Recapping the Legislative Session

As members of the General Assembly return home for the spring recess, marking the halfway point in this year’s 98th General Assembly, I would like to take this opportunity to recap legislative progress made so far this year.

Agriculture is an issue we address annually. Senate Bill 12 is comprised of multiple sections aimed at encouraging and protecting farming families, as well as future generations of farmers. This legislation includes language pertaining to agricultural zones, livestock marketing laws, pesticide applicators and weight limits on hauling livestock and milk.

Senate Bill 12 has been third read and passed in the House. It will return to the Senate with an attached House Committee Substitute for consideration.

The Missouri Senate has also given its bipartisan approval to House Bill 259, which would establish the Dairy Revitalization Act of 2015. The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature. This measure would establish an insurance premium assistance program for dairy producers and a scholarship fund for students seeking a degree in agriculture and working in the dairy industry. Missouri would be the first state to pass landmark legislation that would strengthen federal dairy title provisions.

Reforming state assistance benefits has been an important topic of debate this session. Senate Bill 24 would modify provisions relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In an effort to reform Missouri’s failing welfare programs, new work requirements will be reinstated for eligibility as well as the adoption of a new cash diversion program allowing for lump sum payments to be given for short-term emergencies in lieu of long-term monthly assistance.  Both reforms have shown positive improvements in other states that have adopted them.

This measure was passed through the House and returned to the Senate with a House Committee Substitute. The Senate made a motion for the House to recede from its position or grant a conference on the legislation.

Senate Bill 149, which would enact a tax incentive for data storage centers, was Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed March 19. This was the first Senate Bill passed by both chambers. Through this measure, data storage centers would be able to buy equipment, utilities and construction materials using an exemption for state and local sales and use taxes.  The data centers are capped on the amount of exemptions they receive and they must also guarantee a minimum level of new job creation and facility investment to receive the tax exemption.  This is an opportunity to attract more data storage centers, which we are losing to neighboring states and also create long-term economic development.

Keeping Missouri’s doctors in Missouri has been a topic of concern this session. Missouri’s health care providers are currently experiencing over-inflated insurance premiums upwards of $25,000 to $50,000.  This is blamed in part to the growing number of frivolous medical malpractice cases.  Senate Bill 239 would create a statutory cause for damages against healthcare providers. If passed, medical malpractice insurance premiums are expected to decrease, and healthcare providers would be less likely to leave Missouri in pursuit of more affordable premiums.  In addition, the lowered cost in these premiums would result in more affordable health care costs for Missourians.

Under SB 239, compensation that an individual could receive during a malpractice case for non-economic damages for personal injury or death would be capped. These caps would include no more than $400,000 for personal injuries, and $700,000 for a catastrophic personal injury or death. The limitation caps will increase 1.7 percent each year, in which the new value will be calculated by the Director of the Department of Insurance.  This bill would not place caps on economic damages, such as time off of work and medical expenses.

This measure has been second read in the House and awaits final approval.

Looking forward, as the spring recess comes to an end, we move into the second half of session with many bills left to consider. Among these bills are Senate Bill 142, Senate Bill 285 and Senate Bill 358, all of which relate to EPA and federal governmental overreach. I look forward to tackling these issues, along with many others, in the final days of session and building a stronger and more productive Missouri for all.