Over the last several weeks, my staff and I have worked hard to produce a wrap-up of major legislation that passed during the 2016 legislative and veto sessions. You should expect to see my end-of-session report in your mailboxes sometime in the next several weeks. In the meantime, the newsletter is available online on my website.
This four-page newsletter contains a wealth of information on some of the most hotly debated and relevant pieces of legislation. Most of my legislation deals with making life easier for everyday Missourians and making their interactions with state government as hassle-free as possible.
The newsletter discusses Senate Bill 641, which is sure to be a benefit to farmers throughout the state, and especially the 26th District, as it will ensure the rare instances of agricultural disaster payments are not taxed. House Bill 2380 contains my permanent trailer license plate fix. Trailer owners will now have the option to purchase a permanent trailer license plate for $52.50. These permanent plates are non-transferable, but they will save motorists the inconvenience of renewing plates every three years.
There is also a section on reforming state government, as reform was a major theme of this year’s session – reforming how state government operates, reforming ethics laws for legislators and reforming voting laws to ensure the integrity of our elections.
I was also sure to point out that the Missouri General Assembly has been working hard in recent years to make Missouri an even more military-friendly state. The importance of military facilities, like Whiteman Air Force Base and Fort Leonard Wood, to our local economy and our national defense cannot be overstated. Active and retired military personnel also add to the fabric of our communities, and it is important to attract and retain these highly skilled service men and women whenever possible.
Thank you for reading this weekly column. Please contact my office at (573) 751-3678 if you have any questions.