Busy Times at the State Capitol
This week at the Capitol, I had the pleasure of hosting the Missouri FFA state officers for their annual Legislative Day. These young leaders in agriculture had the opportunity to meet with their legislators, attend committee hearings, be introduced during House and Senate sessions and gain a better understanding of how state government works. As a farmer and supporter of agriculture, I was pleased to host them in Jefferson City again this year. A highlight of my time spent with them was discussing agricultural policy. Making sure we are telling the story of agriculture is vital to our industry, and especially to lawmakers. After all, everyone eats, so everyone is involved in agriculture. These young adults are the future of agriculture and our state, and I look forward to their future accomplishments.
Paperwork is not the most enjoyable chore, but one bill will ease the tediousness. Senate Bill 664, sponsored by Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, would exempt farm corporations from filing an annual report if the information required by the report has not changed since incorporation or the most recent registration report. This common-sense piece of legislation will prevent farmers from having to cut through more red tape and bureaucracy to do their jobs.
Another shared value of the 18th District is our Second Amendment rights. Recently, there has been a lot of talk regarding gun rights on the national and state levels and plenty of coverage in the media. I am sponsoring Senate Bill 656, which would place a cap on the fee for a concealed-carry permit. The fee may not exceed $100, and no additional fee may be charged. In addition, this measure would allow members of the military extra time to renew their permits.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Thank you.