Per the Missouri Constitution, the General Assembly meets annually on the first Wednesday following the second Monday in September to consider overriding bills vetoed by the governor. The governor vetoed 34 bills during the last session, which ended in May, one of which took place early enough in the year that the Legislature took it up for override during the regular session. There were also 120 line-items which were vetoed.

Constitutionally, veto sessions can last as long as 10 days. The bills up for veto consideration will begin the process in the chamber where they originated, Senate or House. It takes a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers to override the governor’s veto, which means 23 of the 34 senatorial seats, and 109 of the 163 seats in the House.

As we approach veto session, there are a number of bills my colleagues and I will most likely take into consideration. Senate Bill 493, a bill I sponsored to address our state’s school accreditation and student transfer issues, will probably be brought up for a possible override. This bill received overwhelming bipartisan support during the legislative session and passed 28-3. I look forward to addressing the Senate on this topic and overriding the governor’s veto.

Other bills up for veto override consideration include Senate Bill 694, which would eliminate rollovers, increase annual licensing fees for payday lenders from $300 to $500 per location, as well as require the clear and visible posting of loan fees. This was a good compromise piece of legislation designed to reform the payday industry. Other bills most likely taken up during veto session include Senate Bill 506, which modifies provisions related to agriculture, and House Bill 1307, which changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours after the initial consultation with the doctor who will perform the procedure.

I always look forward to returning to the Capitol for veto session and to debate bills that are important to my constituents. I encourage you to contact my office to express your views on legislation that will be addressed during the veto session. It is an honor to serve the 21st District as its voice, making the difficult choices that are necessary and ensuring our state remains fiscally responsible in the face of tough decisions.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.