| Capitol Briefing for the Week of Jan. 5, 2015 | |
Lawmakers Return to Jefferson City for 2015 Session |
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JEFFERSON CITY—The Missouri Senate welcomed six new members to the upper chamber this week, swearing in a total of 17 newly elected and re-elected senators on Wednesday, Jan. 7, the opening day of the First Regular Session of the 98th General Assembly. As family, friends and constituents looked on, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court administered the oath of office. Newly elected senators included:
Lawmakers returning to Jefferson City for their second term included Majority Floor Leader, Ron Richard, R-Joplin; Minority Floor Leader Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis; Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown; Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar; Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; and Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. Following the ceremonial swearing-in, the Senate unanimously re-elected Sen. Dempsey, R-St. Charles, as the Senate President Pro Tem, the highest ranking position in the upper chamber, for the 98th General Assembly. Per tradition, Sen. Dempsey then delivered his opening address, detailing the Senate’s agenda and legislatives priorities for the 2015 session. His speech indicated the Senate will continue its efforts to bolster the agricultural industry in Missouri, noting that roughly two-thirds of state land is used for farming purposes; readdressing education reform, particularly as it relates to the school transfer law that allows students to move from an unaccredited district and enroll in an adjoining accredited district; reining in the practice of municipalities that overly rely on traffic fines to generate local revenue; and creating a balanced, fiscally responsible budget. To view, listen or read the speech, click here or visit www.senate.mo.gov. Committee Assignments The President Pro Tem has announced a handful of committee assignments for the 98th General Assembly. The Senate Administration Committee, which controls all financial obligations and business affairs of the Senate, as well as its offices and seats and the supervision of certain designated employees, among other duties, will be comprised of President Pro Tem Dempsey (chairman); Majority Floor Leader Richard (vice-chairman); Sen. Kehoe; Sen. Keaveny; and Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors. The Gubernatorial Appointments Committee, which considers gubernatorial appointments referred to the panel by the governor, includes President Pro Tem Dempsey (chairman); Majority Floor Leader Richard (vice-chairman); Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar; Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Schaaf; Sen. Schatz; Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale; Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City; Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence; and Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis. The Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee considers rules for the governing of the Senate, reviews matters relating the ethics and conduct of public officials, and examines all bills passed by the Senate. Lawmakers assigned to this panel include Majority Floor Leader Richard (chairman); President Pro Tem Dempsey (vice-chairman); Sen. Dixon; Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff; Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau; Sen. LeVota; and Sen. Walsh. Next week, President Pro Tem Dempsey is expected to announce the remaining committee assignments for the 2015 session. Prefiled and Filed Measures Introduced in Upper Chamber Lawmakers spent their first week in the upper chamber introducing legislation filed before the start of session, a legislative process known as “first reading” of Senate bills. More than 170 measures were prefiled in December 2014. Next week, many of those measures will be second read and then referred to their respective committees. Senators also filed numerous measures this week, further reflecting their legislative priorities for the year. Senate Bill 194, sponsored by Sen. Richard, would extend the date that a business must commence operations to qualify for a business facility tax credit. Senator Schmitt also filed legislation addressing Missouri tax credits. Senate Bill 195 would require all tax credit programs created on or after Aug. 28, 2015 to comply with the Tax Credit Accountability Act of 2004. Senate Bill 196, sponsored by Sen. Schaaf, would ban the use of automated license plate reader systems and automated traffic enforcement systems and restrict storage and use as evidence of data collected prior to enactment. Senator Brow filed two measures this week. Senate Bill 197 would modify provisions relating to MO HealthNet, Missouri’s Medicaid system. Senate Bill 198 would modify the law relating to patch-through telephone calls. Senator Dixon filed a handful of bills, including:
Senator Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, filed three measures during the first week of the 2015 session. Senate Bill 204 requires that an applicant for a navigator license must take an exam created by the Department of Insurance and submit to a criminal background check. Senate Bill 205 would modify regulations relating to insurance holding companies and expands the power of the director of the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. Senate Bill 206 would require insurers to file their own risk and solvency assessment summary reports with the Department of Insurance. Senate Bill 207, sponsored by Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, would authorize an employer to retain an employee’s withholding tax for five years if the employee has graduated with a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) degree from a Missouri Innovation Campus. Senate Bill 208, sponsored by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, would repeal a provision relating to beef commodity merchandising program fees. Also sponsored by Sen. Sater is Senate Bill 209, which would extend the equine activity liability waiver to livestock activities. Senate Bill 210, sponsored by Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, extends the sunset on certain healthcare provider reimbursement allowance taxes. Senate Bill 211, sponsored by Sen. Walsh, would allow human trafficking victims to participate in the address confidentiality program administered by the Secretary of State. Additionally, Sen. Walsh filed legislation that would add an element to the crime of aggravated or first degree stalking. To view a complete list of legislation filed for the 2015 session, click here or visit the Missouri Senate’s official website at www.senate.mo.gov. The Missouri Senate’s Capitol Briefing will be distributed and posted weekly throughout session. For more legislative news, please visit the Senate newsroom at www.senate.mo.gov/newsroom, where you will find various audio and video programs and other informational services, such as:
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