2014 Legislative Recap in Missouri

 

2014 Legislative Recap

 

The Missouri General Assembly wrapped up its 2014 legislative session today at 6:00 pm.  The following is a recap of the legislation we worked on this year and the final status of each bill.  Because of your hard work we were able to stop several bills that would have moved Missouri backwards.  Thank you to everyone who took part in this process by participating in Humane Lobby Day and taking action through our action alerts.  We couldn’t do it without you!

 

HJR 55 & 59 and SJR 28- These overreaching and unnecessary bills are the “Right to Hunt” bills that would change our constitution to take power away from the Conservation Commission to regulate hunting and also prohibits ballot measures by the people of Missouri on wildlife and hunting issues.  Final status: FAILED!

 

HB 1391- The “Right to Rodeo” bill is another unnecessary and overreaching piece of legislation that would protect rodeo practices, no matter how cruel and abusive.  Final status: FAILED!

 

SB 727- A bill filed by Senator Maria Chappelle Nadal that would eliminate the state sales tax on goods sold at farmers markets.  This bill promotes humane, sustainable farming, and helps create a level playing field for farmers who are good stewards of the land and animals.  Final status:passed!

 

HB 1727- This bill would have prohibited the Department of Natural Resources from denying waste water permits based on the species of animal being processed.  It was a pro-horse slaughter bill filed in direct response to DNR denying Rains Natural Meats a permit to slaughter horses last year.  Final status: Though the sponsor of the bill attempted to amend this language on to several other bills, this bill FAILED!

 

HB 1728- This bill, filed by Representative Warren Love, would make it more difficult for county health boards to regulate Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs, or factory farms).  Final status: Love amended this language on to several bills but in the end, this bill FAILED!

 

HB 2094- This bill would have exempted government records that include information on animal health from Missouri’s Sunshine Law.  This bill was a threat to public health, and also would have prevented the public from seeing inspection records on commercial dog breeding facilities. Final status: FAILED!

 

HB 2157- This bill made detrimental changes to Missouri’s animal cruelty laws and would have left animals in the hands of their abusers.  Final status:FAILED!

 

SB 506- Senate Bill 506 was the only agriculture omnibus bill that passed in 2014.  This bill has language that hurts family farmers, including a provision that makes it easier for our farmland to be sold to foreign corporations, and a provision that could implement a new tax on cattle.  It also moves the classification of Missouri’s captive deer from the Department of Conservation to the Department of Agriculture, something both departments strongly opposed.  This bill passed 26-0 in the Senate, and with 107 “yes” votes in the House.  The bill will now go to Governor Nixon, and he has the ability to veto the bill.  A veto override will take 109 votes in the House.  It’s very disappointing that this bill passed, but we are pleased that we were able to remove HB 1727, HB 1728, and HB 2094 from the bill before it made its way through.  Final status: passed.