Representative Matthew Overcast Capitol Report

Greetings Friends of the 155th District!

 

As we enter the final three weeks of the 2025 legislative session, activity in Jefferson City is reaching a fever pitch. Lawmakers are working diligently to address key issues impacting Missourians, while the Senate takes up the state operating budget recently passed by the House. With the constitutional deadline of May 10th fast approaching, both chambers are focused on finalizing a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year.

 

This time of session also marks the period when legislators begin seeking viable bills—commonly referred to as “vehicles”—to which they can attach their own legislative priorities in hopes of seeing them cross the finish line before adjournment.

 

My office had the pleasure of welcoming Karen Rippee, a Nurse Practitioner from Blue Eye, to the Capitol this week. She joined me as part of the Missouri Nurses Association’s advocacy day, where I was honored to speak to about 50 other nurses about HB 763 and supporting our healthcare professionals. I filed House Bill 763 this session, which focuses on easing the transition to practice requirements for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). The goal of HB 763 is to increase access to healthcare in rural areas like ours, where growing provider shortages have created worsening healthcare deserts. While the bill did not receive a hearing this session, I remain committed to advancing this critical issue next year to help ensure rural Missourians can access the care they deserve.

 

Modernizing County Official Compensation and Responsibilities

 

The Missouri General Assembly has truly agreed to and passed SB 1, a measure aimed at updating and clarifying compensation and administrative responsibilities for various county officials across the state. This legislation is especially important for Missouri's non-charter counties, which often face challenges in attracting and retaining qualified public servants due to outdated or inflexible salary structures. By allowing these counties—regardless of class designation—to adjust salaries for coroners, sheriffs, auditors, and public administrators under certain conditions, SB 1 gives local governments more flexibility to meet their unique needs.

 

The bill also modernizes several statutory provisions. It allows the salary commission in third-class counties to adjust salary schedules for officials and gives county auditors in first-class counties expanded authority to examine claims involving fiduciary responsibilities. In Boone County, the sheriff’s compensation structure is being adjusted to reflect local circumstances, and coroners temporarily filling a sheriff vacancy will now be compensated accordingly. For newly elected public administrators starting in 2024 and beyond, the bill solidifies a consistent method for determining compensation based on assessed property valuations, ensuring long-term stability and fairness. These changes are designed to support the effective operation of county governments, promote transparency, and help ensure that residents receive quality public service from their local officials.

 

Meanwhile, several other bills are nearing the finish line but still require both chambers to resolve their differences. These measures now move to conference committees, where House and Senate negotiators will work to reconcile their versions and reach a compromise that can pass both chambers. Here’s a look at some of those bills:

 

Protecting Kids' Rights and Prioritizing Their Needs

 

Missouri lawmakers have passed a major reform aimed at improving the treatment and well-being of children in state custody. HB 737 & 486 targets several long-standing issues in the state’s child welfare system, with a focus on protecting foster children's financial benefits, ensuring thoughtful placement decisions, and clarifying what qualifies as child neglect.

 

At the heart of the bill is a new policy that stops the state from taking federal benefits meant for foster children. About 1,200 Missouri children in foster care currently qualify for Social Security, Veterans Affairs, or railroad retirement benefits, often because of a parent's death or disability. Until now, the state has used those funds—often $900 or more per month—to cover the cost of foster care. This legislation ensures that those benefits will now be preserved for the child’s unmet needs or saved for their future, like tuition, job training, or essential personal expenses. Supporters of the bill say it’s a step toward giving foster kids the same financial dignity and opportunity as any other child.

 

The bill also addresses two other key areas. First, it clarifies that age-appropriate independence, such as walking to school or staying home briefly, isn’t child neglect, which protects parents from unfair scrutiny. Additionally, it requires the Children’s Division to consider a child’s religious background in placement decisions, aligning with current court practices and respecting the child’s cultural identity during foster care transitions.

 

Additional amendments will expand support services and legal protections. The bill increases tax credits for youth program donations to boost violence prevention efforts and creates a new care program for high-needs youth in state custody. It requires case workers to inform families of their rights during abuse investigations and mandates that older children receive direct legal representation in court. The law raises the minimum marriage age to 18, strengthens civil recourse for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and requires law enforcement to enforce custody orders. Finally, it establishes a new alert system to help locate missing or abducted African American youth while prohibiting discrimination in public safety coordination.

 

Together, these reforms mark a significant shift in how Missouri supports and protects children in foster care—prioritizing their dignity, autonomy, and long-term well-being. Following the work of a conference committee to compromise on language between the two chambers, the House passed the new language, and the legislation now simply needs approval from the Senate to head to the desk of Governor Mike Kehoe. 

 

Improving Local Government Ordinance Restrictions on Rental Property

 

Another bill heading to conference between the House and Senate is HBs 595 & 343, which deals with local government ordinances related to rental property. The bill would limit the ability of counties and cities to impose certain regulations on landlords. Specifically, it would prevent local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants based on their source of income—such as housing vouchers or other forms of aid—and would prohibit ordinances that limit how landlords screen applicants, such as checking credit, criminal history, or past evictions. It also blocks local rules that cap security deposits or mandate a tenant’s right of first refusal.

 

The bill does, however, allow cities and counties to enter into voluntary agreements with private property owners regarding rent levels for subsidized housing. Lawmakers from both chambers will now meet in conference to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions before the bill can move forward

 

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.