Volume 1, Issue 1 – The Week of Jan. 21, 2019
The Beginning of the 100th General Assembly
The First Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly recently began, calling lawmakers back to Jefferson City. This year, I am serving my first term in the Missouri Senate. After serving eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives, it is an honor to be able to continue to serve our community in the Missouri General Assembly. Know that I am dedicated to serving the people of the 4th Senatorial District and ensuring that their voices are heard in the Missouri Senate. As I begin my first year in the Missouri Senate, I believe it is vitally important that my constituents know about what is happening in the state Legislature and the work I am doing. The May Report is meant to inform you of the work being done in Jefferson City and how it affects each of you.
One of the most notable events so far in the legislative session was on Jan. 16, when the governor delivered his State of the State Address to members of both the Missouri House and Senate. The governor outlined his priorities for the coming year, namely increasing workforce development programs and improving our state’s infrastructure. By increasing access to vital training programs, we can further prepare Missourians to meet the challenges of high-in-demand jobs. Additionally, the governor highlighted the need to repair much of Missouri’s aging infrastructure.
As the General Assembly considers the governor’s proposals, state lawmakers are already busy discussing and debating legislation that has already been introduced in both chambers. At the start of the legislative process, senators spend a great deal of time vetting bills in committees. These committees serve as gatekeepers, in a sense, allowing some legislation to move forward and be debated on the Senate floor and others to be held back. This year, I will be serving on the following committees:
- Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment, which considers legislation relating to the state’s commercial sectors, consumer protections, telecommunications and environmental protection standards;
- Government Reform, which hears bills aiming to improve governmental efficiency and management;
- Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence, which reviews legislation dealing with the state’s court practices, civil and criminal law, criminal costs and other related matters such as parole and probation; and
- Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics, which considers the rules and ethical standards that govern the Missouri Senate and the Missouri General Assembly as a whole; and
- Seniors, Families and Children, which hears bills dealing with the quality of life of our seniors, nursing homes and other care programs for the elderly, as well as family and children’s issues.
Already in the Senate’s Seniors, Families and Children Committee, we have spent two hours hearing testimony and discussing the merits of Senate Bill 14. This bill deals with child custody arrangements. The legislation states that awarding equal or approximately equal parenting time to each parent is in the best interest of the child. The legislation does not require this 50/50 arrangement be implemented in custody cases, but critics suggest this moves us closer to treating all custody cases the same, without consideration for the specific circumstances of the cases. Missouri statute already says shared parenting is in the best interest of the child, without the proposed 50/50 arrangement. I’m interested in hearing from you on this issue moving forward.
I will always fight for legislation I believe best serves the people of Missouri, whether it be in committee or on the Senate floor. I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that are important to you this legislative session. If there is anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (573) 751-3599.