MoLeg Update: The Second Half of Session Has Begun!
Lawmakers have returned from spring break! Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri is tracking dozens of bills that impact Missourians’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, and other bills impacting Planned Parenthood patients. Lawmakers may take action on several of these bills in the coming week, including three positive pieces of legislation with bipartisan support:
Expanding access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC): HB 1499 would increase access to LARC — the most effective form of birth control — for MO HealthNet patients. This bill also saves more than $220,000 in taxpayer dollars annually.
Improving sex education by teaching consent, sexual harassment, and sexual violence: HB 2234 makes a modest but important improvement to Missouri’s voluntary sex education curriculum by including information on consent, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.
Expanding access to health care for new mothers: HB 2280 makes a small but impactful change that will allow more new mothers with low incomes to access health care. Currently, new mothers with low incomes lose their health care coverage 60 days after delivery. HB 2280 expands health care coverage for one year for new mothers with low incomes who seek treatment for substance use disorder.
Abortion ban: HB 1266 is an extreme and unconstitutional effort to ban abortion later in pregnancy. This is the latest instance of politicians intruding into the doctor-patient relationship, substituting their own opinions for a doctor’s medical judgment.
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 2018 Bill Summary
- Missourinet: Halfway through session, Missouri Legislature passes two bills
Birth Control, NOT Bans!
The good news: A bill that would expand access to the most effective form of birth control could come up for vote before the Missouri House as soon as today!
The bad news: An abortion ban could also come to a vote in the Missouri House at any moment.
What you can do: Talk to your legislator about your priorities. Tell them to support birth control, NOT abortion bans.
Lobby Day this Wednesday!
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 28 and join fellow advocates talking with lawmakers in Jefferson City about Missourians’ sexual and reproductive health and rights! We have carpools leaving from Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis. Whether you’ve never been to the Capitol or you’ve walked the halls a hundred times, join us and make a difference!
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Stand With Planned Parenthood in Your Community
Recap: Planned Parenthood Advocates at the March For Our Lives
Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri attended marches across the state to stand in solidarity with students and all communities impacted by gun violence. Our volunteers registered voters at the Springfield and Columbia marches, and collected signatures for the Clean Missouri democracy reform ballot initiative in St. Louis!
Volunteer Opportunities
Join the fight for access to health care on the state and federal levels! Join Planned Parenthood Advocates’ organizers and volunteers to crowd-canvass, make calls, and enter data. You can participate in the phone banks in person or remotely!
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St. Louis Table Captain and Messaging Training: Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
- St. Louis Legislative Accountability Phone Bank: Wednesday, March 28 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
- Springfield Legislative Accountability Phone Bank: Friday, March 30 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- St. Louis Legislative Accountability Phone Bank: Friday, March 30 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- St. Louis CLEAN Missouri Signature Gathering: Tuesday, April 3 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Action Forums
Come join Planned Parenthood at our 2018 Action Forums to learn more ways to get involved take leadership and shape the future of the reproductive justice movement.We can not achieve the future we want without your help. Find out the different ways you can advocate for reproductive justice right in your own community.
- Columbia Planned Parenthood Action Forum: Thursday, March 29 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Kansas City Planned Parenthood Action Forum: Sunday, April 8, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Clean Missouri Democracy Reform Campaign
Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri is supporting Clean Missouri, a non-partisan effort to reform our democracy by banning big lobbyist gifts, capping campaign contributions, and improving the way we draw district lines
Join us and help put power back in voters' hands!
Planned Parenthood Event Calendar
Check Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s national calendar to find an event near you!
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