Progress for the People
Every session seems to pass quicker than the previous. We gavel in with thousands of proposals to debate in January, then, all of the sudden, we are facing the final two weeks to get our measures across the finish line and onto the governor’s desk. I’ll take that as a sign of progress for the people!
Targeted Protection for Contractors Passes Senate
On Monday, the first bill I filed in 2026 was perfected in the Senate. To align responsibility with control, Senate Bill 916 grants contractors doing business with the Missouri Department of Transportation the same immunity from liability for compensatory damages as the department itself. While the legislation does not protect negligent acts, it could guarantee fairness in liability suits, ensure Missouri’s infrastructural needs are delivered and entice companies from other states to conduct business in Missouri. My legislation was third read and passed on April 30.
Raising the Cap on Regional Planning Commissions
When I was the Scott County commissioner, I saw first-hand how vital regional planning commissions (RPCs) are to local governments when making decisions on major transportation and infrastructure projects. House Bill 2096, which is identical to my Senate Bill 1084, will increase the maximum funding to RPCs from $65,000 to $130,000, a figure that hasn’t been raised in decades. If passed, the cap will be adjusted with the Consumer Price Index going forward if approved through the appropriations process. Both bills remove five obsolete commissions and add four relevant ones.
Health Care and Interstate Compacts
The Legislature has considered multiple proposals this year to help improve access to health care and bring more licensed professionals into the state to provide services without jumping through costly and time-consuming bureaucratic loopholes. On April 27, House Bill 2974 was sent to the governor. The comprehensive bill includes language from my Senate Bill 1691 and permits licensed health care providers to provide telehealth services within the profession’s scope of practice. I believe telehealth services are vital in rural areas, will save patients time and money and could improve overall health outcomes across Missouri.
I was happy to make some progress on Senate Bill 1673 when I presented it to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee on April 28. This bill establishes the Interstate Massage Compact to allow licensed professionals from other states to work in Missouri or the other states included in the Compact. I filed this legislation to streamline the licensing process for our military spouses, address workforce needs in seasonal and in-demand professions and combat the human trafficking occurring within the massage industry.
During that same hearing, a representative presented a bill similar to my Athletic Trainers Compact, Senate Bill 1149. House Bill 1844 establishes a licensure compact for athletic trainers, specifies the conditions for a state to join, defines the qualifications of a licensee and creates a commission to administer and enforce the compact.
Sikeston Resident Joins the Missouri State Soil and Water Districts Commission
On April 29, I sponsored Laura Collins during her confirmation hearing to serve on the State Soil and Water Districts Commission. A leader in agriculture from Sikeston, Laura’s passion for our natural resources and stewardship of the land will serve her well as