Springing Bills Forward

In the week leading up to daylight savings time, I enjoyed springing several pieces of legislation forward. On March 6, my Local Government and Elections Committee voted to pass two proposals, Senate Joint Resolutions 12 and 30. Pending voter approval, SJR 12 will create a standard for initiative petitions to meet the single subject requirement similar to the policies passed by the Legislature, and SJR 30 will prohibit ranked choice voting in Missouri.

In terms of my legislation, I helped spring forward two proposals when I presented them to committees. The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee heard my Senate Bill 132 on March 7, a proposal related to animal confiscation. The MO Federation of Animal Owners has been working on this legislation for years to help level the playing field for animal owners who have to post a bond for the release of their pet. Many animal shelters across the state charge a boarding and veterinary care fee for animals they have confiscated. While I would never endorse a policy which would return a pet to an abusive situation, sometimes these animals are confiscated for reasons unbeknownst to the owner. If a person is innocent, this bill will enable them to retrieve their pet without paying fees.

I closed out the week’s committee work on March 8 and presented Senate Bill 421 to the General Laws Committee. This bill requires physicians to use the electronic death registration system to certify deaths, which I believe will eliminate errors and reduce the fraud that can occur with paper certificates. Utilizing the electronic system will expedite the process for families to obtain death certificates, properly remove deceased Missourians from voter rolls and terminate the deceased’s public assistance benefits.

The Senate has adjourned for the annual legislative spring break. I will send my next capitol report when we return to Jefferson City the week of March 20. Until then, I look forward to spending time in our community and catching up on some chores I have put off since January. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you again for the privilege of serving you in the Missouri Senate. The calls, visits and input I receive from you are instrumental in helping me decide how to vote on particular issues.

Senior Service Awards

If you know a person over 60 who has volunteered and served in our community, please consider nominating them for the lieutenant governor’s Senior Service Award. Call 573-751-1088 for more information or click here to nominate a deserving senior before the March 20 deadline.