Governor Jay Nixon has announced today his actions on several bills passed by the legislature this year.
Among those he has vetoed is SB 749 that would prevent employers or employees from being forced to provide or obtain insurance coverage for abortion, sterilization or birth control and would bar discrimination or penalty against those employers or employees. Governor Nixon says these protections already exist in state law and says the bill he vetoed would actually undermine that law by letting insurance companies deny coverage for contraception even if that decision disagrees with the position of an employee or employer.
The Governor has also vetoed HB 1329, allowing local sales tax to be collected on vehicle, boat and related purchases made out-of-state. He says it would violate the Constitution by raising taxes without a vote of the people.
Governor Nixon signed HB 1563 establishing a provisional licensing procedure for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts to treat children with autism. He says that will help reach more children with “life-changing therapy.”
Governor Nixon also signed the following bills into law today: SB 470 concerning transportation, SB 568 concerning transportation, SB 636 concerning the judiciary, SB 719 concerning public safety, HB 1036 concerning ballot emblems, HB 1103 concerning real estate, HB 1105 concerning the state militia, HB 1308 concerning pledged securities, HB 1460 concerning the Court Automation Fund, HB 1495 concerning the reporting of insurance fraud and HB 1909 concerning aviation.
Other bills the Governor vetoed today (links go to his veto messages) are: SB 566 concerning vaccination of pets, SB 569 concerning elections, SB 607 concerning outdoor advertising, SB 635 concerning banking, SB 715 concerning the state militia, SB 749 concerning health care, SB 837 concerning franchise alcohol suppliers, HB 1250 concerning elections, HB 1329 concerning motor vehicles and HB 1758 concerning parental relationships.
