No signs of Slowing Down Following Spring Break Return
Windsor High School Thespians Jessika Banderman, Thomas Decker, Anna Weber and Michelle Dalaviras visited with me to talk about the important role that theater has played in their lives. Windsor has a wonderful theater program and if you are looking for an entertaining evening, check out one of its shows!
Jefferson County resident Haley Clark met with me to discuss the important mission of the March of Dimes. This organization focuses on neonatal care, and she talked about legislation that would create a pilot program targeting neonatal abstinence syndrome.
I had the opportunity to speak with students from Our Lady Queen of Peace. They were visiting the Capitol on a school trip to learn about the legislative process and to see government in action. These students were bright and asked some great questions.
Members of the Jefferson County Growth Association (JCGA) met with their elected leaders in my office this week. The JCGA is making a positive difference in Jefferson County. I also heard about their plans for the solar eclipse. We had a great discussion about education, tourism and taking care of our homeless population.
Legislative Action on the Senate Floor
On Monday, the Senate perfected two bills. The first bill, Senate Bill 488 pertains to land conveyances and passed with little controversy. Next was SB 293, which would increase the per ton fee for explosives for mining. Additionally, the Senate passed several consent bills including SB 30 allowing for consolidation of road districts; SB 411, which would authorize the addition of Franklin County to the interstate compact and create the Bi-State Metropolitan Development District; SB 161, which would establish the Schoolcraft Ozark Exploration Bicentennial Commission; SB 134, which would move elections for streetlight maintenance district board members from the November general election to the April general municipal election; SB 300, which would modify provisions relating to governing bodies of school districts; SB 486, which would authorize the conveyance of a certain state property in Cole County to the City of Jefferson; SB 421, which would authorize the conveyance of certain state properties in Jackson County to the City of Independence; and SB 306, which would authorize the treasurer of a seven-director school district to use one or more sureties when entering into a bond to the state.
On Tuesday, the Senate took up a utilities regulation reform bill, SB 190. There were two different substitutions offered and several bill-killing amendments. Ultimately after several hours of debate, the bill was laid over. After SB 128, concerning the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, was perfected, the Senate moved to more consent bills and passed SB 404, which would repeal certain provisions relating to the shipment and sale of wine for personal use; SB 355, which relates to road signs for educational institutions; SB 503, which would designate a state 911 coordinator; SB 399, which pertains to vehicle composition requirements; SB 501, which relates to vaccine protocol; and SB 478, which concerns the personal information data of students.
On Wednesday, the Senate got moving on the perfection calendar, offering a chance for many Senators to perfect some of their priority pieces of legislation. The bills perfected included SB 213, which would establish requirements for certain settlement offers of tort claims that must be accepted within a specified period of time; SB 18, which would modify the law relating to business fees; SB 195, which would establish the Supporting and Strengthening Families Act relating to guardianships; SB 160, which would create the Foster Care Bill of Rights; SB 114, which would modify the law relating to vacancies in the office of the county commissioner; SB 35, which would modify provisions relating to land purchases made on behalf of departments of the state; SB 124, which would provide that change in population shall not remove a city, county or political subdivision from operation of a law; SB 283, which would establish requirements for certain settlement offers of tort claims which must be accepted within a specified period of time; SB 22, which would modify provisions relating to hazardous waste; SB 184, which would allow water and sewer corporations to request a revenue stabilization mechanism (RSM) rate schedule authorizing periodic rate adjustments outside of a general rate proceeding. Discussion and debate about SB 190, which would modify provisions relating to ratemaking for public utilities, took up most of the floor time.
On Thursday, the Senate third read and passed all the bills that were perfected earlier in this week.