Senator Elaine Gannon’s Capitol Report for May 5, 2023

Better Late than Never

Five days remain in the 2023 session. With adjournment looming, legislators are hurriedly trying to put a “better late than never” seal of approval on a flurry of legislation en route to the governor’s desk to be signed into law. One of these measures is my Senate Bill 45, which extends MO HealthNet coverage to postpartum women to one full year. Since the House added multiple amendments to the Senate’s approved version, ranging from rural emergency hospitals to dentists administering vaccines, an agreement on SB 45 will be worked out in a conference committee of senators from both parties. Help for new moms and reducing our state’s maternal mortality rates is definitely better late than never!

The priority this week was putting the finishing touches on the operating budget for FY ‘24, a task taken up by several designated conference committees from both parties and chambers. Next year’s budget is the largest to date in Missouri history at roughly $50 billion. I’ll provide an in-depth summary of the “truly agreed to and finally passed” budget in next week’s report.

This first week of May was also packed with the final committee hearings of the session. I have been honored to chair the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee this year and believe we have advanced a number of proposals aimed at helping local communities and strengthening our election laws. With over 70 referred bills to consider, my committee has conducted weekly hearings, listened to countless testimonials and given the “do pass” recommendation to more than 20 measures heard. Since this is the First Regular Session of the 102nd General Assembly, I look forward to facilitating this committee’s discussions again in 2024.

It’s interesting to note that as the first bill I filed this session is approaching the finish line, the last bill I filed this year had a hearing this week. Senate Bill 665 modifies our current, vague law and sets a precedence for placing children who have been removed from the home with a suitable grandparent or relative, in lieu of the foster care system. This issue has grown near and dear to my heart since becoming a grandmother, and I believe in most instances, family members are generally much better suited at minimizing trauma and have a vested interest in caring for their own.

I’m pleased to report Senate Bill 47 passed in the House on May 3. In addition to exempting homeless children and domestic abuse survivors from paying fees to obtain legal documents, the measure was amended to include disabled placard renewals, provisions for digital asset mining, the Regulatory Sandbox Act and others. I’m hopeful with a week remaining, we’ll be able to come to an agreement on the language and send this proposal to the governor.