To the Constituents of the 125th District,

After a shortened week last week because of the snow storm, we were back at it this week in full force! It is always great when people from the district come to the Capitol and come by to see you. This week it was an honor to have Kraysen Leonard, from Eldorado Springs, a current Missouri FFA state officer in the Capitol, along with the whole team. They are a great bunch of young adults, serving in a great organization.

House approves Initiative Petition Reform (HJR 79)

The Missouri House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow voters to decide if the current threshold to change the state constitution is too low. If approved by both chambers and voters, HJR 79 would modify the requirements for initiative petitions to change the state constitution.

“Missouri is currently one of only 18 states that allow initiative petition to change their constitution. We have one of the easiest processes in the country for amending our constitution. Since the last constitution was written in 1945, our constitution has been amended more than 60 times,” said the bill’s sponsor, who noted the United States Constitution has been amended only 17 times since 1791.

Currently in Missouri, a proposed constitutional change requires the support of a majority of voters to be approved. Under HJR 79, a constitutional amendment would need the approval of a two-thirds majority for passage.

Kraysen Leonard receiving a Resolution for her service as Missouri FFA State Vice President

Supplemental Budget Bill Receives House Approval (HB 3014)

The House has sent a supplement spending plan to the Senate that will provide vital funding for K-12 schools and the state’s Medicaid program, as well as a statewide pay plan increase. HB 3014 authorizes nearly $4.6 billion in funding to be utilized in the current fiscal year that ends in June.

The bill includes more than $2.8 billion in funding for K-12 schools in Missouri. That total includes nearly $1.8 billion in Elementary and Secondary Education Relief funds that are allocated to local education agencies. With this, Missouri’s school districts are fully funded. The bill also includes more than $444 million for the Office of Childhood for stabilization services. Additionally, the plan allocates $75 million for the Close the Gap Grant Program.

HB 3014 also includes more than $1.5 billion in funding for the state’s MO HealthNet program. The funds are necessary to avoid a funding shortfall in the program due to the increased Medicaid population.

Additionally, the bill allocates more than $91 million for a pay increase for all state employees. During public hearings in the Budget Committee, members learned state jobs have a 26% turnover rate, and a more than 55% turnover rate in jobs that pay less than $30,000 annually.

The plan approved by the House would ensure that state employees working in direct care agencies would receive either a 5.5% pay raise, or an increase to an hourly wage of $15 per hour, whichever is greater. Employees in other state agencies would receive a 5.5% pay raise or an increase to a $12 per hour wage, whichever is greater.

I am honored to serve as your Representative in the Missouri House. If at any time, you have questions, concerns or ideas regarding state government, please feel free to contact me at 573-751-4065 or Jim.Kalberloh@house.mo.gov.

State Representative Jim Kalberloh