Voting Rights, Health Care, Education, Social Justice & Climate Voting Rights Bill #: HJR 104, HJR 122, HJR 149 LWVMO SUPPORTS these bills Short Description: This amendment would remove the rule that a serving member of the General Assembly can serve no more than eight years in one house. It would also prohibit any member from serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives for more than three terms and as President Pro Tem of the Senate for more than two terms. Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17, at 8:00 AM in the Elections Committee. Talking points: Elections serve as a very effective form of term limits, and rigid laws prevent constituents from retaining effective representativesBy relaxing limits, lawmakers can build the institutional knowledge necessary to resist outside influence from unelected lobbyists and bureaucrats Link to the summary of the bill: HJR 104, HJR 122, HJR 149 Call to action: Submit testimony to SUPPORT HJR 104, HJR 122, and HJR 149 HERE. Make sure to mark “in Support of” under reason in the testimony form. LMV Position: In 1991, the League announced its opposition to term limits for members of the US Congress because such limits would adversely affect the accountability, representativeness, and effective performance of Congress and, by decreasing the power of Congress, upset the balance of power between Congress and an already powerful presidency. The 1992 Convention reaffirmed opposition to term limits and authorized state and local Leagues to use national positions to take action on term limits for state and local offices. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 73) Bill #: HJR 121 FOR INFORMATION ONLY Short Description: Upon voter approval, beginning with the 2030 decennial census, this resolution changes the number of members in the Missouri House of Representatives from 163 to 103. Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17, at 8:00 AM in the Elections Committee. Talking points: Fewer delegates in house could limit voter choice and equitable representation Redistricting should be done by an independent commission to include individuals and public interest groups rather than members of the legislative bodyTerm limits and limits to terms of the House speaker and Senate president would be better addressed without a constitutional amendment Link to the summary of the bill: HJR 121 Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HJR 121 HERE. Make sure to mark “In Opposition to” under reason in the testimony form. LWV Position: Responsibility for redistricting preferably should be vested in an independent commission that reflects the diversity of the unit of government, including citizens at large, representatives of public interest groups, and members of minority groups, with full disclosure throughout the process. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 21-22) The League of Women Voters of Missouri believes…the House should be reduced to 100-125 members. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 20) Health Care Bill #: HCS HJR 154 LWVMO OPPOSES Short Description: Amendment for work requirements for Mo HealthNet. Status of the Bill: This bill was taken up for a third reading in the Fiscal Review Committee on Monday, February 16, at 2:00 PM. Talking points: Those who can't work, don't earn enough, or where no jobs are available, should have the right to income and/or services to meet basic needsThis bill reduces the number of people on Medicaid by making the work requirements so onerous that people give upThe bureaucratic paperwork involved is a deterrent to those trying to comply. Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HJR 154 Call to action: Contact your individual legislator to tell them to OPPOSE this bill. Find your representatives here. LWV Position: The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that one of the goals of social policy in the United States should be to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families and that the most-effective social programs are those designed to prevent or reduce poverty. Persons who are unable to work, whose earnings are inadequate, or for whom jobs are not available have the right to an income and/or services sufficient to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and access to health care. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 170-171) Education Bill #: HB 2061 LWVMO neither opposes nor supports FOR INFORMATION ONLY Short Description: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions. Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Monday, February 16, at 2:00 PM in the Fiscal Review Committee. Link to the summary of the bill: HB 2061 LWV Position: Supports equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p.57) Social Justice Bill #: HB 2047. HB 2747 LWVMO SUPPORTS Short Description: These bills establish an automatic record-clearing or expungement process for closing records pertaining to a “clean slate eligible offense”, which is an offense not excluded from the eligibility for expungement. Status of the Bill: Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Economic Development Committee on Tuesday, February 17, at 8:00 AM. Talking points: Expungement of eligible charges with certain conditions Expungement of such records will help with finding employment and subsidize/low-income housing in particular This bill will better enable reentry to better-paying jobs and therefore contribute to a better MO economy Link to the summary of the bill: HB2047, HB2747 Call to action: Email committee members and tell them you SUPPORT these bills. Members of the Economic Development Committee can be found HERE. Click on the representative’s picture, and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information. LWV Position: The League of Women Voters supports a criminal justice system that is just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedures, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry. (LWVUS Impact on Issues, p. 137) Climate and Environment Bill #: HB 1873 LWVMO OPPOSES Short Description: Requires the Air Conservation Commission to terminate by January 1, 2028, the operation of any motor vehicle emissions inspection program established under the Air Quality Attainment Act. Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Tuesday, February 17, at 4:30 PM in the Transportation Committee. Talking points: Sponsor of the bill says it's for financial reasons without consideration of environmental impactThe League promotes protection of air quality for MissouriansMotor vehicle emissions are a significant source of air pollution Link to the summary of the bill: HB 1873 Call to action: Submit testimony to OPPOSE HB1873 HERE. Make sure to mark “in Opposition to” under reason in the testimony form. LWV Position: The League supports measures to reduce vehicular pollution, including inspection and maintenance of emission controls, changes in engine design and fuel types, and development of more energy-efficient transportation systems. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 110) Episode Resources Voting Rights League of Women Voters Denounces House Passage of Anti-Voter SAVE America Act EducationLinks to further reading: Combat Antisemitism.org Human Rights and other civil society groups urge U.N to respect Human Rights. Upcoming Event:The next JEDI Book Club will discuss the book The Cradle of Citizenship: How Schools Can Help Save Our Democracy by James Traub on February 22, 2026 at 4 p.m. Veteran journalist James Traub set out during the 2023–24 school year to visit schools in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, and Texas to see how well they are doing in preparing the next generation of citizens. His book critiques the failure of American civics education and offers a roadmap for improvement, arguing that schools are crucial for democracy but are failing due to political polarization and a lack of focus on deep knowledge. Click here to register for this online event. League Resources League of Women Voters of Missouri There is a Local League near you. Get involved or join today to help protect democracy. Register to Vote/check voter registration and more at: Vote411.org Track Missouri Bills: www.senate.mo.gov | www.house.mo.gov The League of Women Voters envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. We believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy. Want to be a guest on the podcast or have questions? Email lwvmopodcast@gmail.com
