Senator Elaine Gannon’s Capitol Report for Feb. 8, 2024

Let the Sunshine In

As a child of the 60s who was born in early February, I have always loved The 5th Dimension’s song “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” This upbeat melody, with changing tempos and harmonious lyrics, brightens the dullest day and encourages folks to look at the whole picture. Ironically, this tune can also describe the Senate chamber during the second month of session, as the skylights literally let the sunshine in during afternoon debates, and senators take a wide look at passing commonsense solutions for Missouri issues.

My Senate Bill 774 is a great example of a simple fix. This bill will help school boards and municipalities resolve a recently uncovered issue. When I presented my proposal (photo below) to members of the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee on Feb. 5, I explained how slightly changing the filing date for candidates in local elections would proactively address the deadlines that coincide with official holidays, the next of which would occur in April of 2030. I’m hopeful this small modification, which has broad support from statewide advocacy and municipal organizations, will prevent delays or other complications for future candidates in local elections.          

                                                                                                                                        

A newly formed committee I serve on, the Select Committee on Empowering Missouri Parents and Children, held its first hearing this week. One of the proposals we heard establishes the “Public School Open Enrollment Act,” which would enable students to transfer from their resident school district to a nonresident school district. Proponents of this legislation claim students in failing school districts need options. To take an in-depth look at this legislation and determine if there is an actual need for allowing transfers and creating a logistical and accounting nightmare for school districts in my opinion, I’ve asked the bill sponsor for a complete list of Missouri’s “failing” public and charter schools. I was thankful multiple advocacy organizations and experts testified against this bill that I believe will wreak havoc on schools, especially in rural areas where choices and resources are limited. Public schools are the cornerstones of Missouri towns, bringing people together in small and large communities alike.  I hate to think the Legislature would syphon a single cent of constitutionally mandated funds from these community pillars to satisfy a small group of school choice advocates, many of whom have never stepped foot in a classroom. Please educate yourself on this issue and its possible ramifications to get a better grasp of the whole picture.

State of the Judiciary

Lawmakers convened for a joint session in the House chamber on Feb. 7 for the annual State of the Judiciary address. During her delivery, the chief justice praised our state’s historical first female-majority bench and that Missouri now joins only 10 other states where women make up the majority of their highest court. The chief justice also spoke about the new mental health courts and pretrial diversion systems being implemented across the state to steer struggling people toward appropriate treatment, instead of incarceration.

Attention College-Bound Missouri Women!

The Women Legislators of Missouri Caucus is offering 16 $1000 scholarships to qualified female Missouri students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, academics and community service. The deadline to submit an application and a 500-word essay is March 22. Please call 573-751-9760 for more information.