We are rapidly approaching the end of session, and that means more bills are being passed in both chambers of the Legislature in the hopes of being sent to the governor’s desk. One priority we passed this week was House Bill 903, which prohibits the ownership of real property by foreign entities. This is an important step forward to protect Missourians from foreign interests and help maintain our sovereignty as a state. We must protect one of Missouri’s most precious natural resources, our farmland. Since the Senate made changes to the House version of this legislation, it will need one more “yes” vote from the Missouri House of Representatives before it can be sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Additionally, the Senate passed Senate Bill 190 to provide tax relief for senior citizens; Senate Bill 275, which creates a state and local sales tax exemption for utilities, equipment and materials used to generate or transmit electricity; and Senate Bill 542, which provides that no member of the Missouri National Guard shall be required by the governor or the Adjutant General to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of state service.

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 378, which I filed to allow the executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission to extend the deadline for submitting campaign finance reports if there are extraordinary circumstances, such as the internet outage that occurred last year on the deadline date. This bill also bans lobbyist gifts for elected local government officials.

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee began their work on the Fiscal Year 2024 state operating budget. After discussing each bill, the committee will pass committee versions of House Bills 1-13, 15 & 17-20, which will then be debated on the Senate floor. Passing a balanced state operating budget is the General Assembly’s sole constitutional requirement during legislative session, and we must meet this obligation by the deadline on May 5 at 6 p.m. 

I am here to serve you, and my office door is always open to your questions, concerns and suggestions. You can reach my staff at 573-751-3931, and you can visit senate.mo.gov/Rowden for an array of legislative and constituent resources.

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