General Column – Week of December 29, 2008
2009 Legislative Session Set to Begin
Senators Prepare to Tackle More Than 140 Pre-Filed Senate Bills
Jefferson City—As 2008 comes to a close, Missouri senators are gearing up for the 2009 legislative session, which commences in one week. The Missouri Senate will welcome six new senators to the Capitol when the First Regular Session of the 95th General Assembly convenes at noon on January 7, 2009.
Topping the legislative agenda for 2009 will be the state budget. Lawmakers will likely be working with a budget shortfall for fiscal year 2009 and be facing significantly less funding for fiscal year 2010, making crafting a state budget plan particularly challenging. The General Assembly is required by the Missouri Constitution to have a budget on the governor’s desk by May 8, 2009.
More than 140 Senate bills have been pre-filed, including a bill sponsored by Sen. Rita Heard Days (D-St. Louis) that would allow advance voting in Missouri. Senate Bill 21 would create a system to allow voters to cast advance ballots at central voting locations and satellite sites across the state, which would help reduce wait times on Election Day.
Also on the pre-filed list is Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Napton). Similar to a bill the senator sponsored last session, SB 29 would implement a biodiesel standard in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Agriculture would issue a determination as soon as it finds that the price of biodiesel or biodiesel-blended fuel has, on average, been less than or equal to the cost of conventional diesel fuel for one year. By the later of either June 1, 2011, or 120 days after the price has been determined, all diesel fuel sold at retail in Missouri would be a biodiesel-blended fuel.
Senate Bill 65, sponsored by Sen. Scott T. Rupp (R-Wentzville), will also be up for discussion in 2009. The legislation would expand the state’s no-call list to include personal cell phone numbers. It would also prohibit solicitations via faxing, graphic imaging or data communication, including text messaging, as well as prohibit certain types of automated calls.
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.
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