JEFFERSON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a law Thursday that guarantees sick leave to workers and provides inflationary adjustments to the minimum wage, eight months after voters approved voters.
The move marks a major victory for the state’s largest business group and a frustrating failure for workers’ rights advocates who have spent years (millions of dollars) supporting successful voting measures. The repeal will take effect on August 28.
A package of tax breaks was also signed Thursday, with Kehoe describing paid sick leave laws as a burdensome task of imposing heavy record keeping.
“Today, we are protecting people working in Missouri – families, job creators and small business owners – to cut taxes, back off excessive revocation and eliminate expensive mandates,” Republicans said in a statement after the signing ceremony of private bills.
The new tax law does not include capital gains in individual state income tax, expands tax relief for seniors and disabled residents, and exempts business taxes on diapers and feminine hygiene products.
Richard von Glahn, who sponsors the Worker Welfare Voting Initiative, said many parents feel forced to go to work instead of staying at home to take care of their sick children to pay for their rent or utility costs.
“The governor who signed the bill was definitely a betrayal of these families, and it hurt my heart,” said Von Glahn, policy director for justice in Missouri.
About one-third of states authorize sick leave, but many businesses offer it voluntarily. Nationally, 79% of private sector workers received paid sick leave last year, although part-time workers are much less likely to receive benefits than full-time employees, according to the Labor Department.
Last November, voters in Alaska, Missouri and Nebraska approved paid sick leave. Alaska, which was kicked in on July 1, has not changed by state legislators.
Before Nebraska’s measures could come into effect Oct. 1, Republican Gov. Jim Pillen signed a measure last month to exempt businesses from paid sick leave, with 10 or fewer employees not subject to paid sick leave. The amendment also allowed businesses to withhold seasonal agricultural workers and seasonal sick leave for 14 and 15 years old.
Missouri law allows employees to work every 30 hours and earn one hour of paid illness every 30 hours starting May 1. By the time it is abolished, 17 weeks will pass. This means that people who work 40 hours a week may win 22 hours of paid sick leave.
If workers do not use paid sick leave by August 28, there is no legal guarantee and they can do so afterwards.
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Conference make legislative priorities for repealing the law.
“Paid leave and minimum wage policies are job seekers,” said Kara Corches, chairman and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.
However, Missouri voters may receive a second chance to authorize sick leave.
Von Glahn has proposed a proposed voting initiative to the Secretary of State to restore the repealed provisions. Since the new measure is a constitutional amendment, the legislature will not be able to modify or repeal it without other votes from the people. Supporters have not yet decided whether to initiate a petition drive to try to qualify measures to vote in 2026.
