Missouri SB 797, which improves ballot access for new parties, has a hearing in the House Election Law Committee on April 15, in the late afternoon. The bill has already passed the Senate.
Missouri HB 1310, which moves independent candidate petition deadlines from late July to March, has received a “Do Pass” from the Senate Committee that handles election law bills. However, the bill has not been reported to the Senate floor. Sometimes Missouri bills pass Committee, but are still not sent on, because each committee is limited in the number of bills it may send to the floor.
Perhaps after some pointing out the problems with this bill including it being unconstitutional, they will lay it over and it will disappear. It was interesting that one of the Senators who was behind this bill for personal reasons (an independent dared to challenge him and did very well)and chair of the committee which gave it a Do Pass was absent at the time of the committee vote.
Frankly I sincerely hope this is the end to this drama and we can move away from the petty and vindictive to the more important issues of much needed reform in Missouri.