Chaz Mayes

🚨 MISSOURI OMNIBUS ALERT 🚨 HB 2097 / HB 1905 started as a simple bill with the title: “Changes a pilot agricultural education program in elementary schools to a statewide program.” That was the original subject. Agricultural education. That’s it. (house.mo.gov) Now look what has been stuffed into the Senate Substitute: • Early childhood education and child care tax funds • MOScholars / Empowerment Scholarship Account changes • DESE control over scholarship administration • Student testing and data collection • Gifted education screening mandates • Career and technical student organizations • School board nepotism provisions • Workforce development and WIOA language • University board governance changes • Residential camp background checks • Unemployment eligibility / work search provisions • School activities association eligibility rules • A new school facilities commission • A new school facilities partnership fund • Property tax / school facilities debt relief language • New agency rulemaking and administrative powers This is exactly what the Missouri Constitution’s single-subject and clear-title protections are supposed to prevent. Lawmakers take a small bill with a clean title, load it up with dozens of unrelated or loosely related provisions, slap the word “education” on it, and force everyone into one up-or-down vote. That is not transparent government. That is not honest legislating. That is unconstitutional omnibus lawmaking. And sadly, it will likely pass anyway — because too many in Jefferson City have learned that the Constitution only matters when someone forces them to obey it. Missourians deserve clean bills. Missourians deserve clear titles. Missourians deserve separate votes on separate subjects. This bill was 3 pages long and the sub brought to the floor is 90 pages and growing! #moleg