Looking Ahead to the Second Half of Session
The Missouri General Assembly has passed the mid-point of the 2019 legislative session, which began in January and ends in May. During the first half of session, the Senate discussed and debated dozens of proposed bills, sending many of them to the House of Representatives for its consideration. During the second half of session, the Senate will consider legislation sent to us by the House, as the House considers legislation sent to it by the Senate. Both bodies will also turn their attention to finalizing the state operating budget for the 2020 fiscal year, which must be passed before the end of session. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will be heavily involved in this important process.
A few items that are expected to come up for debate between now and May include education reform and transportation funding. Lawmakers are considering measures to enhance Missourians’ educational opportunities at every level, from K-12 schools to workforce development programs. Additionally, members of the Legislature are seeking short-term solutions to address immediate infrastructure needs while exploring ways to ensure long-term sustainability for our state’s highways, bridges and other transportation systems.
The second half of session is when everything starts to come together, and the General Assembly begins sending truly agreed and finally passed bills to the governor’s desk. It’s when we see the pay-off for all the work we’ve put in throughout the year. There’s still much to be done in the remaining weeks of session, and I am looking forward to doing what I can to make government more effective and efficient for the people of Missouri.
As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.