Progress at the Midpoint

Spring is here and the Senate is at the midpoint of the legislative session. It’s a good time to look back at what’s been accomplished and look forward to our goals for the rest of session.

I am proud my Senate Bill 754 has passed through the Senate. This public safety bill includes “Max’s Law,” a piece of legislation I have worked on for multiple years to raise the penalties for injuring or killing a K9 officer. Right now, it is a more serious crime to knock out the window of a police car than it is to kill a police K9. “Max’s Law,” raises the crime of killing a K9 officer to a felony offense, which means if someone is convicted they could spend time in prison for that crime. 

Another provision within SB 754 is “Valentine’s Law.” This legislation is named after a St. Louis police officer who was killed in a high-speed pursuit. The law creates a separate crime for fleeing from law enforcement. When suspects flee from law enforcement it creates an undue risk, not only for the officers but for the public at large.  The bill also bans celebratory gun fire through “Blair’s Law,” among several other provisions. This bill will help protect Missouri and its citizens. I’m proud it has made its way through the Senate already this year.

I am also proud the Senate passed Senate Bill 756. Last year, I sponsored Senate Bill 190  which froze property taxes for seniors on Social Security. It passed and was signed into law by the governor. However, it excluded seniors on public pensions, such as teachers and firefighters. This bill expands the tax credit to be available to all seniors, regardless of whether they qualify for Social Security. My hope is that this encourages more counties to adopt SB 190’s protections, applying this benefit to more seniors in Missouri. 

After we return from legislative spring break, the Senate will receive the budget from the House. Traditionally, the budget starts in the House and then moves over to the Senate where we will mark it up in the Appropriations Committee. 

I’m excited to get to work on the budget this year. This year I’ll focus on resources for the 139^th Airlift Wing of the National Guard in St. Joseph to help acquire new J-model planes from the federal government. These new planes will help the 139^th fulfill its mission at home and abroad.

Another budget priority is the Northland Career Center. The Senate provided funding for this project last year. With rising construction costs due to inflation, the project is in need of additional funding. It’s going to be an amazing facility once completed, serving students in the Northland by providing career technical education to students in high school and preparing our workforce for the future.

The General Assembly is required to pass the budget by the end of the first full week of May. I’m excited to get to work for the second half of session.

The Senate will reconvene on March 25.

It is my great honor to represent the citizens of Platte and Buchanan counties in the Missouri Senate. Please contact my office at 573-751-2183, or visit senate.mo.gov/Luetkemeyer.

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