“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)

On December 1st bills for the 2024 Missouri General Assembly legislative session were pre-filed in Jefferson City.

Some of the bills by pre-filed by Representative Hardy Billington (r)

HB 1400
Modifies provisions defining terrorist organizations
Sponsor: Billington, Hardy (152)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 3065H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)

[….]
576.080. 1. A person commits the offense of supporting terrorism if such person knowingly provides material support to:
(1) Any organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1189, as amended, and acts recklessly with regard to whether such organization had been designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1189; or
(2) A drug cartel.
2. For the purpose of this section, the following terms shall mean:
(1) “Drug cartel”, a criminal organization composed of individuals who collude with each other in the illegal drug trade, specifically in the trafficking of fentanyl across the borders of the United States.
[….]

[emphasis in original

It’s already illegal to traffic in fentanyl, among many other controlled substances.

HB 1401
Creates the offense of trespass by an illegal alien
Sponsor: Billington, Hardy (152)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 3147H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)

[….]
569.087. 1. A person commits the offense of trespass by an illegal alien if the person:
(1) Is present on public or private land in this state; and
(2) Is not carrying the person’s alien registration card, is not a temporary resident, is not a temporary visitor, or has willfully failed to register.
2. The offense of trespass by an illegal alien is a class E felony.
3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who maintains authorization from the federal government to remain in the United States.
4. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) “Alien registration card”, the identification card given to lawful permanent residents by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to identify them as such;
(2) “Illegal alien”, an alien who is not lawfully present in the United States, according to the terms of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101, et seq.
[….] [emphasis in original]

If a person forgets or loses their card and they’re in a hot air balloon, are they in compliance with this proposed law? Just asking.

HB 1402
Allows members of the general assembly and other elected officials to display the state and national flags outside of their offices
Sponsor: Billington, Hardy (152)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 3067H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

[….]
8.009. Members of the general assembly and elected officials with office space in the capitol building shall have the authority to display the state and national flags outside of their office doors.
[….]

[emphasis in original]

There doesn’t appear to be a size requirement. Either way.

HB 1408
Prohibits an employer from terminating an employee for having a firearm in the employee’s vehicle on the employer’s premises
Sponsor: Billington, Hardy (152)
Proposed Effective Date: 8/28/2024
LR Number: 3131H.01I
Last Action: 12/01/2023 – Prefiled (H)
[….]

[….]
290.148. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no employer in this state shall discharge or otherwise terminate the employment of any employee on the basis of such employee having a firearm in the employee’s vehicle on the employer’s property when the employee is arriving to or leaving from the employer’s property for employment purposes or when the employee is conducting activities within the course and scope of his or her employment, provided that the employee’s vehicle is locked, the firearm is not visible, and the employee is not prohibited from possessing a firearm by
law. An employer shall not be civilly liable for any injuries or damages resulting from the use of firearms that are stored in compliance with this section.
[….]

[emphasis in original]

“…An employer shall not be civilly liable for any injuries or damages resulting from the use of firearms that are stored in compliance with this section…”

Wait, if the first sentence is applicable in its entirety, there’s no need for the second sentence.