Senator Brian Williams’ Legislative Column for April 23, 2026
Senate Tackles Budget
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed the markup process and voted to pass all the legislation that will comprise the state’s operating budget for fiscal year 2027. This week, the entire Senate body weighed in on the committee’s proposed figures and passed a spending blueprint for all state departments and services. Since changes were made to what was finalized in the Missouri House of Representatives, the package will return to the lower chamber for further negotiations. If no agreement is ceded, the task will shift to conference committees consisting of senators and representatives who will meet to hash out the differences. I have enjoyed serving on such committees for the past eight years and have learned some valuable lessons about analyzing, prioritizing and allocating the billions of taxpayer dollars the state takes in and disperses.
Automatic Expungement Proposal Advances
A House version mirroring my “Clean Slate” legislation has advanced out of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on April 15. House Bill 2747 establishes an automatic record-clearing for eligible, nonviolent offenses, limits credit bureaus from reporting criminal records to seven years and creates a funding mechanism to implement the program. One of my top legislative priorities, I will proudly handle this bill through Senate negotiations and sincerely hope it makes it to the governor before my term ends.
Bentley and Mason’s Law Heads to House
On April 20, the Senate unanimously passed Bentley and Mason’s Law, sending it to the House for consideration. Named for the surviving children of parents killed by a drunk driver, Senate Bill 1135 requires a person who is convicted of driving while intoxicated and subsequently causes the death of a parent or guardian to pay child maintenance to the surviving child(ren). Bentley, Mason, and their caretaker/grandmother, were in the chamber for the final roll call vote, after years of sharing their story, testifying at hearings and advocating for change. I applaud this family’s tenacity in their years-long attempt to get this legislation over the finish line and hope they get closure in 2026.
Introduction of Guests
As always, welcoming the great folks from our community at the Capitol is the highlight of my week. I had the honor of introducing my good friend, Chalana Scales-Ferguson, on April 21, as well as the director of the TRIO program, Dr. Kim Morton. The next day, I introduced two members from my alma mater, SEMO University, Dr. Maureen Clancy-May and president, Dr. Brad Hodson. I also introduced Tom Sieckhaus, president of CLAYCO and the Construction Career Development Initiative I direct.
On April 16, I welcomed Forsyth Elementary School students and fourth grade teachers, Melissa Jonff, Kris Hendrix, Leah Hooper, and Kristin Veldhuizen.
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.