Senator Elaine Gannon’s Capitol Report for March 7, 2024

Daylight Overtakes Darkness

March is such a welcome month after the long and dreary winter. Daylight savings begins, colorful perennials dot the barren landscape and we finally get to enjoy more hours of sunlight than darkness. March also signals the halfway point of the legislative session, and when lawmakers return from spring break on March 25, each chamber will begin the deliberation process on proposals passed by the other.

I was proud to shed more light on the importance of prenatal care and increased testing when I explained the merits of Senate Bill 1260 to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on March 6. This legislation will enable pregnant women to consent to another round of blood tests at 28 weeks to detect sexually transmitted and other metabolic diseases. The bill also adds hepatitis C and HIV to the list of screened diseases and authorizes the appropriate medical treatment for women who test positive. Healthy moms equal healthy babies, so this is one more precautionary step to take to prevent newborns from contracting diseases and ensure better health outcomes for mom and baby.

March 1 was the last day to introduce legislation for 2024, and it was bittersweet for me to file the last three bills of my legislative career. Senate Bill 1481 will require public and charter schools to develop a written policy on students’ possession and use of cell phones, and Senate Bill 1495 will give more leverage and voting rights to surviving spouses within the Police Retirement System. 

My final proposal, Senate Bill 1494, is similar in scope to bills I’ve carried in previous sessions and will establish the “End Hospital Institutionalization Act.” The goal is to address the growing problem of hospitals “boarding” children who are medically ready for discharge but have no place to go by allowing juvenile courts to intervene and find suitable placement. 

Nominate a Deserving Senior Citizen for an Award

The lieutenant governor’s office is now accepting nominations for the prestigious 2024 Senior Service Awards. These awards celebrate seniors’ positive accomplishments and their volunteer service in local communities. If you know a Missourian over the age of 60 who has contributed significantly, consider nominating them for an award. Nomination forms and additional information are available here. 

Don’t Be a Statistic

More than 6,000 Missourians are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, but with early detention, women have a 99% five-year survival rate. Don’t be a statistic, educate yourself on this disease and the importance of regular screenings by visiting Gateway to Hope’s website at mobreasthealth.org.