End to eviction moratoriums debated at Senate hearing

By Columbia Missourian via My Courier-Tribune

JEFFERSON CITY — Municipalities could be prevented from enacting eviction moratoriums under a bill identical to one proposed last legislative session.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County acted in line with the federal government to enforce a pause in all eviction proceedings.

In early 2021, Gov. Mike Parson authorized $324 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid toward households in need of rent and utility assistance.

Under the proposed bill, only the state government would have the authority to put a stoppage on evictions.

“This is essentially a property rights issue, a landlord should not be forced to retain tenets without compensation against their will,” said bill sponsor Sen. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, at an Emerging Issues Committee hearing Tuesday. “It’s unnecessary because there is a separate provision in law under the governor’s emergency power where housing needs can be provided on a temporary basis.”

Trina Ragain voiced opposition to the bill while representing Empower Missouri, an affordable housing advocacy group.

“I think there are solutions out there that allow us to both meet the needs of the landlords while also ensuring we don’t more than double homelessness during a time of crisis here in the state,” she said.

Psychedelic treatment for veterans

A Senate bill would give veterans access to the psychedelic drug psilocybin in a clinical context was also heard at the hearing. Similar bills were filed in the House and Senate last session.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic mushroom that has shown promise in treating patients with serious anxiety and depression.

The bill proposes that the Department of Health and Senior Services should provide $2 million in grants for research on the efficacy of the drug. It also commissions the department to collaborate with a Missouri university to conduct a psilocybin trial.

Mark Quinn, a veteran, highlighted the crises of veteran mental health and how programs like this can help.

“I suffered from post-traumatic stress twice in my career. Lucky for me, I had good counseling and a good mentor, and that got me through it,” Quinn said. “Unluckily for six soldiers in my last three commands, they committed suicide because they did not have treatments like these (alternative drugs and counseling) available to them. And I firmly believe that if they did, they’d be alive.”

Others at the hearing spoke about how they have had to travel outside of the country with veterans to access psychedelic treatment, and when the treatment was received it had a life-changing impact.