Each session presents its own unique opportunities and challenges. The 2015 legislative session was no exception. While the final days didn’t see as much action as in previous years, on a whole, the Legislature passed most of its priority measures. In total, Missouri lawmakers sent more than 150 bills to the governor’s desk. Among those are six measures I filed.
Adopted by the General Assembly in early March, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5 reauthorized the Missouri Lead Industry Task Force until Dec. 31, 2016. The task force aims to bring together all relevant parties for key discussions and generally works to revitalize Southeast Missouri’s lead industry. The task force also works to protect our citizens from any potential negative impacts of the industry. The task force had its first meeting a few weeks ago, and I look forward to continuing the work of this very valuable committee throughout the interim.
In late April, we successfully passed Senate Bill 68: a piece of local-issue legislation I filed concerning directors of industrial development corporations and the Farmington residency requirements. Senate Bill 68 was the culmination of a two-year-long project, and I’m very pleased we were able to finally move it across the finish line.
We sent Senate Bill 224 to the governor on May 5. Currently, Missouri’s two scholarship programs, Access Missouri and Bright Flight, require that students be Missouri citizens or permanent residents of the state in order to receive scholarships. If signed into law, SB 224 would extend that requirement to the A+ Schools Program as well.
Two measures I filed received the Legislature’s stamp of approval right before the final gavel fell on the last day of session: Senate Bill 142, which requires DNR to collaborate with other state departments to prepare an impact report to be delivered to the General Assembly and the governor, laying out in detail the implementation procedure; and Senate Bill 445, which allows Ameren to purchase and use its own air quality monitoring system to monitor sulfur dioxide emissions.
In addition to these measures, House Bill 92, relating to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), contained language from Senate Bill 225, legislation I filed to standardize the appeals process for every board and commission under DNR and those appeals heard by the Administrative Hearing Commission.
As always, I was happy to meet with the following constituents who made the drive up to Jefferson City last week: Reynolds County Presiding Commissioner Joe Loyd, Steve Bradley of Farmington and Glen Tolan of Jefferson County.
The 2015 legislative session officially ended at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15. We will return in September for the annual veto session, but the bulk of our legislative work in the Capitol is finished for the year. Visit the Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov or click here to view all Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed Legislation for the 2015 session.
Finally, I’d like to thank my Senate staff, Dan Hutton and Karen Jacquin, whose dedication to serving the citizens of the 3rd District is second to none. I’d also like to congratulate Emily Snyder, our legislative intern for this session, who graduated on Friday from Missouri State University with a degree in Social Work. To my constituents, it’s truly been an honor serving you in the Capitol this year.Contact Me
I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-4008. You may write me at Gary Romine, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101; or email me at gary.romine@senate.mo.gov; or www.senate.mo.gov/romine.
Sen. Romine’s Sponsored Legislation for 2015
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