SPONSOR: Walsh (50)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Special Committee on Small Business by a vote of 10 to 4. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 7 to 2.
This bill provides that the General Assembly occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way the classification of essential workers. Existing or future orders, ordinances, or regulations regarding the classification of essential workers are and will be null and void. Neither the state nor an official, agency, or political subdivision thereof shall issue or adopt any order, ordinance, or regulation concerning in any way which occupations are classified as essential workers.
All occupations in the state of Missouri qualify as essential workers.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that every business in this state is essential and government should not be allowed to pick winners and losers.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Walsh; and NFIB.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that the bill is an attempt for the legislature to snatch authority from local governments and is not in the best interest of essential workers or the communities that they serve.
Testifying against the bill were Missouri AFL-CIO; Paul Leykamp; Arnie C. Dienoff; and Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: