We are celebrating the life of my sister-in-law, Valarie, who was known as Aunt V in our family. Valarie met Jesus at 2:01 a.m. this morning. It does not go unnoticed on me that she left her earthly home on the day we “March for Life” Valarie’s Life mattered.
Born with severe special needs–including Sturge-Weber syndrome and a distinctive port-wine birthmark–Valarie faced profound challenges throughout her life. But her life mattered. Her life had purpose. She taught all of us lessons we could never have learned without her.
Though her birth defects sometimes startled those who didn’t know her, those close to her saw something extraordinary. Valarie was a six-year-old at heart with the vocabulary of a Navy sailor—fierce, funny, and unfiltered. She scratched and bit, she could be demanding, tested our patience, and yet in doing so, she showed us how to love fully, especially when love wasn’t easy.
She adored country music and had an almost savant-like ability to recall who sang what and when—especially if it was Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn. When Valarie sang, she came alive. Her favorite song was Jesus Loves Me. He did!
Caring for Valarie was never simple, and her family sacrificed much to ensure she was loved and safe. We became her fulltime caregivers in 2016. We often faced the heartbreaking dilemma of balancing her behavioral needs with the painful side effects of medications, like the tics caused by Tardive Dyskinesia. That’s why one of our most powerful memories was bringing Valarie to the Capitol to support the Speaker’s bill recognizing this condition. That day, she wasn’t just living with a disability, she was standing up for others who shared her struggles.
Valarie’s life mattered. Her life had purpose. She lived a life that taught us about grace, endurance, and what it truly means to love without conditions.
We find peace in knowing that her struggles are over, her voice is strong, and she is likely already singing, maybe even in perfect pitch, with Patsy and Loretta in Heaven.
Expanded Mission for Missouri Southern State University
The legislature this week adopted Jill Carter’s SCR 3, a resolution expanding the mission of Missouri Southern State University to include health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences. I carried this bill in the House (HCR 6) and handled this bill on the House Floor. This update reflects the evolving educational needs of students and supports the university’s continued growth and relevance.
Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Insurance
The Missouri General Assembly also truly agreed and finally passed HBs 974, 57, 1032 & 1141, which creates a regulatory framework for insurance coverage in peer-to-peer car sharing programs. Known as the “Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Insurance Act,” the bill establishes minimum liability coverage requirements for car sharing platforms and sets rules for how coverage disputes are handled. It allows traditional auto insurers to exclude coverage for vehicles used in car sharing and mandates that programs notify vehicle owners about potential conflicts with lienholder agreements. The bill also imposes recordkeeping duties on sharing platforms and clarifies that shared vehicle owners and programs are exempt from vicarious liability. Additional provisions address responsibilities related to vehicle recalls, program agreements, and driver verification. The Department of Commerce and Insurance is authorized to issue rules for implementation. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.
