House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, filed legislation that would provide full reimbursement to local public school districts for legal expenses incurred defending against frivolous lawsuits filed by the Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, provided it gets approved by the State House and Senate and is signed into law by Governor Mike Parson.

Quade said, “Local public school budgets are already stretched thin because of the pandemic. They shouldn’t have to foot the bill for Eric Schmitt’s shameful campaign stunts.”

A news release says, in recent days, Schmitt, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, has sued 45 public school districts across Missouri over their mask mandates for students, faculty and staff.

State Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, pre-filed similar legislation, Senate Bill 922, in December.

“The attorney general is abusing the powers of his office to stop schools from keeping kids and teachers safe,” Beck said. “I am in disbelief we are even having this conversation. He is even suing the St. Louis County Special School District, which educates some of our most vulnerable children. This has got to stop.”

Quade’s legislation is House Bill 2569.