Legislative Update 3/31/24
Missouri Equity Education Partnership-Action mobilizes those who support diversity, equity, and inclusion for ALL! Please see the calls to action outlined below and join us in bending the arc towards equity ensuring Missouri schools are a safe, welcoming space where folks can learn all things
We are starting a very unpredictable phase of the legislative session, and will do our best to stay on top of action and post calls to action as things change. If you have not joined our companion organization, please join Missouri Equity Education Partnership and receive alerts via email. You can also follow us on Facebook.
We understand that this can be exhausting and seem overwhelming, and truly appreciate everyone who has taken action this session, and in past sessions. Every email, every piece of written testimony, every share of the calls to action and updates moves the needle in some small way. Many small pushes over time is a force , though. Over the next several weeks, let’s keep pushing to move the needle.
It really does make a difference.
HOUSEKEEPING NOTES
The Legislature will not convene on Monday, April 1 (no fooling!); it’s Easter Break.
Please note some committees have not scheduled hearings yet.
THIS WEEK’S CALLS TO ACTION
House Special Committee on Education Reform will vote on SB 727 (Koenig) , the education omnibus, which expands charters to Boone County and moves public money to non-public schools with little accountability. Click the button below for talking points. We oppose this bill. Deadline is Tues 4/2/24, 9am
House Elections and Elected Officials will vote on SJR 74 (Coleman) changing the initiative petition process by adding a concurrent majority of 5 of 8 congressional district majorities for signature gathering. We oppose this bill. Deadline is Tues 4/2/24, 11am
HB 2184 (Haffner), an assessment/accreditation bill, has been returned in hopes that a sub can combine it with HB 1851 (P. Brown) much better bill. We have called for testimony before this, but we get another chance to advocate for including more of Brown’s bill into this new version: growth model through the year, reliance on testing other than MAP. There will likely be a sub offered. The links above take you to the original bill texts
HB 1518 (Hudson) would allow organizations to discriminate based on beliefs and is poised for a Senate hearing. Students should feel safe on college and university campuses across the state and not have to worry about hate groups being able to legally form on campus. Share your story on any one of these topics:
Why student clubs and student activities are meaningful to you.
How clubs and activities have helped you develop leadership skills.
The safety you feel accessing student activities without the fear of discrimination.
Stories that share what it is like to be a higher education student in Missouri right now.
