Senate Works Late as Legislative Session Moves Ahead The Missouri Senate worked late into the night on Wednesday, March 4, remaining in session until around 3:30 a.m. to debate and consider Senate Bill 888. The legislation focuses on changes to the state’s juvenile justice system and is aimed at addressing and reducing crimes committed by juveniles. Lawmakers spent several hours discussing the proposal and its potential impact on communities across Missouri. Ultimately, an agreement was reached and the bill was passed by the body on Thursday. I voted no on the bill because it authorizes counties to propose a new 1% sales tax to voters, creating funding to build juvenile detention centers across the state. As session progresses, the Senate has continued advancing legislation out of the chamber. Several other bills have received a third reading and final passage, including: - Senate Bill 1408 – Increases speed limits on rural interstates and freeways that are currently 70 miles per hour. If passed, those stretches of roadway would increase the limit to 75 miles per hour. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 1351 - Changes the term limits for members of the Independence School District School board. I voted no because I think political subdivisions should have uniformity in administrative/election rules across the state.
- Senate Bill 982 - My legislation that was recommended by the Highway Patrol to ensure victims have certainty and clarifies procedural requirements for how the sex offender registry works after recent Supreme Court rulings. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 903 - Strengthens laws protecting telecommunications and increases penalties for damaging, tampering with, or removing parts of critical infrastructure facilities. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 973 - Requires real estate wholesalers to clearly disclose that they do not represent the seller and are attempting to assign the contract. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 975 - Allows all ambulance district board members to be elected at-large rather than requiring districts to be divided into election districts, while still giving districts the option to use districts if they choose. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 974 - Adds new state regulations on businesses that assist veterans with benefits claims. I voted no because this bill creates more bureaucracy that could limit legitimate help for veterans and raise costs for those seeking assistance.
- Senate Bill 1000 - Changes how Missouri’s Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund receives money by repealing the automatic deposits from certain tourism-related taxes and instead making the fund consist of legislative appropriations plus gifts/grants. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 1233 - Modernizes professional licensing rules to remove outdated requirements and make it easier for qualified Missourians to enter needed professions, such as accounting and speech pathology, without unnecessary red tape. I voted yes.
- Senate Bill 938 - Raises fees related to property and surveying requirements. I voted no because Missouri landowners shouldn’t be hit with higher government fees just to manage their own property.
- Senate Bill 1087 - Expands limited driving privileges and changes license suspension rules for traffic violations. I voted no because this could weaken accountability for repeat traffic offenders and undermine public safety.
- Senate Bill 1032 - Doubles Missouri’s dependent tax exemption from $1,200 to $2,400 for the year a child is born or adopted giving new parents meaningful tax relief when family costs are highest. I voted yes.
February 27 marked the final day for lawmakers to file new legislation for the 2026 regular session, with 41 additional bills submitted before the deadline. Government Efficiency Committee Highlights This week, the Government Efficiency Committee held a hearing on several pieces of legislation focused on improving government operations and reducing unnecessary costs. Lawmakers discussed proposals that aim to streamline processes, update outdated requirements and review how state resources are used. Among the bills heard was Senate Bill 1031, which would prohibit state departments from spending funds on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The committee also considered Senate Bill 1484, legislation that would allow political subdivisions to enter into progressive design-build contracts, providing an additional option for managing construction projects. Additionally, the committee heard House Bill 2180, which would remove outdated provisions requiring the Department of Revenue to send certain documents by certified mail, an update expected to save the state more than $2 million. Bill to Exempt Medical Devices from Sales Tax Last week, I presented Senate Bill 1402, which updates Missouri’s sales tax exemptions for medical equipment, to the Economic Development Committee. The bill removes an outdated 1980 federal definition so that modern durable medical equipment still qualifies, expands exemptions to include wheelchair accessories, and adds relief for certain advanced cancer-treatment devices and supplies. No family should have to pay extra state taxes just to afford lifesaving medical equipment. Status of My Sponsored Bills - Senate Bill 889 - Repeals expired, terminated, sunset, obsolete sections and portions of sections of law. (On the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar)
- Senate Bill 890 - Requires state departments to report on obsolete administrative entities, repeals certain administrative entities and repeals and reassigns duties for certain other administrative entities. (Referred to the House Corrections and Public Institutions Committee 2/27)
- Senate Bill 891 - The REINS Act, which will require administrative rules with an annual fiscal note of over $250,000 to be approved by the General Assembly. (Passed by Senate Government Efficiency Committee 1/14)
- Senate Bill 980 - Prevents illegal immigrants from accessing the state Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. (Passed by the Senate General Laws Committee 2/18)
- Senate Bill 981 - Modifies provisions relating to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund. (Referred to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee 1/8)
