March 27, 2025 - HCS House Bill 567, 546, 758 & 958 (Gallick) was heard and approved in the Senate General Laws Committee meeting yesterday. Senator Curtis Trent serves as chairman of that committee.
The bill in its current form would completely repeal the paid sick leave and domestic violence leave provisions, including language preventing employer's control of the use of sick leave and the special lawsuit provisions, but would leave the minimum wage increases mandated by Proposition A intact. The bill also extends the minimum wage requirements to public employers (state and local governments, schools, etc.).
"Voters were forced to approve or reject ALL provisions of Prop A in one question," said Ray McCarty, president/CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri in testimony to the committee. "This combination of multiple subjects in one ballot question violates Art. III, Section 50 of the Missouri Constitution and is the subject of a lawsuit currently pending in the Missouri Supreme Court."
Article III, Section 50 of the Missouri Constitution reads, "Petitions for laws shall contain not more than one subject which shall be expressed clearly in the title..." Proposition A contained multiple subjects and no single subject was clearly stated in the ballot title. Instead, the proposition forced voters to accept or reject all provisions relating to compensation and sick leave benefits, and even some provisions that were not related to pay or sickness that were not mentioned in the ballot title at all (domestic violence paid leave) as a combined package.
The Senate General Laws Committee approved the bill along party lines with all Republicans voting to advance the bill to the full Senate for further deliberation and all Democrats voting against the bill.
Meanwhile, the Missouri Supreme Court case, Raymond McCarty, et al., v. Missouri Secretary of State, et al. is currently under consideration by the Court. Oral arguments were heard in the case on March 12, 2025. The next regular date for Missouri Supreme Court opinions is April 1, 2025. We will keep you posted of developments.
Thanks to those of you that have contributed to the legal expenses in this case. If your business would like to help us with the cost of legal expenses, please contact Ray McCarty at rmccarty@aimo.com. A contribution in any amount is very much appreciated.