Legislative Updates

Legislative Update

CCUSA Responds to Failed Congressional Effort to Address Immigration

Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, issued the following statement concerning Congress's failure to pass the bi-partisan Senate immigration reform bill recently considered in the U.S. Senate. 

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) commends Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) for their efforts to put forth broad, bipartisan reforms of our country’s immigration system — something we have called on Congress and presidential administrations of both parties to undertake for decades. While the proposed legislation contains both provisions we support and some we oppose, we also recognize that successful, meaningful reform requires compromise. And yet, before our team even had completed a thorough review of this bill, political dysfunction already had eliminated any real chance for this effort to receive serious consideration from the full Congress. 

Sadly, this is the latest in a long line of examples of crippling polarization getting in the way of desperately needed progress in Washington. Compromise should be celebrated, not demonized.  

As we have done for decades, including in a letter to congressional leaders today, CCUSA will continue to emphasize the urgent need for serious, bipartisan reforms that prioritize the security of the border and the human dignity of those on both sides of it. Without those reforms, our immigration system will remain broken, and the Catholic Charities network will remain committed to providing critical humanitarian aid to those in need who arrive at our doorsteps.

Regardless of your position on immigration, I hope we can all agree that the issue needs to be addressed and that compromise will be necessary to get something meaningful done.  

MO Supreme Court Chief Delivers "State of Judiciary" Address

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell delivered the State of the Judiciary address this week to a joint session of the Missouri House and Senate.  In her remarks, she talked about the hard work done by judges and their staff around the state, and thanked them for their service to their communities.  

She raised concerns about the number of inmates with mental health issues, including those in the juvenile system, stating that prisons aren't set up to be mental health facilities or treatment centers for inmates with drug addiction.  She called upon all branches of government, along with private and not-for-profit organizations, to work together to address these needs.

Missouri House Committee Hears Senior "Circuit Breaker" Tax Credit Bills

The Missouri House Special Committee on Property Taxes recently heard two bills to revise Missouri's "Circuit Breaker" tax credit program that provides tax relief to seniors who face increased property taxes as a result of rising property values.  The program offers a property tax rebate to low-income seniors who own or rent their homes, helping them remain in their homes as fixed incomes fail to keep up with property taxes levied on more expensive homestead and rental properties.  CCSTL testified in support of both HB 1428, sponsored by Rep. Mike McGirl (R-Pitosi), and HB 1670, sponsored by Rep. Mark Matthiesson (R-O'Fallon), which would revise the program to make the credit accessible to more seniors. This week, the committee voted HB 1428 "do pass", keeping the issue alive for further consideration.  

We will continue reporting on the legislation we are working on as the legislative process unfolds.  Stay tuned.  

Deacon Tyler

Legislative Update

Senate Progress and Development Committee Hears YOP/NAP Tax Credit Bill

This week, the Senate Progress and Development Committee heard SB 1041, sponsored by Sen. Steve Roberts (D-St. Louis), that would increase the state tax credit available under the Youth Opportunity Program (YOP) and Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) from 50% to 70% for donations made to organizations offering those credits to donors.  These tax credit programs are vital to Catholic Charities and other non-profit organizations, as they help increase private donations to support the programs that benefit our clients.  

We have been supporting a similar bill in the House, HB 2089, sponsored by Rep. Michael O'Donnell (R-St. Louis), which was heard in committee several weeks ago.  We learned this week from the chair of the committee that heard HB 2089 that he intends to advance the bill in the coming weeks to the House floor for debate.  Keep those prayers coming for the success of these bills.

Lobbying for Domestic Violence Victims

This week, we spent a day in Jefferson City lobbying with St. Martha's staff and Board members in support of victims of domestic violence.  We met with sponsors of legislation in both the House and Senate that would allow judges to order guns removed from the homes of those convicted of felony and misdemeanor domestic violence charges after a hearing.  Sen. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis County), shown in the photo above, is a sponsor of SB 913 that would do just that.  Sponsors of similar bills include Sen. Doug Beck (D-St. Louis), Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City), Rep. Del Taylor (D-St. Louis), Rep. Michael Burton (D-Lakeshire) and Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern (D-Kansas City).  We also met with several Republicans who are supportive of our efforts, and we are hopeful that we can move this legislation forward in the future.  The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in November in a case out of Texas addressing a similar federal law, passed in 1996.  We expect the court to rule on this case before the end of June.  We are hoping a favorable ruling will open the door to similar state legislation in the years to come.  

