SPONSOR: Hudson
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elections and Elected Officials by a vote of 8 to 2. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 12 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 925.
Beginning January 1, 2022, this bill requires the use of paper ballots for all elections. Until January 1, 2024, election authorities may continue to use electronic touchscreen machines for disabled voters. Marking devices will also be permissible to assist disabled voters with paper ballot marking.
The bill also authorizes the Missouri Secretary of State to prosecute or defend election laws under Chapter 115, RSMo.
It also requires a person who files as a candidate for election to a public office that performs county functions in St. Louis City to provide appropriate copies of paid tax receipts or no tax due statements. This bill authorizes election authorities in the City of St. Louis who discover noncompliance with tax payments during their candidate qualification screening under Section 115.306, to file a complaint with the Department of Revenue if a delinquency is discovered and to not allow the candidate's name to be placed on a ballot within the city until any ethics complaint has been resolved.
The bill changes filing fees for certain candidates to run for office. The fee to run for statewide office will be $5000, the fee for United States Senator will be $10000, the fee to run for Congress will be $7,500, the fee for Circuit Judge or State Senator will be $300. The fee for presidential candidates will be $12,500.
The bill enacts the "Missouri Sovereign Elections Act" which reserves Missouri's authority over all types of elections to the maximum extent consistent with the Constitution of the United States, and explicitly mentions the State's authority over its own elections and local elections.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill. PROPONENTS: Supporters say that paper ballots will provide an excellent audit trail and secure public confidence in elections.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Hudson; Arnie C. Dienoff; and Laura Hausland.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
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: