For Immediate Release:  Feb. 2, 2023

Capitol Building, Room 425, Jefferson City, MO 65101

2023 Missouri Legislative Session Update

The 2023 Missouri legislative session is well underway, and this is the first of several regular Capitol reports that will come from my office to keep you updated. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m State Sen. Tracy McCreery. On Jan. 4, I took the oath of office and was sworn in as a member of the 102nd General Assembly representing the 24th Senatorial District. The swearing in ceremony marked the start of the 2023 legislative session, which runs through Friday, May 12.

Committee Assignments

During the second week of session, senators received their committee assignments, and I’m proud to report, I will serve on four committees: Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources; Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment; Emerging Issues; and Veterans, Military Affairs and Pensions.

After committees assignments were made, bills were referred, and we quickly got busy with a full schedule of committee hearings. During these hearings, a bill’s sponsor presents his or her proposed legislation, and the public is welcome to participate and voice their opinions. To see which bills are headed to committee, visit senate.mo.gov and click on the Hearings tab to listen to testimony as it happens and read full bill summaries. If you need more information about how to get involved, please contact my office.

Sponsored Bills

On Jan. 18, I was honored to present my first bill — and my priority bill this session— to the Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee. Senate Bill 90 would extend postpartum health care coverage for low income women. Health insurance coverage cuts off on day 60. According to research, many health issues that kill women after they give birth happen from day 61 to day 365. This bill would extend health care coverage to one year postpartum and improve the survival rate and health outcomes of Missouri women and infants. The statistics are really quite shocking. According to a report published in 2022 by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, each year, approximately 60 Missouri women die within one year of being pregnant, and 75% of these deaths are preventable. During his State of the State address on Jan. 18, the governor prioritized improving our state’s high maternal mortality rates, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as more than 100 medical organizations, have expressed support for this idea. I am going to remain hopeful and optimistic that this life-saving, bipartisan bill crosses the finish line.

I filed several other bills, including Senate Bill 91, which would require trained officers investigating animal abuse to call a hotline if they see signs of child or elderly abuse or neglect. I truly believe this could save lives. I’ve filed Senate Bill 431 to close Missouri’s deadly domestic violence loophole which allows convicted abusers to possess firearms. I’ve also sponsored legislation dealing with contraceptive coverage, increasing the minimum wage to $15 an hour and authorizing a tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. All of my sponsored bills are listed below.

Senate Bill 90 – Modifies provisions relating to MO HealthNet services for pregnant and postpartum women

Senate Bill 91 — Modifies provisions relating to abuse and neglect reporting, including a requirement to report companion animal abuse

Senate Bill 431 — Modifies provisions relating to unlawful possession of firearms

Senate Bill 512 — Enacts provisions relating to insurance coverage of prescription contraceptives

Senate Bill 515 — Increases the minimum wage rate incrementally to $15 per hour

Senate Bill 516 — Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of electric vehicles

Senate Bill 548 — Creates the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act

Senate Bill 554 — Creates provisions relating to product repair requirements

Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 — Urges the United States Congress to reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling

It is an honor to serve the 24th Senatorial District. If you ever need anything, please feel free to reach out to myself or my amazing staff, Anne Ogier and Emily O’Laughlin. You can contact my office by phone at 573-751-9762, email at tracy.mccreery@senate.mo.gov or stop by the State Capitol, Room 425. For information about me, my committee assignments or my sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/McCreery.

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