We have completed the Second Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly with a few successes. The four and a half months that make up the legislative session go by quickly, which means diligently working for those things people in northeast Missouri have asked me to do in Jefferson City.
Agriculture
House Bill 1414 seeks to exempt data collected by state agencies under the federal Animal Disease Traceability Program from disclosure under Missouri’s sunshine law. Only in the case of a health-related outbreak should the information be public.
Senate Bill 655 seeks to repeal the Advisory Council to the director of the Missouri Agriculture Experiment Station and establish the Fertilizer Control Board. The Board would be composed of 13 members. Along with members of industry and agriculture, we worked on this change for four years.
Senate Bill 582 was combined with Senate Bill 620, which seemed to do the trick, since it has been sent to the executive branch. The goal of this proposal is to have the Missouri State Board of Education and Career and Technical Education Advisory Council establish minimum requirement for a career and technical education certificate that a student can earn in addition to their high school diploma. This would start with the 2017-18 school year.
In addition, this measure would change the composition of the Advisory Council. Instead of the governor appointing the Council’s members, the commissioner of education would make these appointments. This way, membership of the Council would not be viewed as a political nomination. This is a change I have worked on for two years.
Senate Bill 657 would make changes to some of the laws relating to liability for the use of incompatible motor fuel.
Personal Rights
Senate Bill 656 was sent to the executive branch on the final day of session. There are several important components to this proposal.
This measure would change the law to allow you to protect yourself and your family in public. Current law requires you to run from an approaching attacker and not defend yourself. If you do try and protect yourself, YOU could be in trouble, not the person trying to harm you.
The bulk of Senate Bill 656 pertains to conceal-carry permits. For instance, we clarified that five-year permits can only cost $100, except for a service charge for a credit or debit card. People in the military whose conceal-carry permits expire while they are serving somewhere would be allowed an extension, so they do not have to worry about it expiring. Also, any Missourian who meets the requirements for a conceal-carry permit and pays a $500 fee for the permit would have the permit for life. In choosing this option, they lose reciprocity with other states’ carry laws.
Ethics Reform
Ethics reform was a major topic of discussion this year, and House Bill 1983 was among the first measures to be sent to the governor. Starting Aug. 28, no statewide elected official or member of the Missouri General Assembly will be able to serve as a paid political consultant. This is a big deal because a growing number of elected senators or representatives would stay on the job at the same time as they would work for, or consult on a political campaign. We can now say we have put an end to this practice in Missouri.
House Bill 1477 would amend laws relating to the elections of political parties’ committees. The citizens of each county, and St. Louis City, have the ability to organize a central committee for each party. This measure allows more local input for their reorganization.
Unemployment
Senate Bill 702 and House Bill 1530 would modify the law relating to unemployment compensation benefits. This measure would allow the recovery of overpaid unemployment compensation benefits; benefits obtained by reason of nondisclosure or misrepresentation of a material fact; or benefits obtained by reason of error, omission or lack of knowledge of a material fact on the part of the Missouri Division of Employment Security through billing, setoffs against state and federal tax refunds, intercepts of lottery winnings and collection efforts as provided under current law.
Miscellaneous
House Bill 2381 would change the laws regarding mine property.
House Bill 1976 seeks to change the laws regarding service contracts and put parameters on the towing industry in first-, second-class and charter counties.
Unsuccessful
Senate Bill 584 was not as successful as we would have liked. This measure would have allowed those licensed by the Missouri Department of Agriculture to grow and handle industrial hemp. As I have stressed many times, this proposal had nothing to do with legalizing marijuana, but would have done a lot to help farmers, thanks to the many benefits of hemp.
With the session complete, I now have the chance to focus on my farming and spend the summer talking to people as I travel throughout the district. I look forward to speaking with you over the next few months.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you.