouri in the home stretch with a little more than four weeks to go, we’re looking at a narrowing set of possibilities for what will make it to governors’ desks. On the Missouri side, there’ll be a lot of eyes on the Senate as that’s where bills will get debated. In Kansas there’s some legislation we’ll be looking at what the governor does, even after veto overrides. No matter what, we remain active in our testimony and policy focus to track and impact legislation the advances or hinders our overall goals.
Take a look at our policy agendas for Kansas y Missouri, to get a sense of how the action in Kansas and Missouri impacts the outcomes we seek to advance through Health Forward’s plan de objetivos.
Kansas
Topline takeaways:
- Even though advocates, partners, and Health Forward opposed SB 4 – the elimination of the three-day grace period for returning advance mail-in ballots – it was passed by both chambers, sent to the governor who vetoed it, and was overridden by the legislature before they took their April break. Last election, this law would have disenfranchised thousands of votes and will do so in future elections. Additionally, SB 5, which bans federal funding for local elections, was also vetoed and overridden.
- The governor’s veto of HB 2240– which requires legislative approval for an executive agency to make policy for safety net programs – was overridden and this is now law. This is an overreach of legislative powers and will also slow down responsive policymaking, like with Community Health Workers (CHWs), all to the detriment of healthy, thriving Kansas people and communities.
- The governor’s veto of SB 29, a bill which would remove the authority of health officials to curb gatherings of people during an infectious disease outbreak, didn’t hold up and the legislature overrode it to make this law, making Kansas less safe during an infectious disease outbreak.
- Just before the session ended, the elimination of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit in HB 2119 was inserted into HB 2289 and was sent to the governor for signature or veto.
Objetivo de la política de personas: la gente puede acceder fácilmente a una atención integral segura, de calidad y asequible.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Supresión de la autoridad de los funcionarios de salud pública (SB 19 y SB 29) | These bills generally remove the authority of statewide public health officials to do their job: prevent the spread of infectious diseases. | SB 19 was heard on Feb. 5, 2025. SB 29 has been vetoed by the governor and it was overridden by the legislature and is now law. | We oppose both of these bills. They would actively harm public health, especially in infectious disease outbreaks. |
| Legislation being monitored: Extending access of nutrition assistance to those with felonies (HB 2178) | Reproductive rights regulation (SB 67, HB 2171, HB 2009, HB 2010) | |||
Objetivo de política de poder: la participación en nuestra democracia y en el proceso de elaboración de políticas mejora los resultados sanitarios.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Qué hacen | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Restricting advance mail in ballot voting (HB 2017, SB 4) | These bills would require that advance mail in ballots be returned by 7 pm on election day. | SB 4 has passed both chambers, was vetoed by the governor, and overridden on March 25. It is law. | We oppose these bills as they all make it more difficult to vote in advance, vote by mail in ballot, or to access them in the first place. |
| Banning localities from using ranked choice voting (SB 6) | As described in the policy issue. | This bill is now law. | Nosotros wrote oposición testimony for the House Elections Committee hearing. |
| Prohibiting localities from taking federal dollars for elections (SB 5) | As described in the policy issue. | This was vetoed by the governor and was overridden. It is now law. | We opposed this legislation on the House side. |
| Legislation being monitored: Amend the constitution to provide legislative oversight of executive rules and regulations (HCR 5008) | Creating the crime of interfering with an election official (HB 2023) | Regulating ballot drop boxes (HB 2021) | Modifying application requirements for an advance voting ballot (SB 231) | |||
Lugar Policy Goal: Our communities are healthy lugar where people fully participate in the digital economy and build wealth through safe, quality, and affordable housing and homeownership.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Extending the Homestead Property Tax refund to renters (HB 2074). | Permite a los inquilinos optar a una desgravación fiscal reembolsable de hasta $700, que pueden destinar a sufragar los gastos de alquiler. | Heard in the House Committee on Taxation on Feb. 6. | We supported this legislation and provided written testimony in committee. |
| Sealing and expungement of court records in eviction actions (HB 2357) | Ensures that eviction records are sealed and that eviction cases go to mediation to help prevent an eviction from going on a renter’s permanent record. | Heard in the House on Feb. 10. | We provided testimony in support of this legislation. |
| Elimination of the state affordable housing tax credit (HB 2119) | As described in the policy issue. | Passed the House on Feb. 20, 85-36 and was heard in the Senate on March 6. The Affordable Housing Tax Credit phaseout was inserted into HB 2289 before the legislature adjourned and was sent to the governor where it awaits signature or veto. | We oppose this legislation and provided testimonio in both hearings. |
