2023 Session Ends

For the first time in nearly five months, I’m not starting the week packing bags or getting ready for the long drive to Jefferson City. The 2023 legislative session ended on Friday, May 12. Absent a call back by the governor, the only legislative activity remaining for the year is the annual veto session in the fall. I truly enjoy the time I spend working for the people of the 33rd Senatorial District at the Capitol, but I look forward to spending some time with my family and welcoming our new grandbaby home.

I hope all of us in the Legislature can look back on the First Regular Session of the 102nd General Assembly with satisfaction. We passed some good legislation that will benefit all Missourians, and the budget we approved will bring many positive changes to the district. I’m particularly pleased with two bills we sent to the governor’s desk during the last week of session, and I look forward to standing alongside him as he signs these into law.

One of the measures I helped cross the line last week was Senate Bill 138. When I originally filed this legislation, it focused on promoting Missouri’s hardwood products industry and the Ozarks’ hardworking timber producers. As the session progressed, I worked with colleagues from both chambers to compile a comprehensive package of legislation aimed at expanding opportunities for cattle ranchers, soybean farmers and other Missouri agricultural producers. Senate Bill 138, as passed this year, includes regulatory changes to benefit timber haulers and tax deductions for farm owners who help establish the next generation of agricultural producers by selling or leasing land to beginning farmers. The bill also expands an existing loan program for veterinary students, allowing twice as many future animal docs to complete their education. The bill’s “Flood Resiliency Act” will enhance the state’s preparedness for natural disasters along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries. Agriculture is Missouri’s No. 1 industry and farmers continue to be the backbone of Missouri’s economy. I’m proud to stand with our state’s agricultural producers and work to pass legislation to make them even more successful.

Another measure I’m proud of helping to guide to passage is House Bill 417, which will help Missouri businesses develop their workforce. I sponsored a parallel bill in the upper chamber so I was asked to shepherd the House bill through the Senate. Like my Senate Bill 53, HB 417 authorizes the Department of Economic Development to establish an Upskill Credential Program and disburse grants to Missouri businesses that help their employees gain new job skills. Instead of looking to attract out-of-state applicants to fill empty positions, businesses will be encouraged to grow talent and qualified applicants from within. This is a win-win for employers and workers alike, as businesses develop their own staffs and employees qualify for higher wages by bringing more value to the bottom line.

Beyond these two bills, I consider this jam-packed session to be a success. We passed a number of important measures – a ban on biological men competing in women sports, a comprehensive public safety bill to address rising crime in our urban centers and eliminating state income taxes on Social Security benefits to name just a few. The past five months have been rewarding, but I’m ready to spend time with my family and friends and be back in the community.

As the Legislature will not be in session during the rest of the year, my Capitol updates will appear less frequently, but I’ll be sure to keep you informed about important developments as they occur. Please know I am always available to help you navigate the complexities of state government, and I’m eager to hear your ideas about how your state government can better serve you. Please reach out to me or my office if I can be of any assistance.

It is my honor to serve the residents of Douglas, Howell, Ozark, Shannon, Stone, Taney and Texas counties in the Missouri Senate, and it’s always a pleasure to hear from friends and family back home. If I can help you in any way, please call my Capitol Office at 573-751-1882.  You can also visit my webpage at senate.mo.gov/mem33, on Facebook: @SenatorKarlaEslinger, or follow me on Twitter: @seneslingermo.