Representative Matthew Overcast Capitol Report

Staying Connected with the District

 

As we head into fall, I want to share an update on what has kept me busy during the legislative interim. The months between sessions give me more time here at home to meet with constituents, work alongside local leaders, and hear firsthand about the issues affecting our communities.

 

That work includes helping residents navigate state government, coordinating with locally elected officials on infrastructure improvements, and supporting applicants seeking grant funding for community projects. Some concerns call for immediate assistance, while others help shape the legislation I will work on when we return to Jefferson City.

 

The interim also means catching up with my family and tackling five months of household and farm projects that were neglected while I was in Jefferson City. My wife has been patient, but apparently the honey do list does not expire when the legislature adjourns. There is also no opportunity to offer or debate amendments.

 

Last week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with fellow legislators and discuss policy solutions involving Veterans and mental health. As an Air Force Veteran, these issues are personal to me. The opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other legislators helps inform my work for the upcoming legislative session as we consider ways to address barriers to care and evaluate treatment options.

 

I have also been asked to be prepared to travel to Washington to meet with Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins about alpha-gal syndrome and take part in a special announcement about federal efforts to address it. Dates have not yet been set, but I will share more as plans develop. This issue affects my own family, many others in our communities, and thousands of people across Missouri. My focus remains on advancing research, education, awareness, and practical support for affected families through continued collaboration across health care, public health, and agriculture.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state representative. Please continue reaching out with your questions, concerns, and ideas. Your input helps shape my work throughout the year, not just when the legislature is in session

Federal Appeals Court Rules for 2025 Congressional Map

 

Missouri's congressional redistricting dispute is headed back toward the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal appeals court ruled that the state should use the congressional districts approved by lawmakers in 2025 for the November election.

 

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Sept. 21 that Missouri should use the same congressional districts in the general election that were used during the August primary. The court concluded that changing district boundaries between the primary and general election would create constitutional equal-protection concerns for voters.

 

The decision conflicts with an earlier Missouri Supreme Court ruling that found a voter referendum challenging the 2025 map suspended the new districts, requiring the state to conduct the November election using the congressional map adopted in 2022.

 

However, the federal appeals court delayed its order until Sept. 28 to allow opponents of the 2025 map time to seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. That means Missouri election officials are continuing to use the 2022 congressional districts for now. Military and overseas ballots have already been sent, and absentee voting began Sept. 22.

 

People Not Politicians, the group behind the referendum challenging the 2025 congressional map, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block the federal appeals court ruling and keep the 2022 districts in place for the November election.

 

The legal fight has created significant challenges for local election officials, but for now, the 2022 congressional map remains in use while the U.S. Supreme Court considers the latest request.

 

State Board Approves A–F School Grading Framework, Delays Public Release

 

The Missouri State Board of Education has approved a framework for assigning A–F grades to public schools and districts, but the grades will not be released publicly until at least mid-November as education officials continue working with school administrators on the new system.

 

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will now develop technical documentation and run a simulation of the grading system. Schools and districts will be able to review the results and provide additional feedback before grades are released to the public. The State Board could make additional changes if problems are identified during that process.

 

The revised timeline follows concerns raised by school administrators about the methodology used to calculate grades and whether districts would have sufficient opportunity to review their results before they became public. DESE has also delayed implementation of a proposed literacy measure while concerns with that component are addressed.

 

The A–F grading system was directed by an executive order issued by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January. Schools and districts will receive an overall grade based on a 100-point scale using measures including academic achievement and student growth. High school grades will also incorporate graduation rates and measures of college and career readiness.

 

The new grade cards will supplement Missouri's existing school accountability system rather than replace it.

 

Missouri Establishes New Safeguards for License Plate Reader Data

 

Missouri has established new restrictions on how law enforcement agencies can use and retain information collected by automated license plate readers, while state leaders are calling for the General Assembly to make those protections permanent in state law.

 

Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-18 on Sept. 16, establishing minimum standards for state agencies and state-funded local law enforcement agencies that use automated license plate reader technology. The systems automatically photograph license plates and collect vehicle information as motorists travel on public roads.

 

Under the order, most license plate and vehicle images must be permanently deleted within 30 days. Information may be kept longer when it is directly connected to an active criminal investigation, a life-safety emergency such as a missing-person case, or when required by a court order.

 

The order also limits use of the systems to criminal justice and lifesaving purposes, requires agencies to maintain records identifying who conducts searches and why, prohibits vendors from selling or commercializing Missouri-generated data, and prohibits integrating facial-recognition technology with license plate reader systems.

 

Automated license plate readers have become increasingly common tools for locating stolen vehicles, finding missing or endangered people and developing leads in criminal investigations. At the same time, the collection of vehicle-location information has raised questions about privacy, data retention and potential misuse.

 

House Speaker Jon Patterson said the General Assembly should build on the executive order by establishing permanent protections in state law that preserve legitimate law enforcement uses while setting limits on how information collected from law-abiding Missourians can be retained, shared or used.

 

The executive order directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety to work with law enforcement organizations and other state officials on proposed legislation establishing permanent safeguards, auditing requirements and penalties for misuse.

 

Those proposals could come before lawmakers during the 2027 legislative session.

 

If you ever have, any questions or concerns feel free to call me at 573-751-2042 or email me at Matthew.Overcast@house.mo.gov.  Our office is always here for you.