Lawmakers to Reconvene for Veto Session in Coming Weeks
Jefferson City — This week most of the bills passed during the 2008 legislative session that have not previously taken effect will officially become law.
The 1945 Missouri Constitution provides that any law passed by the General Assembly cannot take effect until at least 90 days after the end of the session in which it was enacted, with two exceptions — budget bills and bills with emergency clauses. Budget bills take effect at the beginning of the new fiscal year, or July 1, and emergency clauses must be passed during the session as part of a particular bill. Bills containing emergency clauses take effect immediately upon receiving the governor’s signature. Still other bills specify the exact date when they are to take effect and may not be enacted until months after the Aug. 28 effective date.
Lawmakers are also gearing up for the veto session, which takes place at the Capitol the week of September 8. Both chambers could potentially discuss the bills that were vetoed by the governor this summer, and may vote to overturn any or all of the vetoes.
Three Senate bills received a veto, and will be returned to the upper chamber with the governor’s objections. One House bill was also vetoed along with five line item vetoes in various budget bills. A two-thirds vote is required by both the Senate and the House to override a governor’s veto. Of the 578 Senate bills introduced during the 2008 legislative session, 61 were passed, and 58 received the governor’s signature. Seventy-six House Bills were signed into law.
This column will be written on a monthly basis until December 2008. To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can research legislation, learn more about their Senate district, or watch video or listen to audio highlights of the Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly. The First Regular Session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly begins Jan. 7, 2009.
