Weekly Column for March 21, 2019
With legislators gone this week for the legislative spring break, there isn’t the usual hustle and bustle inside the State Capitol. This break is an opportunity for legislators to spend time visiting with constituents in their districts and catch up with family and friends that they have spent limited time with because of their duties in Jefferson City. This week also gives our staff the opportunity to follow up on constituent-related issues. On that note, if you ever have trouble working with one of our state agencies or departments, please contact my office and we will help you navigate a system that can sometimes be difficult.
This week also marks the halfway point of the regular legislative session. The Senate is known for being a deliberative body, and our pace has reflected that as we have carefully considered the full weight and consequences of the decisions before us. Here are some of the highlights from the work that we’ve done during the first half of the 2019 legislative session:
Drugs and Public Safety
■ Created a more efficient, flexible process to update the state’s list of controlled substances, allowing law enforcement to quickly address new synthetic drugs as they hit the streets;
■ Updated Missouri’s marijuana laws to reflect the passage of medical marijuana;
■ Created uniform rules for the sale and labeling of medical marijuana products to ensure they aren’t marketed to children;
■ Gave cities greater access to, and flexibility to, raise additional funds for local law enforcement;
■ Provided additional resources for 911 services;
Litigation Reform
■ Passed ground-breaking tort reform legislation to limit out-of-state court shopping in St. Louis city, ensuring Missourians have efficient access to the courts they pay for;
■ Gave small business owners additional protections from junk lawsuits;
■ Clarified the employer/employee relationship for owners of franchise businesses;
Assisting Missourians in Need
■ Restored and reformed housing tax credits for working families and seniors, capping program costs to save taxpayers millions;
■ Reformed insurance coverage to provide therapeutic care for people with autism, developmental and physical disabilities;
■ Streamlined processes and reprioritized criteria in guardianship proceedings to deliver better outcomes;
Lifting Regulations
■ Reduced barriers to enter the workforce and made licensing processes more efficient;
Balanced Budget
■ Wrapped up the 2019 fiscal year by passing the supplemental budget; and
■ Began work on balancing the state’s 2020 operating budget.
One of our top legislative priorities this session has been to make government more efficient, flexible and responsive to Missourian’s needs and our accomplishments reflect that.
It is an honor to serve you in the Missouri Senate. Please do not hesitate to contact my office at (573) 751-3678 or by email at dave.schatz@senate.mo.gov if you have any questions.