Moving Bills Through the Process
Lawmakers quickly began moving bills this week. We continue to hear testimony on proposed legislation in the various committees and have begun floor discussion in the Senate chamber. I saw several of my bills begin to move through the legislative process.
One of the first bills to receive a vote in the Senate chamber was my Senate Bill 599. This measure, which I discussed in last week’s legislative column, makes changes to the Missouri FIRST linked deposit program. This statute authorizes the state treasurer to deposit money from Missouri’s reserve accounts into local banks. Those institutions then make low-interest loans to businesses and farms in their area. Applicants must apply for loans through the program and there are strict guidelines about how the money can be used. My legislation raises the ceiling on how much state money can be devoted to the program, limits how much of the money can be deposited at any one bank and increases the percentage of loans that can be allocated to small business start-ups and expansion.
SB 599 was brought up for “perfection” this week. As the initial stage of debate before the full Senate, perfection provides the first opportunity for members of the full Senate to ask questions of a bill’s sponsor and suggest changes through amendments. SB 599 sailed through perfection, with no changes proposed. The bill then moved to the Fiscal Oversight Committee for its blessing before being brought back to Senate for third reading and, I hope, eventual passage.
Another bill of mine that advanced through the legislative process this week was Senate Bill 597. This legislation limits the ability of a utility company to take private property by force when they’re not serving retail customers in Missouri. This bill was written in response to a large electric power transmission line an out-of-state developer wants to build across northern Missouri. The line will deliver electric power generated by wind farms in Kansas to electric consumers in Indiana.
Building a power line is one thing when property owners agree to sell rights to their land. It’s something else when the developer tries to take land using a utility’s power of eminent domain. My legislation, which mirrors a bill already passed in the House of Representatives, says that a private utility can’t take land by force if they’re not serving retail customers in Missouri. SB 597 was heard by the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee this week and received a “do pass” recommendation. The bill now moves to the full Senate for its consideration.
Finally, my bill to make it easier for military spouses to obtain professional licenses and certifications in Missouri was presented to the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Senate Bill 673 is a priority of the governor and he’s asked me to carry the legislation through the Senate. Considered a workforce development measure, this bill says Missouri will recognize professional credentials of military spouses who relocate to our state. In other words, if the husband or wife of a military person already has a license to practice medicine, cut hair, sell real estate or perform any other occupation that requires state certification, we will grant them a similar license to practice in Missouri. Without this legislation, the spouse of a military person assigned to Fort Leonard Wood or Whiteman Air Force Base would have to start their professional registration process anew when their family comes to Missouri. Is there any wonder that unemployment among military spouses averages close to 30 percent? There is widespread support for this proposal and I expect it will advance through the legislative process this session.
It’s my honor to serve as your senator for the 16th District. If you have questions or need any assistance, please call my office at 573-751-5713 or log onto my webpage at https://www.senate.mo.gov/brown for more information.