We are now in the sixth week of the 2018 legislative session and lawmakers are working hard to pass meaningful legislation for the people of Missouri. So far this session, the Senate has introduced 456 pieces of legislation and 16 joint resolutions. I look forward to the rest of session and the great deal of work that is yet to come.
Below is an update on several pieces of legislation I am sponsoring.
Senate Bill 708 increases the minimum motor vehicle liability coverage a person must carry for others’ property, when operating a motor vehicle, according to the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law. The legislation increases the minimum coverage to $25,000. The majority of states near Missouri have gone to $25,000 for minimum liability and the current $10,000 minimum was set over 30 years ago. I filed this legislation because motorists should know that their fellow drivers can at least cover the replacement cost of their car in case of an accident. I expect the full Senate to vote on Senate Bill 708 soon and send the bill to the House of Representatives for consideration.
This map gives an overview of minimum motor vehicle liability coverage amounts across the country:
Senate Bill 750 creates the offense of filing false documents. There is a terrible situation occurring right now where many judges, prosecutors and police are being targeted by activists who use our legal system to make life hard on these public servants. Activists or others with an axe to grind are placing liens on the homes and property of our public servants and it is very difficult to remove these false liens. Senate Bill 750 and the companion bill, House Bill 1769, make filing a false lien a criminal offense and establishes a process to get these fake liens removed. House Bill 1769 has already been passed by the House and I believe the Senate will consider the bill soon.
Senate Bill 759 is a new bill I filed to help provide cost certainty to college students and their families. The bill requires colleges and universities to provide a tuition guarantee to incoming students that effectively freezes tuition for five years. The bill also places fees under the tuition cap. Unfortunately, we have seen some colleges hike fees by thousands of dollars because the current tuition cap has a loophole that exempts professional school fees. As a parent, I have dealt with these problems personally and I know the impact rising tuition and fees has on family budgets. Senate Bill 759 has not been heard in committee yet, but related bills are moving through the process and I am working on those education bills to ensure cost certainty for students and families.
Thank you for reading this weekly column. Please contact my office at (573) 751-3678 if you have any questions.