- Senate Bill 1058 - Prevents local governments from prohibiting a person from planting sunflowers in their yard. (Passed by the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee 3/5)
- Senate Bill 1059 - Prevents HOAs from banning backyard chickens. (Referred to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee 1/15)
- Senate Bill 1060 - Prevents debt-hoarding by public water supply districts and makes it easier to detach from PWSDs. (Passed by the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment Committee 2/19)
- Senate Bill 1125 - Establishes the Real Property Fraud Prevention Act to prevent title theft and making it harder to fraudulently record deeds. (Referred to the Select Committee on Property Taxes & the State Tax Commission Committee 1/15)
- Senate Bill 1126 - Requires the Commissioner of Administration to report on state properties that have been abandoned and authorizes the governor to convey such properties. (Passed by the Government Efficiency Committee 2/9)
- Senate Bill 1127 - Sweeps abandoned funds in the state treasury into the General Revenue. Modifies provisions relating to funds in the state treasury. (Passed by the Government Efficiency Committee 2/9)
- Senate Bill 1186 - Prohibits judges from unilaterally sentencing someone to death if there is a hung jury. (Referred to the Senate Committee on General Laws 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1187 - Prohibits smoking marijuana in public spaces. (Public hearing completed in the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee 2/4)
- Senate Bill 1188 - Reforms our tax credit system placing an expiration on credits that don't have one as well as repealing outdated tax credits. (Referred to the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1239 - Authorizes sales tax exemption for groceries. (Passed by the Economic Development Committee 2/25)
- Senate Bill 1240 - Eliminates the individual income tax. (Referred to the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1241 - No taxes on tips. (Referred to the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1278 - Prohibits elementary and secondary schools and institutions of postsecondary education from being members of athletic organizations that allow students to use performance enhancing drugs. (Referred to the Senate Committee on Education 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1279 - Modifies an income tax deduction for contributions to 529 savings accounts. (Passed by the Economic Development Committee 2/11)
- Senate Bill 1280 - Creates and modifies provisions relating to access to pornographic materials. (Public hearing completed in the Senate Education Committee 3/3)
- Senate Bill 1314 - Authorizes parents to choose the school that their children attend. (Referred to the Senate Education Committee 1/27/26)
- Senate Bill 1315 - Establishes provisions relating to student surveys. (Passed by the Senate Government Efficiency Committee 2/9)
- Senate Bill 1316 - Prohibits diversity-equity-inclusion requirements in school districts and charter schools. (Referred to the Senate Education Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1344 - Authorizes the creation of boundary commission in Jefferson County. (Referred to the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1345 - Expands areas where CCW holders can carry and allows for carry on public transit. (Referred to the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1401 - Modifies provisions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Referred to the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee 1/27)
- Senate Bill 1402 - Exempts medical devices that treat brain tumors from sales tax. (Passed by the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee 3/4)
- Senate Bill 1495 - Allows county collectors to waive interest or penalty fees on delinquent property taxes if the taxpayer did not receive notice. (Referred to the Senate Select Committee on Property Taxes and the State Tax Commission Committee 2/5)
- Senate Bill 1548 - Prohibits fluoride from being put into the water supply. (Referred to the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment Committee 2/5)
- Senate Bill 1549 - Creates the Administrative Agency Accountability Act, stating that administrative agencies may only exercise their rulemaking authority where they are expressly authorized to do so. (Referred to the Senate Government Efficiency Committee 2/5)
- Senate Bill 1630 - Requires DHSS to include in its list of non-communicable diseases that are required to be reported to the Department alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease. (Referred to the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee 2/12)
- Senate Bill 1631 - Establishes a statewide mobile food vendor license to allow food trucks more mobility and less red tape to deal with from city to city when operating. (Referred to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee 2/12)
- Senate Bill 1664 - Creates the "Honest Billing Act" regarding payment for health care services. (Introduced)
- Senate Bill 1665 - Prevents warrantless entry into private residences. (Introduced)
- Senate Bill 1666 - Establishes the Drinking Water Transparency and Accountability Act. (Introduced)
- Senate Bill 1776 - Modifies provisions relating to spontaneous fetal death reports. (Introduced)
- Senate Bill 1777 - Allows a low-performing school district to enter into a contract with a state-approved entity for the establishment of a "Public School Transformation Campus." (Introduced)
- Senate Joint Resolution 85 - Creates provisions relating to the offenses of distribution of child pornography or criminal racketeering in the violation of federal laws. (Referred to the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee 1/27)
- Senate Joint Resolution 86 - Replaces the Coordinating Board for Higher Education with a director appointed by the governor. (Referred to the Senate Education Committee 1/27)
Senator Coleman was honored to be visited by the new Bishop of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Bishop Ralph O'Donnell, and the Missouri Catholic Conference to discuss issues moving through the legislature. 
Senator Coleman recognizes Maeve Long and the Fox Middle School Character Council in Arnold, Missouri, for their mission of empowering and building self-confidence in youth within the school community. |