| Fair chance in homelessness and housing act (SB 100) | Limits cómo previous evictions and rental arrears can be used to prevent people from getting housing. | Introduced on Jan. 30. | We would be supportive of this legislation should it receive a public hearing. |
| Legislation being monitored: A property tax exemption for the first $100,000 of assessed value (SB 90) | Inspections of private properties receiving government assistance (HB 2099) | The Fast Track Permits act (HB 2088) | Restricting property tax increases to those age 65 and older (HB 2080) | |||
Objetivo político de la plataforma: La salud de la comunidad se ve influida por sistemas, políticas e historias que promueven la equidad racial y la inclusión económica.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Voiding racially exclusive covenants on certain residential properties (SB 194) | Removes and invalidates racially restrictive covenants on property owned by the state. | This bill was signed into law by the governor. | Nosotros submitted testimony in support of this legislation. |
| Prohibiting undocumented individuals from receiving any state public benefits (SB 254) | Would target any undocumented individual in Kansas from receiving any state or local public dollars or benefit. | Heard on Feb. 27 in the Senate. It seems to have stalled but could come back up during veto session. | Because it would prevent undocumented individuals who were brought to the United States as children from receiving in-state tuition, we testified in opposition to this bill. |
| Legislation being monitored: Requiring employers to use e-verify (HB 2066) | Resolution to cooperate with federal enforcement of immigration laws – SCR 1602 | |||
A comprehensive view of qué we’re tracking can be found at our full Seguimiento de proyectos de ley en Kansas.
Missouri
Topline takeaways:
- Anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion policy continues to see movement. SB 272 was heard towards the end of the month and passed out of committee last week. This legislation stifles economic boycott as a tool for expressing free speech and allows business to sue one another if they are engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. It is an unwieldy bill as it would create incentives for businesses to sue one another for commonly held business practices.
- We’re also watching SB 22 which is set to be taken up by the House at any time for likely passage and then going to the Governor’s desk. This allows summary statements for ballot initiatives coming from the legislature to be extremely difficult to correct, even if they are demonstrably false. HB 575 adds difficult residency requirements for people gathering signatures for citizen-led initiatives; it has passed the House and has been read into the Senate.
- HB 567 undermines the will of Missouri voters to provide an increase to the minimum wage and paid sick leave for all employees. It passed the House with ease and was heard on the Senate side. It was recently run on the Senate floor and was filibustered before being laid over. It will likely come back up before session’s end.
- In showing that sometimes you take the good with the bad, HB 594 & 508, which makes for significant income tax reductions in capital gains, also includes bills that we’ve supported – including the property tax circuit breaker and exempting diapers and feminine hygiene products from sales tax. We are extremely concerned about the cost of the capital gains part of the bill, however we do support the circuit breaker and sales tax exemptions aspects.
Objetivo de la política de personas: la gente puede acceder fácilmente a una atención integral segura, de calidad y asequible.Objetivo de política de poder: la participación en nuestra democracia y en el proceso de elaboración de políticas mejora los resultados sanitarios.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reproductive rights restrictions (HJRs 9, 14, 54 and SJRs 5, 9, y 33 amongst others) | These bills are direct responses to the overturn of the abortion ban with Amendment 3. HJR 54 and SJRs 5 and 9 link gender affirming care bans to abortion rights, banning both. | HJR 54 has passed out of its committee of origin as well as the rules committee. It can head to the House floor once it is read in. | We oppose additional attempts to immediately overturn the will of the people y banning gender affirming care y reproductive rights. |
| Women’s and maternal health legislation (HBs 255, 398, 1095, SB 39y HB 483, amongst other legislation that promotes maternal health) | HB 398 updates birth control coverage and pre-natal screenings that improve maternal and infant health. HB 255 is a broad bill requiring training on culturally relevant care and data collection disaggregated by several factors, while SB 39 focuses on data disaggregation of maternal health for the Pregnancy Associated Maternal Review board. HB 483 is a sales tax exemption for diapers, prenatal vitamins and other items. | We provided written testimony in support of HB 398, 483, and 1095. HBs 398 and 483 have passed out of their committee. | Somos generally supportive of these kinds of bills, which help to advance maternal health and reduce disparities based on race, place, and income level. |
