PUBLIC POLICY

PUBLIC POLICY

Make Your Voice Heard – Vote – April 8, 2025

General Municipal Elections Important Dates:

  • March 25 – No-excuse in-person absentee voting begins
  • March 26 – Last day to request an absentee ballot (5pm)
  • March 31 – Satellite voting sites open
  • April 7 – Last day to vote absentee (5pm)
  • April 8 – Election Day at Polling Places (6am-7pm)

Missouri Acceptable IDs to Vote:

  • Missouri driver or non-driver license
  • United State passport
  • Military ID
  • If expired, the ID must have expired after the date of the most recent General Election, November 5, 2014

Where to find information to assist you in the voting process:

  • Sample Ballot mailed by your county’s election authority.  These provide you with a sample ballot, information on your nearest Election Day polling locations, information on your No-excuse absentee voting locations and times, ID requirements to vote, and how to contact your election authority.  These have already been mailed for April 8.  Contact you election authority if you have not received one.
  • Branch Public Policy Committee Members can assist you. You can find contact information in the branch directory. 

2025 Missouri Legislative Session

March 14, 2025 Update

  • The Senate and House will be recessed March 15 – March 24, 2025

Status of Pertinent Bills 

  • Repeal of Proposition A through legislative action
    • HB567
      • Delay minimum wage increase until 2028 and remove tying to inflation index
      • Removal of paid time off 
      • Perfected in House 
    • Does not require vote by citizens to implement
    • Currently a number of businesses have filed a suit against Proposition A with MO Supreme Court
  • Repeal of Amendment 3
    • Two concurrent Bills – HJR 54 & SJR 33 
    • SJR 33 has moved out of committee
    • Key changes:  limits abortion to medical emergency and fetal abnormalities, includes rape/incest but only if reported to police 42 hours before seeking abortion, includes restrictions on care to transgender minors
    • If passed and signed by Governor, it would require a vote by citizens.  The Governor would determine when it would be put to a citizen vote.
  • Voting Rights Bills
    • SB182/HB507
      • Makes it a criminal offense to harass or threaten an election worker
      • Out of Committee in Senate and House
    • SB22
      • Ballot Summary Language
      • Impacts current Citizen’s Initiative Process
      • Out of Senate and to House for review
    • HB617/SB714
      • Voting Rights restoration after release and clear probation
      • Moved to Committee
    • SB62
      • Requirement of proof of citizenship for voting
      • In-person voter registration and at polls when voting
      • Certified Birth Certificate or Passport or REAL ID
      • Regular Driver’s License not accepted
      • No provisional voting allowed
      • Perfected, next step Senate vote
  • Contact your legislative representatives to express your voice:

For further information, contact Marian Bauer or Angie Janik, Co-directors Public Policy

The following websites are reliable resources to obtain information on bills passing through the legislative process and their status:

  • Permanent Disability
    • Apply any time.
    • You will then automatically receive an absentee ballot application for each election.

Support the New Title IX Rules

Public Policy is drawing your attention to important information from the AAUW Action Network.  The U.S. Department of Education issued the final Title IX rules on April 19, and they are set to go into effect on August 1, 2024. 

AAUW supports the final rules that strengthen protections for students experiencing sexual harassment and ensure equal education opportunities for pregnant, parenting, and LGBTQ+ students.  To support the final rules, contact your members of Congress and tell them that sex-based discrimination has no place in education.  Ask them to support these final rules.  Take Action at https://www.aauw.org/act/.

Missouri 2023-24 Legislative Session Wrap

The 2024 session of the Missouri Legislation is in full swing.  Over 400 bills have been pre-filed.  You can find information provided by the MO Voter Protection Coalition at https://bit.ly/movotingbills.

UPDATE ON STATE EDUCATION BILLS

Bills are moving through the House and Senate and on to the Governor to sign or veto.  SS#2/SCS/SB 727 the school voucher and charter expansion bill has been sent to Governor Parson.  He has 15 calendar days from April 18 to return the bill with his approval or veto.  Call or email the Governor at 573-751-3222 or https://governor.mo.gov/contact-us with your views.  Other education bills currently being reviewed in committees include HCS/HB1989, creation of public-school open enrollment and HB1758, creation of an educational stabilization fund.  Check out the details at https://www.senate.mo.gov/Committees/CommitteeDetails/82 and https://house.mo.gov/Committees.aspx?cluster=true

CURRENT BILLS IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE

Online Sources:

CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

GET INVOLVED – Become a Two-Minute Activist!

Remembering those who went before

AAUW national provides members with tools to send messages to their representatives in Congress and their state legislators about pressing issues aligned with AAUW’s mission.  

Get involved through the resources of AAUW.  Find out how at GET ACTIVE

Once you sign up to become a Two-Minute Activist, you will receive an email from AAUW national when your voice is needed most.  You then simply click the box in the email AAUW created, and your legislator’s information is populated; the email is ready for you to send.

Contact any member of the Public Policy Committee if you need assistance.