With just four weeks left to go our time left in the 2015 legislative session is coming to a close. As a result, our days are getting longer and our focus has shifted from long committee hearings to more time debating legislation on the Senate floor.

Conference committees are made up of five members of the House and five of the Senate. They meet to review the bill and determine what if any changes will be accepted. Once a majority of the conference committee members agree on a version a report is created that then goes to each house for a final vote. Though the process sounds relatively easy it can be difficult depending on what changes were made and how much they alter the underlying bill. Further, the process requires an extra hurdle whereby the members of each chamber have to review the conference committee version of the bill and decide to vote for or against it. As we move through the final weeks of the legislative session, this process will become more common.

I currently serve on a conference committee for Senate Bill 11, a bill I wrote about in a previous column. That bill contains language to reform a few of our ethics laws here in Missouri. The particular topics it tackles are those of the revolving door policy which sets a limit on how long a legislator must wait before he or she can become a lobbyist. Right now a legislator can become a lobbyist immediately. It also includes a gift limit to legislators, a debate that has been ongoing in the legislature. Some advocate for no limit while others prefer to see a limit of $25 per lobbyist per gift. Negotiations on those points are in progress and will ultimately result in a conference committee report on the bill.

While I mentioned that our time in committees is beginning to become less and less, we still had the opportunity to hear several bills this week, including House versions of some of the bills I sponsored. I also had the opportunity to debate a few of the bills I sponsored on the Senate floor, including SJR 12 which proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing parents the right to control the education of their minor child. After some debate on the topic the bill was placed on the informal calendar where it can be called back up for debate at any time in the future.

Legislation I filed pertaining to the use of paper ballots, was voted out of the Senate Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections committee. I appreciate the support from Senators who serve on that committee as I believe that protecting the integrity and transparency of our elections is extremely important. In addition to a vote on that bill, Senators in the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee voted to pass out legislation aimed at providing additional time for consumers to review health care plans prior to the open enrollment period. I sponsored this bill in the Senate and Representative Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, filed it in the House. I believe the bill is an important step in providing consumers more time to study the available plans before making the important decision of which is best for them. 

I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to bring each of these bills before the Senate body for debate, along with a few other bills that I will be handling for House sponsors this session, including a bill originally filed by Representative Kurt Bahr, R-O’Fallon. The bill protects a homeowner’s right to display political signs in their yards, despite rules created by Home Owners Associations. This First Amendment protection is an extremely important one that I look forward to supporting and passing through the Senate.

As always, we had a number or visitors stop by the office this week, including a great group of students from John Weldon Elementary School in Dardenne Prairie. I am grateful for the time our visitors take out of their busy schedules to advocate for issues important to them. I always appreciate hearing the differing perspectives on the many topics we consider each and every day.

Thank you for your continued interest in my work at the Capitol. I am grateful for your support and am honored to serve you!

Very Sincerely,

Sen. Bob Onder
2nd District