Public Hearings in Full Swing

Now that hundreds of proposals have been second read and referred to committees, numerous hearings have been scheduled and conducted. This step of the legislative process allows legislators to ask questions and vet legislation, while providing an opportunity for citizens, experts and advocacy groups to voice their opinions and concerns. If you see a bill that interests you, I strongly encourage you to get involved and testify at a hearing. Please reach out to my team if you need assistance with this or any other legislative matter. 

I had the honor of presenting three more pieces of my legislation to committees this week. During the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee hearing on Feb. 7, I presented two proposals to memorialize fallen heroes from our community. Senate Bill 1067 will designate the Police Chief Mason Griffith Memorial Highway in Gasconade County to honor an officer and friend who perished in the line of duty last March. Chief Griffith was loved by all and contributed greatly to the Hermann and Rosebud communities. He was also a friend of mine that I met during my run for office. I’m hopeful we will pass this legislation this year to honor his memory and service to our community.  

The other bill I presented was Senate Bill 1308 which will designate a portion of Missouri Route 63 in Osage County as the POW/MIA Staff Sergeant Paul Hasenbeck Memorial Highway in remembrance of this valiant 19-year-old soldier from Freeburg who went missing during a mission in south Vietnam. Watch my hearing presentations on these bills here.

Later that day, I presented Senate Bill 912 (photo left) to the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Pensions Committee. My proposal authorizes permanently disabled veterans to use their statement from the U.S. Veterans Commission as verification of their status and extends the period to renew their disabled license plate or windshield placard from four to eight years. The other provision in my bill waives the $15 fee for qualified veterans to apply for personalized military plates. I am hopeful these measures pass to show our veterans a token of our gratitude for their selfless service.

I’m pleased to report my legislation to close a loophole in the Department of Health and Senior Services’ rulemaking authority passed out of the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee on Feb. 8. The next step will be debating this measure with my colleagues on the Senate floor.

State of the Judiciary

On Feb. 7, lawmakers convened in the House chamber for the annual State of the Judiciary address. During her delivery, the chief justice praised Missouri’s first female-majority bench and stressed the importance of mental health courts and increased services for juveniles. 

Welcoming County Commissioners

Before the State of the Judiciary, I had the opportunity to introduce two special guests from our community in the Senate chamber. Joe Gildehaus is the presiding commissioner of Warren County, and Tim Brinker serves in this role in Franklin County. They were at the Capitol to meet with legislators and advocate for their county-specific needs. 

Honoring Missouri’s Future Agricultural Leaders

The week started by welcoming our state’s FFA officers to the Capitol and presenting a resolution to a young leader from our community, Kelsey Miller. A 2023 graduate of Warrenton High School, Kelsey currently serves as a state vice president for Missouri FFA following her terms as president of the Warrenton FFA Chapter and second vice president of the Area V FFA Association. Miss Miller has won numerous contests, is an honored recipient of the Workhorse Award and graduated from the prestigious Missouri Agribusiness Academy in 2021.

Regional Presidential Caucuses

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a bill to enhance the security and integrity of Missouri elections. One provision in the law eliminated the state’s presidential primary elections, reverting back to regional caucuses in which each party selects its presidential nominee to send to its corresponding national convention. Contact your county’s political committees for more specific information or to find out how you can get involved. 

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Since the beginning of session, many have contacted my office seeking clarification on the lawmaking process. You can find written directions and general information here. For the visual learners like myself, here is a simple graphic that explains how a bill becomes a law.

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.