Snow, wintery mixes and more snow were the prominent headlines for the week, but the landscape was perfect for some important legislative milestones. Both of my priority bills, Senate Bills 591 and 592, were placed on the Senate Calendar for Perfection. Unfortunately, the snow storm halted Wednesday’s joint hearing with the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee for Military Appreciation Day in Missouri. We hope to have this hearing and observance rescheduled quickly. At the start of the week, I was also slated to present Senate Bill 593 to the Local Government and Elections Committee on Feb. 5, but the hearing was cancelled due to Wednesday’s weather. I am hopeful the hearing will be rescheduled in the near future. This bill modifies provisions relating to public notaries by repealing and replacing the current regulating laws.
Before the snow blanketed the Capitol, I presented Senate Bill 718 to the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Feb. 4. It is an omnibus bill for military families that contains five provisions: designates November as Military Family Month in Missouri; designs a legal assistance program; licenses military spouses that are certified teachers; expands developmental disability services and increases child protections. The bill mirrors the latest recommendations from the Department of Defense.
Thank a Farmer Week
February 2-8 is “Thank a Farmer Week”, a time to celebrate the abundance of food, fuel and fiber produced by the American farmer. County Farm Bureau volunteers support local communities and agriculture in many ways, and their efforts are coordinated by the Missouri Farm Bureau’s promotion and education committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 38
My colleagues and I approved an alternative redistricting plan to the one created by Amendment 1, commonly referred to as “Clean Missouri”. Senate Joint Resolution 38, if approved by the Missouri General Assembly and voters next November, will allow independent, bipartisan citizen commissions to establish legislative boundaries instead of a state demographer. I believe this redistricting plan is a better and more transparent method than what is authorized in “Clean Missouri”. I also believe the resolution builds on the positive components of Amendment 1 and completely bans lobbyist gifts. Campaign contributions for senatorial candidates are further reduced to $2,400 per election. Since SJR 38 is being vetted through the legislative process, which is a more deliberate and thorough evaluative process, I believe it will be a more fair method for Missouri redistricting.
