My fellow St. Louisans,
I cannot fully express what an honor it is to serve in this position for a second term. As the first senator since Sen. J.B. “Jet” Banks to be elected to represent District 5 for a second term, I look forward to continually working to fight for my constituents and better the state of Missouri. I am ready to move forward with the work of the Senate.
The people of the 5th Senate District deserve a strong, responsible legislator who supports their needs and provides a better state in which to live. Constituents throughout Missouri need to know that they are being served by their legislators, and that action is on the horizon to make the Show-Me State a place where we can live, work and be proud to call home.
This month, the 99th Missouri General Assembly convened for the first regular session, marking the beginning of what promises to be a historic year in Missouri politics. With the Senate and the House still firmly controlled by the Republicans, expect bitter partisan battles over major issues such as Medicaid expansion, Right-to-Work legislation and minimum wage laws.
Despite the political climate, I will continue my focus on education, economic development and social justice. So that you will be informed and able to keep track of my efforts as your state senator, I have listed below the legislative bills I have filed. I welcome your input, and I look forward to continue being the strong voice for the voiceless this legislative session.
- Senate Bill 52 Suicide Awareness and Prevention: This bill would create several provisions relating to suicide awareness and prevention.
- Senate Bill 53 Affirmative Consent: This bill would require higher education institutions to inform students and employees about affirmative consent to sexual activity.
- Senate Bill 54 Leave of Employment: The bill would create new provisions of law relating to leave from employment.
- Senate Bill 180 The Pregnant Offender Transportation, Evaluation and Correctional Treatment Act: The bill would limit the use of physical restraints on pregnant or postpartum offenders.
- Senate Bill 181 Lost/Stolen Firearms: This bill would require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
- Senate Bill 217 Soup Kitchen Donations: This bill would expand eligibility for the food-pantry-donation tax credit to include soup-kitchen donations.
- Senate Bill 218 Addressing Homelessness: This bill would establish the Missouri Emergency Solutions Grant Program to address the problem of homelessness in Missouri.
- Senate Bill 219 Funding for Our Schools: This bill would create the Missouri Care Counts Program to provide funding to school districts and public charter schools in St. Louis to purchase washing machines and dryers.
- Senate Bill 253 Protecting Our Drivers: The bill would prohibit any person from sending, reading or writing text messages or other electronic messages while operating a motor vehicle.
- Senate Bill 254 Increasing the Minimum Wage: This bill would increase the minimum wage from $7.65 to $10.
- Senate Bill 255 Every Child Can Learn Act: This bill would require Missouri’s education department and school districts to implement new governance and instructional strategies for public and charter schools, teacher employment and student transfers.
- Senate Bill 287Reducing Bias In Policing: This bill would prohibit law-enforcement agencies from engaging in bias policing, or policing in which an officer’s or agency’s actions are based on the perceived race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, English language proficiency, disability or national origin of a person.
- Senate Bill 288 Upkeep of the Law Library: The bill would allow for the circuit court in the City of St. Louis to collect, upon satisfying specific criteria, a fee not to exceed twenty dollars for the maintenance and upkeep for the law library of the designated county.
- Senate Bill 289 Protecting Our Tenants: This bill would allow a tenant to terminate a lease agreement or change the dwelling’s locks if the tenant or the tenant’s dependent is a victim of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault.
I am proud to represent the city that I love in the Missouri Senate. Thank you for your involvement and support. I am always delighted to see my constituents in the halls of the State Capitol. Please contact me if you would like to schedule a time to visit my office in Jefferson City.
Thank you,
