Eight Weeks Remaining in the Legislative Session
JEFFERSON CITY – With eight weeks remaining in the legislative session and a lot left to accomplish, Missouri lawmakers returned from spring break invigorated and refreshed. We rolled up our sleeves and got right back to work, improving the lives of Missourians. This week, the Missouri Senate passed legislation that will bring relief to rural Missourians, small business owners and farmers by increasing access to affordable health care coverage. We also took a step towards banning foreign money from influencing our state elections.
Everyone should feel safe in their homes and communities, and improving public safety has been a top priority for lawmakers this legislative session. On Wednesday, the governor signed House Bill 495, ensuring law enforcement agencies across the state have the support and resources they need to make our communities safer. House Bill 495 removes politics from police leadership and improves public safety and security in Missouri’s largest city by putting the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back under control of a citizen-led board. This bill also cracks down on illegal immigration, holds fentanyl dealers accountable, tightens child trafficking penalties, protects victims of domestic abuse and improves school safety.
Senate Bill 4, which ensures Missouri’s utility grid has the support needed to continue serving our growing energy demands, was signed by the Senate president pro tem this week and sent to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 4 will make it easier to upgrade and expand Missouri’s energy infrastructure in the future.
Third Read and Passed
In another productive week in the Missouri Senate, the following measures were third read and passed:
- Senate Bill 189– Adds vehicles operated by county or municipal park rangers to the definition of “emergency vehicle.”
- Senate Bill 348– Enacts provisions relating to state designations, including designating September of each year as “Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month” and the week the second Tuesday of April falls each year as “Human Trafficking Awareness Week” in Missouri.
- Senate Bill 396– Authorizes the board of trustees of a consolidated public library district to change the start of their fiscal year to Jan. 1.
- Senate Bill 61– Helps alleviate the state’s ongoing labor shortage by permitting professionals with three years of work experience in a state that does not require a professional license to apply their real world experience toward obtaining a temporary, two-year license.
- Senate Bill 79– Allows Missouri Farm Bureau to provide additional health care options to underserved rural Missourians.
- Senate Bill 152– Creates a ban on foreign funding for state ballot initiatives, protecting our elections from foreign influence.
Discussed on the Senate Floor
Senate Bill 107, which modifies training requirements for members of an ambulance district board of directors, and Senate Bill 190, which establishes tax credits for certain engineering degrees, were discussed on the Senate floor this week. House Bill 594 and 508 continues to be debated. This bill exempts long-term capital gains – such as money earned on stocks, land and other assets – from state income tax. If the bill is passed, taxpayers would be able to deduct 100% of income reported as a capital gain for federal income tax purposes.
Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee
On March 26, I was honored to speak in the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee in support of Lynn Portell for Washington County Presiding Commissioner. Mr. Portell is a retired utility professional with more than 30 years experience at Arkansas Power and Light, now Ameren, where he held several leadership roles and worked as a lineman and troubleman. A lifelong resident of Washington County, Mr. Portell has been actively involved in the community, serving as board president of Pleasant Hill Christian Church for several years. I believe Mr. Portell’s leadership skills and extensive experience will make him a great asset to Washington County.