Senator Brian Williams’ Legislative Column for March 12, 2026
Approaching the Halfway Point
The annual legislative spring break kicked off following floor discussions on March 12, signaling the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session. The deadline to file bills was Feb. 26, and over the past two weeks, the Senate has been deliberating measures passed by the Missouri House of Representatives and vice versa.
The grand total of bills introduced in the Senate for deliberation in 2026 is 975. To put that in perspective, the average number of bills filed in the Senate stayed steady at under 700 bills per session prior to 2023. We certainly will have a full docket of public hearings and robust floor debates before adjournment on May 15.
As I finalized this report, two measures had landed on the governor’s desk for his consideration. House Bill 1809, which is nearly identical to my Senate Bill 946, ensures judges do not have the power to prevent pregnant women getting a divorce. I filed this bill to update the 52-year-old policy initially intended to protect children and ensure their custody and support arrangements were made prior to birth. I’m thankful the bill passed and believe HB 1908 will help all Missourians who feel trapped in unhealthy relationships terminate their marriages. The other is a supplemental spending bill to fill in the gaps left in last year’s operating budget. The governor signed House Bill 2014 on Wednesday.
In these final months of my Senate tenure, I will fight for resources for our community as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and remain focused on passing my key legislation, including my clean slate proposal, Senate Bill 854.
A similar measure sponsored by my colleague from the 2nd District, Senate Bill 1494, may be combined with SB 854 going forward. This bipartisan legislation will automatically expunge qualifying, nonviolent offenses, allowing former offenders who have paid their restitution and completed their sentences a second chance at life. Currently more than 500,000 nonviolent cases qualify for expungement, but only 1% of these cases are closed or relieved. I firmly believe automatic expungement will save taxpayers money on the exorbitant costs of recidivism, while putting rehabilitated people on the pathway to become model citizens.
If you want to learn more about my legislation, please visit my Senate webpage and click the “Current Media” tab to watch my full presentation of bills in committee.
I am pleased to report my property tax assessment proposal was combined with Senate Bill 1410 and was passed by the Select Committee on Property Taxes and the State Tax Commission on March 11. This legislation requires a county assessor to notify a taxpayer by June 1 if their valuation increases, and lengthens the time frame to file an appeal. The combined measure also allows counties to accept personal property tax payments in installments and modifies provisions related to delinquent property tax notices.
Before the deadline, I added two pieces of legislation to my list of sponsored bills. Senate Bill 1624 modifies the authority of the St. Louis City Register of Deeds, requiring all grantors and grantees identified within a document to be filed to be present and sign-off on the documents in the presence of authorized personnel. This bill has been referred to the Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee for review.
The other, Senate Bill 1625, prohibits the transfer of leftover monies within certain funds to the state’s general revenue fund at the end of any biennium. The funds this bill will protect are the Highway Patrol Academy Fund, the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, and the Elevator Safety Fund. The money in these funds was purposefully placed, and therefore, should remain in these designated accounts.
Nominate a Deserving Senior Citizen for an Award
The Lieutenant Governor Senior Service Award is intended to promote and highlight the positive accomplishments Missouri’s senior citizens provide their local communities. If you have a community-minded senior in mind, consider nominating them for this award.
Introduction of Guests
As always, visiting people from our community and introducing them to my colleagues is the highlight of my week. On Feb. 24, I introduced Liz Austin, and her children, Reagan and Ryan, to my colleagues. Wednesday was Disability Rights Legislative Day, and I truly enjoyed visiting with this passionate group of advocates.
I was also honored to present a resolution to the McDonald’s System for their economic impact and job creation in Missouri. You may recognize a familiar character below.
Legislative member of 4-H, Alexis Kimani
Women in Manufacturing: Katie LaChance and Becky Patel join Sen. Williams and members of
Africans for Alzheimer’s: Gabrielle Hannah, Leslie Hall, Joyce Balls-Berry, Stephanie Griffin, Candace Nance and Karen Morrison.
It is an honor representing each of you in the Missouri Senate. If you have any ideas to improve St. Louis County or questions about legislation, please contact my office at 573-751-4106 or visit my Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Williams.