Legislators returned to the Capitol this week to begin the second half of the legislative session. While we spent a considerable amount of time debating bills on the Senate floor, we continue to hold hearings on proposed legislation. The Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee, which I chair, approved a number of measures this week that will likely be heard by the full Senate in the coming weeks.

Some of the bills we passed dealt with the licensure of certain professionals in Missouri and the requirements they must meet to practice in the state. These types of measures play a critical role in protecting the public and ensuring that those who do very specific and highly technical jobs in the state are held to rigorous, but fair, standards.

Senate Bill 659 modifies the laws relating to advanced practice registered nurses. These highly trained medical professionals are often relied upon in more rural areas to provide health care services.

Additionally, we passed Senate Bill 809, a measure I filed this year, which streamlines and strengthens the requirements of licensure for architects, professional engineers, professional land surveyors, and professional landscape architects.

We sent out of committee a handful of other measures as well. Senate Bill 892 changes the date of the presidential primary. Right now, it’s held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February. The measure changes that date to the second Tuesday after the first Monday in March. Senate Bill 655 changes the definition of who may lawfully occupy a rental property and the procedures for eviction of a tenant.

Now that these bills have been approved by committee, they will be placed on the Senate’s formal calendar for possible future debate.

In related news, the Senate approved two of my measures this week, sending the bills to the House. Senate Bill 691 would give citizens the option of acquiring sinkhole insurance coverage. I think homeowners in our area, a region extremely vulnerable to these geological disasters, should have some degree of financial protection. My legislation would give them that.

Also passed was Senate Bill 874, which changes the regulatory examination of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and subjects them to risk-based capital analysis. Basically, the bill allows the Missouri Department of Insurance to regularly perform audits on these health organizations to ensure they have the funding to provide the services they’ve promised to citizens.

A great tool to track the status of this legislation, and other bills of interest to you, is by visiting the Missouri Senate’s website at www.senate.mo.gov. There, you can use the bill tracking search engine to look up the progress of any legislation filed this year. I encourage you to stay informed as we debate issues affecting our state.  

If you have any questions or comments about this or any other matter regarding your state government, please feel free to contact me at (573) 751-1503; you are also welcome to e-mail me at jay.wasson@senate.mo.gov.