MoLeg Weekly Wrap-Up
HB 194 - Omnibus Abortion Restrictions
On Monday, the Missouri House sent Rep. Franklin’s (R-Camdenton) House Bill 194 to the Senate. The bill was debated and amended on the House floor the week before. The bill now includes even more medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion, bans fetal tissue donation, and requires minors seeking abortion to notify both parents in addition to the current one-parent consent mandate.
Several reproductive health champions stood up on Monday to argue against HB 194, demanding that politicians stop interfering with Missourians’ personal, private medical decisions. Thank you to Reps. Joe Adams (D-University City), Bob Burns (D-St. Louis County), Sue Meredith (D-St. Louis County), Judy Morgan (D-Kansas City), Stacey Newman (D-St. Louis County), and Sarah Unsicker (D-Shrewsbury) for standing up for Missourians’ reproductive health!
The bill awaits a hearing and two votes in the Senate before it can be sent to the governor.
- KBIA: Missouri House passes more restrictions on abortion clinics; now up to Senate
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: House Bill 194 Fact Sheet
Cutting Access to Family Planning and Women’s Health Care
Lawmakers will spend this week debating and finalizing the budget, which is due by Friday at 6:00 p.m. Currently, the budget contains a provision that could effectively dismantle Missouri’s family planning program, leaving thousands of low-income patients seeking birth control and sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment with nowhere to go.
This measure could disqualify hundreds of providers across the state in Missouri’s family planning program. In a deceptive attempt to link this program to abortion, the provision seeks to bar any agencies that provide “abortion services” from receiving state funds — but it includes referral in the definition of abortion services. Legally and ethically, providers are obligated to inform patients of all options, including abortion. We are getting down to the wire— make your voice heard and urge your senator to protect access to family planning and women’s health care!
- Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: Protect Access to Family Planning and Women’s Health Care!
- St. Louis Public Radio: Missouri budget amendment would 'decimate' system of family planning clinics, providers say
Stand with Planned Parenthood - Events Near You!
Recap: Moral Missouri
Last Wednesday, Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri joined activists from across the state at the Capitol to demand a more moral policy agenda. The group of individuals, clergy, and organizations calling themselves Moral Missouri united to call out harmful policies that target marginalized communities. Speakers decried dangerous legislation that adversely affects low-income people, workers, people of color, women, LGBTQIA people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and the environment.
State Reps. Bruce Franks Jr. (D-St. Louis), Stacey Newman (D-St. Louis County), Martha Stevens (D-Columbia), and Cora Faith Walker (D-Ferguson) also addressed the crowd. “A woman’s ability to plan her family is a woman’s ability to plan her future,” said Rep. Walker. She expanded the focus to include the high rates of maternal and infant mortality for Black women and babies in St. Louis. “At the end of the day, access to health care is an issue of justice and equity.” Rep. Stevens spoke to the need for Medicaid expansion: “This is a moral issue. Missourians of all income levels, in all communities, deserve access to health care.”
- KOMU 8 Columbia: Moral Missouri rally protests General Assembly agenda
Recap: Pink Out Party!
Thank you to the 150 Planned Parenthood supporters who pinked out Kansas City's Prohibition Hall to raise money for Planned Parenthood Great Plains health centers and patients. Check out the fun party pics on PPGP's' Facebook page!
United We Stand Conference
Join Planned Parenthood Great Plains and our partners in the progressive movement at the United We Stand Conference this weekend. United We Stand is a coalition of Kansas City-area organizations dedicated to fighting racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia and economic inequality! This two-day conference begins the evening of Friday, May 5 and goes through Saturday, May 6. Come to the conference and help us form a united, organized, and sustained movement that can grow our numbers in the streets and translate it into an electoral movement at the ballot box that is capable of long-term social and political power.
- United We Stand Conference: Learn more and RSVP!
Find Events Near You
Check Planned Parenthood’s national calendar to find events planned in your community!
- Planned Parenthood Event Calendar: Find an event near you
Final Lobby Day of the Year on Thursday!
Planned Parenthood’s final lobby day of the year will be this Thursday, May 4. We are participating in the Freedom of Choice Council’s Lobby Day. Whether you’ve never been to Jeff City or you’re a lobbying pro, we invited you to join us! Organizers will prep you with materials and information so you can talk to your legislators with confidence. Your voice matters, make it heard in the Capitol!
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