(Much of this information is derived and condensed from the 2023 End of Session Report from our amazing lobbying team at Winton Policy Group.)

Hello social workers! I wanted to give you a thorough breakdown of some of the most important actions relevant to social workers. Please know that none of our successes are possible without our members! Your membership supports all of our efforts. Your outreach matters as well. I encourage you to read over this summary. Reach out with any questions!

First, the Social Work Compact did pass on two separate bills. These are currently on the Governor’s desk awaiting his response.

It has been a very busy legislative session—but in the end, not as much got done as one might have expected. This session only 43 non-budget bills passed, which is less than any session in the past 30 years, except for 2020.

The 2023 legislative session had new leadership in both Chambers. The former “conservative caucus” held the floor for long periods during the final week and halted the passage of numerous bills that were only one vote away. Many things listed as “high priorities” for the majority for this session did not happen, such as education reform, initiative petition changes, curtailing foreign land ownership, and legalizing sports betting.

However, several packages passed that addressed healthcare, criminal justice, and workforce development. Two bills strongly and vocally opposed by NASW-MO impacting transgender youth did pass, though these bills were changed from their original forms.

NASW-MO had important successes this session. We worked strongly with coalition partners in both opposing and supporting bills of importance to the social work profession.:

NASW-MO opposed the following bills which DID NOT PASS:

• Do No Harm: SB 410, sponsored by Senator Andrew Koenig, and HB 489, sponsored by Representative Ben Baker, would create the “Do No Harm Act” to curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in healthcare training programs and licensure requirements. NASW-MO opposed these bills as they would have threatened the accreditation of Missouri’s colleges of social work and violated our State Committee’s licensure requirements.
• Don’t Say Gay: Senator Mike Moon proposed legislation, termed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by opponents, that would create a chilling effect on gender identity discussions in school. SB 134 would require school officials or contracted personnel to inform a student’s parent if they questioned their gender identity or requested to use alternate pronouns. NASW-MO was cited as opposing this bill noting that it threatened child safety and violated the safe and effective practice of mental health in schools.

NASW-MO supported the following issues/bills which DID PASS :

• Social Work Licensure Compact: Under the Compact, eligible social workers will be able to apply for a multi-state license authorizing them to practice in compact member states. Missouri is the first state to pass the compact. It will become effective once the language is enacted in seven states. The Social Work Licensure Compact passed on SB 70 and SB 157.
• Postpartum Medicaid Extension: SB 45, sponsored by Senator Elaine Gannon, and SB 106, sponsored by Senator Lauren Arthur, passed with language extending postpartum Medicaid benefits from 60 days to 12 months. This was a top NASW-MO priority. It is estimated this will impact approximately 4,500 women who receive pregnancy-related Medicaid benefits but are not eligible for ongoing coverage under the Expansion population. When SB 45 originally passed the Senate, far-right members added language prohibiting extended benefits for women who had an abortion. This was stripped off in the House and is not in the passed version.
• Transitional Benefits: This year, progress was made to address the well-known to social workers “cliff effect” where individuals lose the entirety of their benefit from a public assistance program if their income increases over the allowable limit. SB 45 and SB 106 include transitional benefits language championed by Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Representative Alex Riley. The final version directs the Department of Social Services to develop a transitional benefits program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), subject to appropriations and approval. The programs would phase down benefits for individuals up to 200% Federal Poverty Level. Subject to appropriations, the bill expands Missouri’s transitional childcare program from a pilot to a statewide program that allows individuals up to 200% FPL to get benefits on a sliding scale without first needing to be eligible for traditional childcare subsidies.

There were things we could not accomplish in this current climate. Please note that some of these changed from their initial forms into more palatable, or less oppressive, bills. This is not true of all of them.:

NASW-MO opposed the following bills which DID PASS:

• Gender Affirming Care: After a story broke in February with allegations from a former transgender care center employee, there was increased focus and effort to restrict gender affirming care for minors. Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued emergency rules impacting care for both transgender children and adults, which were challenged in court and have since been withdrawn . Later in session, the Governor said he would call a special session on the issue if not addressed. It was in this context that the Legislature debated SB 49 , sponsored by Senator Moon. The final version, which is on Governor Parson’s desk:
  • Prohibits gender reassignment surgeries for minors.
  • Institutes a four-year prohibition on providing minors puberty blockers or hormone therapy, though youth on treatment before August 28 are permitted to continue.
  • Includes stringent medical malpractice language for the provision of gender affirming care, which will likely make it difficult for providers to deliver these services.
• Transgender Youth Athletes: Restrictions on transgender youth’s participation in school sports had broad conservative support before session, and sweeping language was approved. SB 39, sponsored by Senator Holly Thompson Rehder, requires both public and private school students to only participate in sports teams designated for the gender they were assigned at birth. This applies to K-12 schools as well as institutions of higher education. A school in violation would be ineligible for state funds, and there is a cause of action for individuals who argue they were deprived of athletic opportunity due to a violation.
• Please note: Many provisions of both of these bills will expire in 2027 unless renewed by the General Assembly. Please read these bills for clarification.

NASW-MO still sees several of these as potential goals for upcoming sessions. Some of these were close at times or were filed on multiple bills.:

NASW-MO supported the following issues/bills which DID NOT PASS:

• Childcare Tax Credits (HB 870).
• CROWN Act – Legislation prohibiting hair discrimination in educational settings passed committee in the House and Senate but ultimately did not pass.
• Homeless Youth – (SB 47) allows homeless youth to receive a state ID at no charge.
• Syringe Access – Provides clear legal authority for syringe access programs to operate. This legislation was close to passage in prior years. This year, a greater focus was placed on fentanyl test strips, which did pass (which NASW-MO did publicly support!), and syringe access did not move far.
• Diaper and Period Products – Several bills attempted to exempt diapers and period products from sales tax. Costs proved challenging, with estimated costs up to $42 million in state funds and $57 million in local funds. Despite the language being attached to multiple bills, it didn’t pass.

Thank you for all of your support of NASW.