| Medicaid and health access or coverage (HBs 186, 822, 825, y SB 94, SJR 43, amongst others). | HBs 822 & 825 and SB 94 add audio-only options for telehealth coverage. HB 186 caps the price of insulin and keeps it at an inflation adjusted-rate only. SJR 43 would add work requirements to expanded Medicaid. | SB 94 aprobado el Senate and has been heard in the House en early April. SJR 43 passed out of its committee on March 5th. | We support reasonable measures to keep costs of care and medication affordable, as well as expanding telehealth. We provided testimony in support of HB 822 and 825 and support SB 94. And we will always oppose work requirements to expanded Medicaid or any other safety net program. |
| Legislation being monitored: Mental health – HB 676 | Restaurant Meals Program – SB 130 | |||
Potencia Policy Goal: Participation in our democracy and policymaking process improves health outcomes.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Modifying items related to the citizen ballot initiative – (SB 22, HBs 551 y 575, and HJRs 10, 11, 16, SJR 47, amongst many others) | SB 22 makes it so that courts can’t modify ballot summaries on joint resolutions coming from the Assembly, while HBs 551 and 575 add residency requirements for signature gatherers for initiatives. HJR 10, 11, 16, and SJR 47 all increase the threshold for passage of ballot initiatives. | SB 22 aprobado the Senate and has run through the House committees such that it can be on the floor at any time. HB 575 has a similar status as SB 22, just on the Senate side. SJR 47 passed out of its committee on March 24. | We oppose all of these bills and resolutions and testified in opposition to HB 551 and 575. |
| Voting modifications – (HB 333, HB 367, SB 470y SJR 44, amongst others) | HB 333 creates an unreasonable signature verification for absentee ballots; HB 367 and SB 470 extends no excuse absentee voting to 6 weeks ahead of the election, and SJR 44 creates a photo id requirement for registration to vote. | HB 367 has moved the most of these and passed out of committee on Feb. 26. | We provided testimony in support of HB 367. We oppose HB 333 and SJR 44 strongly. They would end up disenfranchising legitimate votes or discouraging people from voting at all. |
Lugar Policy Goal: Our communities are healthy lugar where people fully participate in the digital economy and build wealth through safe, quality, and affordable housing and homeownership.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | What It Does | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Preempting local governments on requiring landlords to take housing assistance (HBs 595 y 343) | Prohibits local governments from requiring landlords from taking federal housing assistance. | HB 595 moved out of the House 104-38 on Feb. 13 y has been read into the Senate. | We are strongly opposed and testified in opposition to this legislation as it would make it more difficult to secure safe, affordable, and quality housing for people earning a low wage. |
| Housing Attainability and Affordability - SB 101 y HB 245. | SB 101 modernizes the “property tax circuit breaker”. HB 245 creates a rural workforce housing fund. | SB 101 and 64 have been combined into the larger capital gains bill, HB 594 & 508, which has passed the Senate and is headed back over to the House for final passage. | Nosotros testified in support of el main bills and are supportive of the property tax circuit breaker updates and exemptions for diapers and feminine hygiene products but are concerned about the massive cost of the capital gains tax cuts. |
| Eviction provision modifications (SB 168) | This bill moves eviction proceeding hearings to one day rather than two and creates a felony for ‘unlawful occupation of property’. | It was passed out of committee on Feb. 18. | We oppose this bill strongly. |
| Banda ancha sales tax exemption - SB 185 | See issue description. | It passed out of committee on Feb. 25 and is on the Senate calendar to go to the floor. | We will submit written support if this bill. |
Objetivo político de la plataforma: La salud de la comunidad se ve influida por sistemas, políticas e historias que promueven la equidad racial y la inclusión económica.
| Cuestiones políticas y legislación pertinente | Para qué sirve | Estado | Nuestra postura |
| Anti-diversity, equity and inclusion legislation – HB 742 y SB 272 | HB 742 is a copycat of previous bills in that it bans any state spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion. SB 272 makes it a crime to do business while taking diversity, equity, and inclusion into consideration. | HB 742 aprobado the House and was heard on the Senate side on March 3. SB 272 has aprobado out of committee. | We staunchly oppose all anti-DEI legislation as it cuts directly against our purpose de strengthening and building inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities characterized by racial equity and economic justice. Nosotros testified in opposition to both bills at any opportunity. |
| Immigration – SB 72 y HB 540 | SB 72 allows for people to become bounty hunters on people they perceive to be ‘illegal’ and HB 540 creates a crime to be undocumented in Missouri. | SB 72 was heard in committee and HB 540 has been referred to committee. | We oppose both of these bills as they would result in racial profiling and physical harm to people. |
| Economic justice – HB 567 (and HBs 546, 758y 958) | HB 567 and the other bills nullify Proposition A, passed by 57% of Missourians to increase the minimum wage and institute paid sick leave. | HB 567 has passed the House and cleared the hurdles to be run on the Senate floor, as of April 7. | We oppose these bills for a variety of reasons, mainly because they upend the will of the people who voted for them and because minimum wage and paid sick leave |
Nos centraremos en los proyectos de ley destacados, pero aquí tiene la lista completa. proyectos de ley que seguimos en Missouri.
