| Week of February 15, 2021 |
The Missouri General Assembly recently truly agreed to and finally passed the first bill of the 2021 legislative session. The supplemental budget bill, House Bill 16, provides more than $324 million to housing assistance programs across the state. This assistance is available for landlords and tenants alike and can cover back rent or utility payments. More information on these programs can be found at the Missouri Housing Development Commission’s website, www.mohousingresources.com/.
Each week I will provide updates on COVID-19 information. Currently, COVID-19 vaccinations are being provided to individuals who are eligible under the following phases of the state’s vaccine distribution plan:
- Phase 1A – patient-facing health care workers as well as residents and staff in long-term care facilities.
- Phase 1B Tier 1 – first responders, emergency services workers and non-patient facing health care workers.
- Phase 1B Tier 2 – high-risk individuals, such as anyone age 65 and older and adults with cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions, weakened immune system due to organ transplant, severe obesity (BMI >40), pregnancy, Sickle Cell Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down Syndrome.
If you fall into any of these categories, please contact your local pharmacy or health care provider for information on how best to receive one of the available vaccines. For more information about Missouri’s vaccine distribution plan, please visit covidvaccine.mo.gov.
Vaccinations are already underway in our community. For instance, Truman Medical Centers is currently focusing on reaching out to eligible patients to schedule vaccine appointments, starting with those who are 65 and older as doses become available. As they vaccinate these individuals and medical staff throughout the community, they are asking for the public’s continued patience. Please feel free to contact them by visiting their website or by calling (816) 404-2273.
Thank you for your vote of confidence to serve the people of the 9th District in the Missouri Senate. In an effort to keep you up-to-date with my legislation or other proposed legislation, please feel free to visit my website at senate.mo.gov/Washington. I appreciate your active interest in your community and encourage your participation in the legislative process. Should you need assistance with state matters, please feel free to contact my office at (573) 751-3158.
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2021
| Bill Number | Description | Status |
| Senate Bill 82 | Authorizes a tax credit for urban farms located in a food desert | Second read and referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee |
| Senate Bill 83 | Designates the third week of September as “Historically Black College and University Week” in Missouri | Second read and referred to Senate Education Committee |
| Senate Bill 84 | Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of certain homes | Second read and referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee |
| Senate Bill 145 | Creates new provisions of law relating to discriminatory practices | Second read and referred to Senate Small Business and Industry Committee |
| Senate Bill 146 | Modifies provisions relating to landlord- tenant actions | Second read and referred to Senate Small Business and Industry Committee |
| Senate Bill 147 | Modifies provisions relating to tax increment financing | Second read and referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee |
| Senate Bill 189 | Creates a Negro Leagues Baseball Museum special license plate | Reported from committee and placed on the Senate Consent Calendar |
| Senate Bill 190 | Creates provisions relating to expungement for certain marijuana offenses | Second read and referred to Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee |
| Senate Bill 191 | Creates new provisions relating to the counting of inmates for the purpose of redistricting | Second read and referred to Select Committee on Redistricting |
| Senate Bill 357 | Modifies provisions relating to medical marijuana program participants in family court matters | Second read and referred to Senate Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee |
| Senate Bill 419 | Relating to use of force by law enforcement officers | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 420 | Relating to reporting requirements of law enforcement agencies | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 434 | Establishes the “Cronkite New Voices Act” to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 440 | Modifies provisions relating to juvenile detention | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 441 | Establishes the Missouri Food Security Task Force | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 446 | Modifies provisions relating to the certification of juveniles for trial as an adult | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Bill 509 | Creates and modifies provisions relating to the expungement of records. | First read in the Senate |
| Senate Joint Resolution 17 | Places limits on increases of the assessment of certain properties | Second read and referred to Senate Local Government and Elections Committee |