JEFFERSON CITY — The first full week of the spring season ushers lawmakers back to Jefferson City to begin the second half of the 2014 legislative session.  Nearly 1,730 measures were filled this session (excluding withdrawn bills); more than 540 originated in the Senate and over 1,150 were filed in the House of Representatives.

Before lawmakers adjourned for their annual spring recess, the Senate delivered nearly 60 measures to the House, 11 have since been assigned to their respective House committees, and 70 House bills have advanced to the Senate, with 11 assigned to committees in the upper chamber.   

Five Senate bills were signed during the General Assembly’s spring recess.  A legislative package sponsored by Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, was one of the first bills to reach the governor this year.  Senate Bill 649, 650, 651 and 653 will establish a statewide process for telecommunication companies to make infrastructure repairs and improvements.

Senate Bill 668, sponsored by Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, also received the governor’s signature and will require health insurance plans to establish equal out-of-pocket costs for covered oral and intravenously administered chemotherapy medications.

Members of the majority and minority share many of the same priorities for the second half of the 2014 legislative session, including continuing the debate on revising Missouri’s criminal code and fixing the state’s school transfer and school accreditation issue.

Senators in the majority party want to focus on an income tax cut measure, a bonding bill for Fulton State Hospital, and legislation that would cap medical malpractice damages.

Minority party members would like the General Assembly to target Medicaid expansion and fully fund the Missouri’s K-12 school foundation formula, including early childhood education.

Both parties agree passing a fiscally responsible budget by the Legislature’s constitutional deadline tops the list of legislative priorities.  This year, the budget must reach the governor’s desk by Friday, May 9.  The last day of the 2014 legislative session is Friday, May 16.