In the advocacy world, we count our victories in decades, because sometimes it takes that long to effect change.  The work we do today lays the foundation for what is to come.  

Keep the faith!  

Deacon Tyler

Legislative Update

NAP/YOP Tax Credit Bills Advance

House and Senate bills addressing the Neighborhood Assistance (NAP) and Youth Opportunity (YOP) tax credit programs advanced this week.  We support these bills and hope to increase the state tax credit available for donations to these programs from 50% to 70% to make these credits more competitive with other benevolent tax credits.  On the House side, the NAP and YOP tax credit language advanced out of committee attached to HB 1973, sponsored by Rep. Alex Riley (R-Springfield).  HB 1973 amends the tax credit program that benefits child advocacy organizations.  It passed out of the Ways and Means committee by a vote of 8-0 and is expected to reach the House floor soon.  Look for an Action Alert in support of this bill soon.

Circuit Breaker Bills Advance

House and Senate bills increasing the tax credit available to seniors for state property taxes paid on rental properties and homesteads also advanced this week.  These credits have been the target of cuts in years past.  Increases in home prices, property tax assessments, and rental costs, however, are helping to expose the need for this program.  HB 1428, sponsored by Rep. Mike McGirl (R-Pitosi), and SB 822, sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) would increase the upper earned income level for people to qualify as well as increase the tax credit available to seniors qualifying for the program.  Both bills were voted out of committee, and we hope they will get more traction as session unfolds.

There are two more weeks before the legislative spring break, followed by Easter. Things begin to heat up at that point as the end of session looms. 

 Hold on to your seat.

Deacon Tyler

Legislative Update

Senate Economic Development Committee Hears NAP and YOP Tax Credit Bills

This week, the Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee heard SB 1179, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester), that would increase the state tax credit available under the Neighborhood Assistance (NAP) and Youth Opportunity (YOP) Programs from 50% to 70%.  SB 1179 is the third bill addressing this issue that has received a hearing this session - no small task with over 2,500 bills filed and only a small portion getting a hearing. 

These tax credits programs are vital to Catholic Charities, as they help us to raise funds to help make our ministries sustainable.  Marygrove, our residential treatment foster care ministry, for example, relies upon these credits to raise the money needed to provide services for our residents.  While the state has increased the reimbursement rates for the daily care of the residents of Marygrove in recent years, it still isn't enough to cover our expenses.  

There are other benevolent tax credits that already offer 70% state tax credits, so the NAP and YOP credits are at a competitive disadvantage at 50%. 

With 2024 being an election year, there is lots of political theater going on in Jefferson City, particularly in the Missouri Senate where legislation is moving slowly.   There is still time left in the session, and hopefully, things will begin moving faster after Spring Break.  Stay tuned.

Deacon Tyler

Legislative Update

Update on Benefits Cliff Legislation

Last year, the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation which would allow recipients of public assistance benefits (TANF, SNAP, and child care subsidies) to continue to receive benefits on a graduated scale if they took a pay raise or promotion and had income above qualifying levels.  The point was to encourage work and help people out of poverty.  We have been in conversation with legislators and members of the Governor's cabinet this session to encourage them to follow through on this legislative effort. The Governor included money in his proposed budget to prepare state computer systems to implement the program. We have since learned, however, that the federal government agencies that administer these programs have told lawmakers that the language passed doesn't match federal requirements and that the state would have to fund the program with state general revenue. Lawmakers from both sides of the isle are working with the federal agencies, along with the Governor's administration, to find a way to make this program a reality this year.  We remain hopeful, but time is running short.  Stay tuned.

CCUSA President to Join "Civilize It" Conversation

CCUSA President and CEO, Kerry Alys Robinson, will join in a conversation about civilizing our public discourse on Wednesday, March 20th at 4 p.m. ET (3 p.m. CT).  Anyone is free to listen in on the discussion, moderated by Gloria Purvis.  You can get more information about this program that will explore our current polarized political climate and how Church teaching can help heal this divide.  More information can be found here:

Missouri General Assembly Out for Spring Break

The Missouri General Assembly will be out next week for spring break.  When they return on March 25th, there will be eight weeks of session remaining, during which time they must pass the state budget, among other things.  No update next week. Look for more information about the remaining weeks of session in the next Update on March 29th.

