Representative Matthew Overcast Capitol Report

Greetings Friends of the 155th District!

 

I hope everyone enjoyed a joyful and restful Easter weekend! With just four weeks remaining in the legislative session, the pace here at the Capitol has noticeably accelerated. Days have grown longer, coffee pots are running constantly, and mornings seem to arrive earlier each week. We continue to work diligently, advancing critical legislation for our community and state.

 

This past week included important meetings in both the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and the Emerging Issues Committee. We also logged extensive hours on the House floor, ensuring our legislative priorities move toward completion before the session wraps up.

 

I was pleased to host members from Stone County 911 in our office this week. It was great to discuss their important work and ongoing needs in our community.

 

A significant achievement this week was the passage of essential pro-life legislation. House Joint Resolution 73, upon voter approval, would amend Missouri’s Constitution by repealing provisions of Amendment 3 and introducing stronger language to better protect women and children.

 

Key aspects of HJR 73 include:

- Reinstating health and safety inspections at abortion facilities.

- Restoring parental consent requirements for minors seeking medical procedures.

- Mandating that physicians performing abortions have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

- Ensuring medical access for emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages.

- Strengthening protections against medical malpractice.

- Providing clarity by defining previously vague or disputed terms.

 

HJR 73 also addresses important exceptions for rape, incest, medical emergencies, and fetal anomalies—reflecting the balanced protections many Missourians support.

 

I am honored to have supported this critical legislation, which now moves to the Senate. Upon Senate passage, Missourians will have the opportunity to vote on this amendment in 2026.

 

Additionally, this week, we allocated remaining ARPA funds for key state projects and advanced legislation supporting election security, tax relief, economic development, and the prevention of child and animal abuse.

 

We also perfected House Bill 952 on the House floor—a key piece of legislation that works hand-in-hand with bills I filed earlier this session, including HB 68, HB 69, and HB 1068. Together, these proposals are designed to strengthen Missouri’s economic foundation by creating a business-friendly environment that encourages investment, innovation, and job creation. By fostering economic opportunity, we’re helping Missouri families thrive and securing a prosperous future for our state.

 

Looking ahead, we are hopeful that the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee will vote on HB 986 in the coming days. This important legislation would require medical providers to report diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed cases of Alpha-Gal Syndrome to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS). By collecting reliable data, we can make informed, evidence-based policy decisions to better serve Missourians impacted by this emerging public health concern. HB 986 will help guide the allocation of resources for research, prevention, and treatment strategies—ensuring Missouri is proactive in addressing this growing issue.

 

As always, it is an honor to serve as your State Representative. Please feel free to contact my office with any questions or concerns.

 

Strengthening Fairness and Integrity in Missouri’s Ballot Initiative Process

 

SB 22 has been truly agreed to and finally passed by the Missouri General Assembly to bring clarity, fairness, and efficiency to the process surrounding summary statements for statewide ballot measures. The legislation requires that all legal challenges to these summary statements be filed in the Cole County Circuit Court no later than the 22nd Tuesday prior to the general election. This centralized approach promotes consistency and avoids the confusion of forum shopping. If a court finds a summary statement to be insufficient or unfair, it can require the Secretary of State to revise it up to three times. If all revised versions are still deemed inadequate, the court is empowered to draft a fair summary statement itself. For ballot measures placed on the ballot through special elections or those called by the Governor, courts are directed to expedite the process to ensure a timely resolution before ballots are printed and may shorten time frames accordingly.

 

Additionally, the bill extends the deadline for final legal rulings on ballot title challenges from 56 to 70 days prior to the election, allowing courts more time to carefully consider cases. It also doubles the word limit for ballot summaries prepared by the General Assembly from 50 to 100 words, offering greater flexibility to provide voters with more informative summaries. To protect citizen petitioners, the bill ensures that signature gathering may begin once the Secretary of State certifies the official ballot title, even if a legal challenge is pending. If the title changes due to court action, the signatures already collected remain valid so long as they were otherwise legally gathered. Lastly, the bill affirms the Attorney General’s authority to appeal preliminary injunctions that prevent the state from enforcing its constitution or laws. For injunctions already in place before August 28, 2025, the Attorney General must file an appeal by September 12, 2025.

