Greetings,

The Missouri General Assembly’s 2018 legislative session is over halfway through, and the Senate has been a flurry of activity. A few weeks ago, our body passed a bill to raise the age at which young Missourians are prosecuted for criminal activity in adult courts, as opposed to remaining within the juvenile justice system. Currently, 17-year-olds are judged as adults. Senate Bill 793 aims to change that, requiring those younger than 18 to be prosecuted as juveniles for most criminal offenses. The proposal awaits further action in the House of Representatives.

I supported this legislation, as did many of my Senate colleagues; Senate Bill 793 passed without a single vote in opposition. The unanimity of our approval is a testament to the necessity of this bill. Too often, adult prisons serve as training grounds for future crime. By allowing minors to be locked up alongside hardened criminals, we’re making their rehabilitation less likely. It’s vital we stop this vicious cycle before it even begins.

Sometimes a senator’s job is to support good legislation, but other times it is just as important to stop bad legislation. A couple of weeks ago the Senate tried to adopt language altering House Bill 1291 to limit the ability of Kansas City to raise certain local taxes beyond a specified amount. I was strongly against this measure, which would have stripped power away from the people of Kansas City. In effect, this proposal was an attempt to constrain the valid self-governance of one of our state’s largest cities. I fought against this amendment on the Senate floor, ultimately defeating the measure.

I was happy to successfully champion an amendment to another piece of legislation, Senate Bill 850, which has been passed by the Senate and is currently being considered by the House of Representatives. The bill would change how Missouri keeps records of child abuse and neglect investigations, making the process more effective and responsive. My amendment, championed in the name of Adrian Jones, a victim of one of the most horrific incidences of child abuse in Kansas City, would make it easier for social service agencies to share information across state lines. This is important; just because an abusive guardian moves from one state to another does not mean that he or she should escape culpability for improper childcare.

Below, you will find a chart tracking the progress of every bill I have sponsored during the 2018 legislative session. These proposals are important to Missourians of all backgrounds. I look forward to discussing each and every one of them before the Missouri Senate.

Please know I value your input, and I invite you to visit my Capitol office if you are ever in Jefferson City. You may access my Senate website at senate.mo.gov/curls.

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