Deacon Tyler  

Legislative Update

Legislators Return from Spring Break

Missouri legislators returned to work this week following the legislative spring break.  After this week, there will be just seven weeks of session remaining. The House will begin debating the budget on the floor next week and will send it to the Senate for further consideration.  The Senate was more productive this week, but tensions remain between the majority Republican members and the Freedom Caucus members, who signaled this week they want their legislation to move, raising the prospect of more obstruction in the weeks to come.  Stay tuned.

NAP and YOP Tax Credits Bogged Down

Progress on the tax credits bill we have been supporting this session to increase the state tax credit available under the Neighborhood Assistance (NAP) and Youth Opportunity (YOP) Programs has slowed.  We are hoping to attach the language to other bills that are moving, but we are hearing hesitancy from lawmakers to increase these credits to 70% from 50% for fear of other benevolent credits being added to the mix, potentially sinking our language.  Once we have the language attached to a bill that is moving, we will be in touch about contacting your legislators.  Please keep this issue in your prayers.

Have a blessed Holy week and a Happy Easter, everyone!

Deacon Tyler

Legislative Update

Missouri House Completes Work on FY '25 Budget

The big news out of Jefferson City this week is that Missouri House completed its work on the FY '25 state budget, approving an appropriation of approximately $50.7B dollars.  The version the House approved is $2B less than proposed by Governor Parson and leaves largely intact a state surplus of over $6B remaining from the COVID crisis which swelled government coffers over the last several years. The House fully funded the education foundation formula as well as expansion of the Medicaid program approved by voters several years ago.  It also includes a 3.2% raise for state workers, who have been in past years some of the lowest paid state employees in the country. 

During the debate over the spending plan, Democrats offered amendments to increase funding for numerous programs, but those efforts failed largely on party-line votes.  The budget now goes to the Senate for further consideration.  Work on the budget must be finished by Friday, May 10th. Passing a balanced budget is the one Constitutionally-mandated obligation lawmakers must meet during the legislative session.  

For those interested in learning more about how much of the budget is state vs federal dollars, and where that money goes each year, you can click here to see how appropriations for FY '24 were allocated.  Not surprisingly, social services (including Medicaid) and education expenses alone make up over one half of all expenditures. 

Legislative Update

Senate Passes House Bill Defunding Planned Parenthood, Clearing the Way for Further Debate on the Budget

The big news this week is that the Senate passed HB 2634, sponsored by Rep. Cody Smith (R-Carthage), after Senate Democrats mounted a lengthy filibuster.  The bill would prohibit public funds going "to any abortion facility, or to any affiliate of such abortion facility".  

The passage of HB 2634 clears the way for the Senate to take up and pass the budget and the FRA tax bill, a critical piece of legislation that taxes hospitals, nursing homes, ambulances, and pharmacies to raise state revenue to pay for healthcare services as a way of drawing down additional federal dollars for healthcare. Re-authorizing the FRA tax is critical to ensuring a stable state budget, as it accounts for billions of dollars in the budget. 

In recent years, efforts have been made to add the "defund Planned Parenthood" language to bills re-authorizing the FRA tax, because it is a must-pass piece of legislation.  Those efforts, however, have failed.  The last time this was attempted, the legislature had to come back to Jefferson City for a special session to pass the FRA tax bill in the fall of 2021.  At that time, it was passed with a three-year extension, pushing the issue into the 2024 session for further consideration.  

Freedom Caucus members in the Senate, along with pro-life organizations, have made defunding Planned Parenthood a legislative priority in the past years, and did so again this year, asking again that this language be included in the FRA tax bill. Senate leadership saw passage of a separate bill with the "defund" language as a way to tackle the issue without putting the FRA tax bill in jeopardy.  

Over the years, courts have largely rejected language defunding Planned Parenthood in the Medicaid program, because Medicaid requires states to allow patients to choose their provider, so long as that provider isn't disqualified as a provider, or guilty of malfeasance. In support of passage of HB 2634, Missouri Right to Life submitted a memo to lawmakers this week dated April 9th stating that video evidence documents that Planned Parenthood is engaged in illegal activity in Missouri by "taking minors across state lines and undermining parental rights."

HB 2634 was amended on the Senate floor and must go back to the Missouri House for further consideration.  The Senate has until May 10th to complete work on the budget.