 

This legislation is necessary to preserve the integrity of Missouri’s ballot initiative process by ensuring voters receive clear and impartial summaries, protecting the constitutional rights of citizens engaged in petition efforts, and affirming the state’s ability to defend its laws from judicial overreach. It’s about delivering a process that is transparent, predictable, and ultimately accountable to Missouri voters.

Protecting Life and Safeguarding Children

 

This week, the Missouri House advanced HJR 73, a proposed constitutional amendment that aims to clearly define the state’s stance on reproductive health care, abortion, and gender transition treatments for minors. If approved by voters, this amendment would prohibit abortions except in cases of medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest. In those latter cases, abortion would only be permitted up to 12 weeks gestational age. It would also ban the use of public funds to pay for abortions and prohibit the use of surgeries, hormones, or drugs to assist a child with a gender transition.

 

The proposal clarifies that a woman’s right to reproductive freedom includes access to care during miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and other medical emergencies. It also specifies legal jurisdiction for challenges to the amendment and holds medical professionals liable for damages—and subject to license suspension or revocation—if they intentionally or negligently violate the amendment’s provisions. The General Assembly would retain authority to enact laws to carry out and enforce these provisions.

 

Supporters argue the amendment is necessary to address gaps and ambiguity in current law. They claim prior votes on related issues were shaped by misleading information and heavy influence from out-of-state interests, leaving voters unaware of the full implications—including the possibility of abortions based on a child’s race, sex, or Down syndrome diagnosis. To them, the amendment is about restoring ethical medical standards and protecting Missouri’s most vulnerable populations.

 

Opponents contend that the people of Missouri have already voted on this issue, and that revisiting it is both unnecessary and dismissive of voters' understanding. They argue that abortion is fundamentally a health care procedure and that placing a 12-week limit on victims of rape or incest fails to account for the trauma, delay in reporting, and difficulty accessing appropriate care. 

 

With the passage of HJR 73, it now heads to the Missouri Senate for consideration. If passed by the Missouri General Assembly, the proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted to the people for a vote at either the next statewide general election in November 2026, or earlier if the governor calls a special election.

 

Honoring Heroes and Leaders with Highway and Bridge Designations

 

The Missouri House passed HB 37 with strong bipartisan support to honor veterans, public servants, and local leaders by naming more than two dozen roads, highways, and bridges across the state. The bill began with the intent of designating the bridge on State Highway WW over the railroad in Poplar Bluff as the “Senator Bill Foster Bridge,” recognizing Foster’s longtime service to the Butler County community, but with additions from other members of the House, the legislation now recognizes several individuals who served Missouri with distinction—from fallen military members like PFC LeLand S. Deeds and LCPL Keo Joe Keshner to civic figures like Mayor Stan Salva and coach Cotton Fitzsimmons. The bill also renames the Heart of America Bridge in Kansas City as the “Sam Graves Heart of America Bridge” and corrects a signage error to properly honor Corporal Stephen Lee Irvin. Most signage costs will be covered by the Missouri Department of Transportation or through private donations. HB 37 ensures these legacies are remembered and celebrated throughout the state.

 

Taxpayer Protections and Filing Fairness

 

The Missouri House passed HB 828 to make the tax system fairer and more transparent. The bill aligns Missouri’s tax filing deadline with any federal changes, reducing confusion during emergencies. It also protects taxpayers from penalties and interest if they reasonably relied on tax credits later denied due to lack of state funds—so long as they pay the balance within 60 days. This reform ensures taxpayers aren’t punished for acting in good faith and encourages continued participation in programs that benefit Missouri’s communities.

 

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.