The Senate Committee on Small Business, Insurance and Industry held a hearing on Tuesday, Jan.14, on legislation I’ve sponsored, Senate Bill 498. The bill requires all health insurance navigators in the state to be bonded, and also creates a private cause of action against navigators who illegally release citizens’ private information.

Shown above, Sen. Schaefer sponsors 19th District Resident Timothy Viox’s appointment to the Amusement Ride Safety Board during the Gubernatorial Appointment Committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Shown above, Sen. Schaefer meets with the Columbia Board of Realtors during its visit to the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

To listen to audio or see video of the hearing on SB 498, click here or visit my multimedia page by going to www.senate.mo.gov/schaefer and selecting the “Multimedia” link under the “Media” tab at the top of the site.

I was honored to sponsor the appointment of District 19th resident Timothy J. Viox to the Missouri Amusement Ride Safety Board during the Gubernatorial Appointment Committee hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Mr. Viox’s extensive experience will make him a valuable asset to this board, which regulates the inspection requirements and safety measures for the many amusement rides Missouri citizens enjoy at local fairs and festivals, among other duties.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, I met with the Columbia Board of Realtors. These professionals spoke to me about their two main issues for this session, one of which is addressed by House Bill 1410. The measure removes the option for a trial de novo in landlord-tenant actions. The group would also like to see the continuation of the Historic Preservation tax credit program. We also discussed the effects of Columbia’s high crime rate on property sales.

I filed two additional bills in the Missouri Senate on Thursday, Jan. 16. Senator Joint Resolution 44 is a constitutional amendment that, upon approval by voters, would require any revenue received by the state in the fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated for that year to be returned to the taxpayers in the form of a refundable tax credit. Senate Bill 733 would reduce the rate of tax on personal income over a period of five years.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled its first meeting of the 2014 session for next Wednesday, Jan. 22, upon the Senate’s adjournment. The hearing will mostly involve a review of the governor’s budget recommendations for this session and other issues related to the Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

The Missouri Senate will not be in session Monday, Jan. 20, in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The governor will issue his State of the State address in the House chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m.

The Legislature will hear the State of the Judiciary on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 10:30 a.m.

Thank you for your interest in the issues that affect the citizens of Boone and Cooper counties.  If you have any questions or concerns throughout this session, or plan on coming by the Capitol, please contact my office at (573) 751-3931.

Did you know...?

On Feb. 5, 1911, lightning struck the dome of the Missouri State Capitol, igniting a blaze that destroyed the building. As a result, the State Capitol Commission Board was established to coordinate and supervise the construction of a new capitol, the third located in Jefferson City and the sixth in the state. The new Capitol was constructed between 1913 and 1917 at a cost of roughly $4.21 million.