The 2024 Legislative Session Is Underway

The Senate gavel dropped at noon on Jan. 3, signaling the official start of the Second Regular Session of the 102nd General Assembly. Now that I have a year under my belt and am better acclimated to the customs of the Senate and the fundamentals of the legislative process, I am eager to get to work on the hundreds of proposals the Legislature will consider this session. 

Every bill I file and every vote I take will focus on the following areas:

• Protecting our individual rights.
• Make Missouri Competitive Again by growing our workforce, cutting taxes and eliminating red tape for businesses.
• Ensuring every child has access to a quality education.
• Strengthening and securing our elections. 

I will once again serve on the following Senate committees this session:

• Vice Chairman of Government Accountability
• Member of Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment
• Member of Gubernatorial Appointments
• Member of Insurance and Banking

To date, I have filed 16 Senate bills and two resolutions. I will share more details as these measures progress, but I wanted to give you a brief summary of a few bills I’ll be focusing on, some of which are a carryover from legislation that did not cross the finish line in 2023. 

Senate Bill 817 -- Streamlines the process to obtain professional licensure in Missouri. 

Senate Bill 818 – Closes a loophole and modifies the rulemaking authority of the Department of Health and Senior Services. During the height of the pandemic, county-level rules were made and enforced without oversight or going through the appropriate channels. I believe this legislation strikes the perfect balance of allowing health agencies the power needed to address imminent threats, while also creating safeguards that protect against the potential for harm when these powers are misused.

Senate Bill 819 – As it stands, most MO parents who choose to take on the additional burden of homeschooling their children are not permitted to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. I believe it is wrong for a child to be denied the additional enrichment and life skills that participation in youth athletics provides, simply because their parents wish to take it upon themselves to ensure the quality of their children's education. My legislation would allow homeschooled students to participate in athletics at their local public schools.

Senate Bill 912 – Enables qualified veterans to receive personalized license plates without a fee and simplifies the process for them to renew their disabled plates or placards.

Senate Bill 994 – Ensures local permitting requests are processed in a reasonable timeframe by putting a state-level clock on the permitting process of 60 days. Slow action by local governments can stand in the way of business growth and delay new construction by months, while businesses jump through numerous hurdles.  

Senate Bill 1067 – Designates the “Police Chief Mason Griffith Memorial Highway” in Gasconade County to honor our fallen officer and local hero.

Senate Bill 1068 – Information about upcoming school board races isn't as widely available as in other elections. This legislation establishes the School Board Transparency Act and authorizes the secretary of state to post information about school board members and their term limits on its website.

Senate Bill 1123 – Permits charter schools to be established in any school district within a charter county or in cities with a population greater than 30,000. All Missouri children deserve access to a quality education, and this legislation ensures parents have a choice when it comes to their child’s education. 

Senate Bill 1125 – Prohibits postsecondary institutions from requiring applicants, students, employees or contractors to submit a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement.

Senate Bill 1172 – Requires political subdivisions that mandate the installation of electrical vehicle charging stations to pay for all associated costs. I believe the costs that stem from government mandates should never be passed on to the business owners. 

Senate Joint Resolution 78 – Pending voter approval, this constitutional amendment prohibits ranked-choice voting and ensures that in all future elections, only U.S. citizens will be permitted to vote. 

Senate Joint Resolution 79 – Pending voter approval, SJR 79 will restrict the use of initiative petitions (IP) for certain topics, prohibit foreign IP activities and increase the threshold to pass an IP to both a majority of the votes cast statewide, as well as in a majority of our state’s eight congressional districts. 

If you haven’t participated in the legislative process before, 2024 is a great time to start. Bookmark the Senate website to track legislation, listen to live debates and view a hearing schedule. Offer to be legislators’ go-to in your area of expertise and plan to attend and testify at a hearing. My team and I look forward to working with and hearing from you this session. 

It is an honor serving those who call the 26th Senatorial District home. If you need assistance with navigating state government or the legislative process, please reach out by calling 573-751-3678 or emailing Ben.Brown@senate.mo.gov.