This week was especially busy as the Missouri Legislature approached the halfway point of the 2104 Session. At this point several bills have been passed by both the House and Senate and sent to Governor Nixon for his consideration.
The first piece of legislation to reach his desk has already been signed into law by Governor Nixon. HB1125 makes the process more convenient for members of the military to file for political office. Before passage of this law a person had to be physically present on the first day of filing to draw a number determining where their name would be placed on the ballot. After the first day, candidates are listed in the order they file. This meant if a person was deployed and could not be there on the first day, they would be listed further down the ballot. Most political operatives agree there is an advantage to being listed higher on the ballot.
 This bill allows for a representative of the candidate to be present to draw for the number on the first day. The candidate must be actively deployed to qualify for this provision. It also applies to individuals with a disability that would prevent them from appearing in person. Since this legislation contained an emergency clause, it became effective immediately upon Governor Nixon’s signature. As a result, it became law before filing opened this year, enabling candidates to utilize it right away.
SB668 requires insurance companies to treat oral and intravenous chemotherapy drugs on a more equal basis. This bill passed both chambers with broad bi-partisan support and is now on Governor Nixon’s desk awaiting his signature. Almost everyone has been touched by cancer, either having it themselves or knowing a friend or relative that has suffered from it. Until recently, most chemotherapy drugs have been administered intravenously and are covered by insurance plans with flat co-pays and other limited out of pocket expenses. As new oral treatments emerged, these were considered to be pharmacy benefits and carried a much higher out of pocket cost to the patient. This bill addresses a significant change in the area of medical advancements.
My bill offering counties the option of reverting back to a part-time prosecutor was passed by the Senate by a vote of 32-0 today. Because of a recent court ruling, full time prosecutors are scheduled to receive a significant raise in pay that some small counties will not be able to absorb in their budget. Currently there is no mechanism for counties to go back to a part time prosecutor after voting to go full time. This bill will allow for that to happen with a vote of the citizens of the county.
In the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee my bill requiring the Department of Revenue to have probable cause before pulling over a vehicle and drawing a sample from the fuel tank to check for untaxed dyed diesel fuel received a favorable vote. I fully support the law prohibiting the use of such fuel in vehicles used on Missouri’s highways, but I do not support the Department of Revenue going onto private property without consent and randomly sampling the fuel tanks of pickup trucks without knowledge of the owners.
The next educational meeting of the Farming Rights Amendment will be held Thursday, March 13 at Prairie Grove School in Buffalo. We have had good attendance and excellent response at the events we have had so far. We need to continue getting the word out about this important opportunity we have to ensure the rights of farmers and ranchers for generations to come. Upcoming events are listed below. I look forward to seeing you at any or all of them in the coming weeks.
Upcoming meetings are:
April 3rd - 6:30 p.m.
Osceola High School-Commons
76 SE Division Road
Osceola, Mo
April 5th - 6:00 p.m.
Sedalia State Fairgrounds
Agriculture Buidling
Sedalia, Mo
RSVP: (660) 826-6054
April (TBA)
Bolivar High School
1401 N. Hwy D
Bolivar, MO 65613
RSVP: missourifarming@gmail.com
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