Legislative News

On Wednesday, the General Assembly gathered in Jefferson City for the annual veto session. During this time, legislators have the opportunity to override the governor’s vetoes of measures passed during the 2014 session. In years past, veto sessions lasted a few hours at most. However, that trend has changed.

With a total of 34 bills vetoed by the executive branch this year, including dozens of line-items in the FY 2015 budget for critical programs, many were prepared for another eventful veto session.  This year was a historical number with 57 total overrides, 10 bills & 47 line items.

Those predictions held true. The General Assembly worked late into night to override multiple bills vetoed by the governor on unfounded and misguided grounds, enacting into a law a number of measures that can greatly benefit the citizens of our state. These bills included:

• House Bill 1307 – Changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours.
• Senate Bill 829 – Modifies provisions relating to the burden of proof in tax liability cases.
• Senate Bill 727 – Grants a sales and use tax exemption for products sold at farmers’ markets, among other provisions.
• House Bill 1132 – Changes the law regarding a tax credit for contributions to a maternity home, pregnancy resource center or food pantry.
• Senate Bill 841 – Prohibits the sale of alternative nicotine or vapor products to persons under 18 years of age.
• Senate Bill 593 – Modifies provisions relating to nonpartisan elections.
• Senate Bill 656 – Modifies provisions relating to firearms, corporate security officers, and school protection officers.
• Senate Bill 523 – Prohibits school districts from requiring a student to use an identification device that uses radio frequency identification to transmit certain information.
• Senate Bill 731 – Modifies provisions relating to nuisance ordinances and actions.
• Senate Bill 866 – Preempts local laws that would modify current law governing the manner in which traditional installment loan lenders are allowed to make loans.

In addition, the General Assembly also fought to reinstate funding to a budget gutted by the governor. With overwhelming bipartisan support, we were able to restore funds for forensic exams of abused children; $2.5 million for reading instruction for students in struggling school districts; $200,000 for foster parent training; and $100,000 for a mentoring program for children of inmates, among other line-item overrides.

With Veto Session concluded, our legislative work in the Capitol is done for the remainder of 2014. However, interim committees will continue to work until January, examining a number of topics that will likely come up in the 2015 session.

As we approach next year, I urge you to reach out to me about any concerns or issues you may have regarding state government. My job is to represent you, my constituents, in the Capitol. The best way for me to do that is to maintain an open and ongoing dialogue with the people and businesses I serve. Please don’t hesitate to contact me. Together, we can make Missouri a better place to live, work and raise a family.