Legislative Updates
The 2020 Regular Session of the Missouri General Assembly commenced on January 8, 2020 and adjourned on May 15, 2020.
The session began like any other, but as the month of March progressed and the COVID-19 pandemic took root, it was clear that this would not be like any other Regular Session. In mid-March, both chambers began extended breaks to limit House and Senate members and staff from exposure to the virus.
Prior to the extended breaks of the General Assembly, there were a number of pension-related bills that were pending in both chambers. Among others, there was a collaborative cleanup bill with MOSERS that had been filed in each of the previous two sessions, but was not passed. It did not pass again this year.
The House and Senate reconvened on April 27th to complete work on the state’s operating budget. Below are brief descriptions of the bills as well as their status.
Allows a member who divorced after retirement to undo the survivor option and pop up to the life income annuity as long as the requirements of the statute are met.
This bill passed.
Changes the number of members of the MPERS Board of Trustees elected by the members of the Highway Commission from three to one.
This bill did not pass.
Changes laws regarding marriage and replaces “marriage license” with “civil union.” This would have impacted a number of MPERS’ statutes, but not the interpretation of the law.
This bill did not pass.
Adds all public employee retirement systems and quasi-governmental entity employee salaries to the Missouri Accountability Portal.
This bill did not pass.