Unanimous Vote Advances SB 899 to Close Dangerous Gaps in Abuse Reporting I have good news to share. Senate Bill 899, my cross-reporting bill, was voted unanimously out of committee despite organized opposition. This is a big win and an important step toward preventing both child and animal abuse. This isn’t easy to talk about, but it matters. In Missouri, when a child or a partner is being abused, we depend on trained professionals — teachers, social workers, health care providers — to report it. That system saves lives by facilitating intervention before situations become deadly. Right now, though, there’s a dangerous gap in our law. We know from years of research and real-world experience that various forms of abuse in the home are often connected. When someone is harming a child, a partner or a vulnerable adult, animals in that same household are often being abused, too — and the reverse is also true. Animal abuse is frequently one of the earliest warning signs of escalating violence. That’s what SB 899 addresses. It’s a common-sense bill that simply connects the dots. If a mandated reporter sees signs of human abuse and also notices animal abuse, they report both — and vice versa. The goal is prevention: recognizing patterns early, before they turn into tragedy. I also want to be very clear. This bill does not target family farmers, ranchers or livestock producers. That’s clearly stated in the bill. If animals are being treated humanely, this legislation has no impact at all. Senate Bill 899 does one simple thing: it makes sure trained professionals don’t ignore signs of abuse, whether it involves people or pets. If abuse is happening behind closed doors, this bill helps bring it to light so it can be addressed. And that’s how we protect lives. Addressing Abandoned Landfills: An Update on Senate Bill 1586 On the Senate floor, we discussed Senate Bill 1586, which focuses on solid waste districts and how Missouri addresses abandoned landfills. These abandoned sites are a real concern, and they need to be studied and cleaned up. This bill has generated more public feedback than any other issue this session — more than 400 Missourians have reached out to my office — and I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns. I’m working closely with the bill sponsor to improve the legislation so we can secure the resources needed to identify and clean up abandoned landfills, while also making sure we don’t harm or place unnecessary burdens on our solid waste districts. I’ll continue to keep you updated as that work moves forward. Senate Bill 991: Interior Design Update I’m excited to share an update on Senate Bill 991, my legislation focused on interior design. This week, the Senate perfected the bill and approved it unanimously on third reading. It’s now on its way to the House of Representatives for consideration. This bill would allow licensed interior designers in Missouri to practice to the full extent of their training without needing oversight from an architect. It doesn’t change the fact that interior designers are not architects or engineers — it just lets them work independently within the scope of what they’re trained to do. I believe SB 991 will help reduce construction costs and fees for both private citizens and government clients who hire interior designers. It’ll also help support small businesses, many of which are women‑owned, and promote fairness and opportunity in the profession. I’ll keep you posted as this bill moves forward. Protecting Victims: House Bill 2273 Moves Forward House Bill 2273 passed both chambers and is on the governor’s desk awaiting his action. This important bill includes several measures to support and protect victims of sex trafficking. Some of the provisions come from recommendations by the Stop Cyberstalking and Harassment Taskforce. It now allows cyberstalking as a reason to obtain an order of protection and creates new crimes for disclosing or threatening to disclose intimate digital images and for online sadistic exploitation. I strongly supported this legislation and will continue working with my colleagues to implement the taskforce’s recommendations and ensure these protections are effective. Stay Up to Date with My Weekly Videos 
I share a new video almost every week during session with the latest from the Senate. You can watch anytime on the MOSENCOM Senate YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MOSENCOM. Keep in Touch To those celebrating, I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful, blessed Easter or a meaningful Passover! Wishing you all happiness, hope and some special time with the people who mean the most to you. If there is ever anything I or my amazing staff, Hannah Dolan and Emily O’ Laughlin, can do to assist you, please contact our office at 573-751-9762, email tracy.mccreery@senate.mo.gov or visit us in State Capitol Room 427. To view my sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate webpage at senate.mo.gov/McCreery. | 