PUBLIC POLICY

PUBLIC POLICY:  READERS’ ALERT!

The Missouri Legislative session is in full swing.  Committees have been established and bills are beginning to be reviewed.  Here is what happened this week (posted February 12, 2025).  

  • The bills posted below (February 6, 2025) are still in play so continue to contact your representative/senator to express your voice.

The Missouri Legislative Session is in full swing.  Committees have been established and bills are beginning to be reviewed.  Here is what happened this week (posted Feb 6, 2025):

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

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

Public Policy Update on Missouri HB 1878

This bill threatened the work of our Public Policy priority to Get Out The
Vote.  Specifically, it would have imposed felony penalties (with possible jail
time and loss of voting rights for life) for assisting voters in obtaining
absentee ballot applications and forced volunteers to pre-register with the
Secretary of State if they intended to register more than 10 voters.  Our
branch has been active carrying out these actions as well as educating
voters on the voting process.  On December 2, the Circuit Court of Cole
County, State of Missouri, struck these key provisions of the bill, allowing us
to continue this important work.  Even though we won at this level, it is
anticipated the ruling will be appealed and move to the Missouri Supreme
Court for a ruling.  The Public Policy Committee
will keep you updated as this moves forward, but at this point we can
continue our Get Out The Vote activities.  

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

  • 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.