The Missouri Constitution states that no law passed by the General Assembly, unless containing an emergency clause or an appropriations bill, shall take effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the year. That date was Aug. 28, and there are a wide range of new measures now in effect in Missouri. For a full list of these bills, click HERE or visit senate.mo.gov/newsroom and click on the document link for Capitol Briefing for the month of August.

Here are just a few highlights of the new legislation:

Senate Bill 239, one of the bills I sponsored, places a cap on damages collected against health care providers.

I handled House Bill 179 in the Senate, which allows retired military personnel to obtain a veteran designation on their driver’s license, as well as House Bill 1070, which establishes the Office of Military Advocate in Missouri.

Senate Bill 18 requires the Missouri Department of Revenue to notify sellers of changes in the sales tax law interpretation.

Senate Bill 24 modifies the provisions relating to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

House Bill 111 changes the laws regarding sales tax on manufactured homes.

Senate Bill 141 raises the amount paid through the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund and gives the Missouri Department of Public Safety authority to negotiate costs on behalf of the victims.

Senate Bill 145 requires health benefit plans to cover eating disorders.

Senate Bill 174 establishes the Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program.

Senate Bill 321 allows victims of sexual assault to receive protective orders, and modifies the definitions of sexual assault and stalking as they relate to orders of protection.

These and all other pieces of legislation from the 2015 Legislative Session are explained in detail in the links provided above.

As always, I encourage my constituents to contact me throughout the year with comments, questions or suggestions by calling my office at (573) 751-5713. To find more information about the bills I sponsor, visit www.senate.mo.gov/brown.

Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.