Shown above, Representative Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, center, with Bill Kempker and Katherine Fox following the House Judiciary Committee hearing for Senate Bill 73 on Wednesday (4-17) afternoon. The legislation prohibits law enforcement from targeting motorcycles at roadside checkpoints.

On Monday (4-15), I traveled to Springfield with House Speaker Tim Jones to discuss the ongoing investigation into the Department of Revenue’s new licensing procedures and concealed gun data storage. I plan to continue holding forums and press conferences to keep you aware of the latest facts as they are discovered.

I would like to extend my thanks to all of you who have contacted my office in reference to the release of personal information by the Department of Revenue to the federal government. Please refer to my website for audio and video links to my most recent press conferences and news articles.

Senate Joint Resolution 14, which protects citizens’ constitutional rights, was referred to the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday (4-16). If approved by voters, SJR 14 would amend the Missouri Constitution relating to citizens’ right to keep and bear arms.

As previously stated, this measure is about protecting a fundamental right that this country was founded upon. If we allow the erosion of even one constitutional principle, because it is the topic of the day or due to political pressure, then we acknowledge that every one of those rights is vulnerable, that any of them can be taken from us. We cannot allow this happen.

Our country once again finds itself at a crossroads, poised between two paths: one that robs us of our most fundamental liberties for the illusion of safety, and one that upholds the rights preserved in our constitution. As a lawmaker and as a citizen, I believe we must stand in defense of every right, or risk losing them all. This legislation ensures that Missourians have the right to bear arms, and the state will do everything in its power to protect that right.

I was able to speak to a group of several hundred regarding this issue at a gun rally sponsored by Missourians for Personal Safety in the Capitol rotunda on Thursday morning (4-18). Thank you to all who traveled and attended this rally.

Many thanks to long time Mizzou advocate Walter “Wally” Pfeffer for his service to the university as Legislative Network Committee Chair of the Alumni Association for the last four years. Wally began serving the Alumni Association as a board member of the Boone County Chapter in 1983 and held the position as chair until 2013.

The current status of my proposed legislation for this session is as follows:

• Senate Bill 226, which would modify the standards for determining when a person is in need of mental health detention and evaluation, was third read and passed on Thursday (4-18). It now goes to the House for consideration.  
• House Bill 55, which I am handling for Rep. Flanigan, creates a tax amnesty program; it is on the formal calendar of House bills for third reading in the Senate.
• Senate Bill 13, an act that would change solid waste language, is on the Senate’s informal calendar for perfection.
• Senate Bill 82, which deals with a possible lieutenant governor vacancy, is on the Senate’s informal calendar for perfection.
• Senate Bill 81, which gives the courts discretion to award attorney’s fees, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and awaits placement on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  
• Senate Bill 97, which modifies the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, was referred to the General Laws Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 98, which modifies provisions relating to animal shelter fees, was referred to the Agriculture Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 122, which modifies the state’s Sunshine Law, was approved by the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and is awaiting placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 130, which increases the penalties and driver’s license suspension periods for those who fail to yield the right-of-way in certain instances, was passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and is awaiting placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 244, which modifies provisions relating to the registering and issuance of death certificates, was voted out of the Financial and Government Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits placement on Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 320, which makes changes to the composition of the University of Missouri Board of Curators, was referred to the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 321, which creates a home inspector licensing board and procedures for licensing home inspectors, was referred to the Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee and awaits hearing.
• Senate Bill 462, which authorizes circuit clerks to collect a surcharge for processing garnishments, was passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday (4-15) and awaits placement on the Senate calendar.
• Senate Bill 464, which requires approval by the General Assembly before the Board of Public Buildings may issue revenue bonds for state office buildings, was referred to the Appropriations Committee.  
• Senate Bill 465, which creates a tax amnesty program for state taxes, was referred to the Appropriations Committee.
• Senate Bill 466, which requires that all donation receptacles have the name and contact information of the owner, was heard in the General Laws Committee and awaits a final vote to be placed on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  
• Senate Bill 467, which requires the General Assembly to consider youth smoking statistics when appropriating money from the Life Sciences Research Fund, was heard in the General Laws Committee and awaits approval to be placed on the Senate calendar for possible debate.
• Senate Bill 468, which allows a local hospital to abolish the current property taxes to fund the hospital in order to establish a sales tax to fund such operations, was heard in the Ways and Means Committee and awaits approval from committee members to be placed on the Senate calendar.  
• Senate Joint Resolution 3, which, if approved by voters, would allow the issuance of state bonds for various infrastructure projects, was heard in the Appropriations Committee and awaits placement on the Senate calendar for possible debate.  
• Senate Bill 463, which allows Boone County to adopt regulations to control the standards for residential units and develop a program for licensing and inspecting the units, was heard in the Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, April 10.

The following bills have been approved by the Senate and are now moving through the House:

• Senate Bill 12, which provides immunity from civil liability for court appointed attorneys, was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 3, and awaits a hearing.
• Senate Bill 72, which designates the month of May as “Motorcycle Awareness Month,” was heard in the House Tourism and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday (4-18).
• Senate Bill 73, which prohibits law enforcement from specifically targeting motorcycles in roadside checkpoints of road block patterns, was heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday (4-18).
• Senate Bill 121, which modifies provisions relating to liquor control laws, was passed out of the House General Laws Committee on Tuesday (4-16) and is currently in the House Rules Committee.
• Senate Bill 193, which establishes the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, was heard in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday (4-17).
• Senate Joint Resolution 14, which, if approved by voters, would reaffirm Missourians’ Second Amendment rights, was referred to the House General Laws Committee and awaits a hearing.

Did you know...?

Shown above, the Jefferson Monument at the University of Missouri.

Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone is at University of Missouri.  When Jefferson's heirs made plans to replace his original tombstone they received numerous requests for it. MU petitioned and received it because MU was the first state university in the Louisiana Purchase Territory which Jefferson had acquired during his presidency. The tombstone arrived at MU in July, 1883 and is now located to the west of the chancellor's residence 

Thank you for your continued interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, please contact my office.