LEGISLATIVE REPORT March 21, 2018

Greetings from your state Capitol. We have made it to our midway point with this session of the 99th General Assembly. In my opinion, we have passed legislation on to the Senate that would positively affect the lives of all Missourians.
We finished the budget proposal from our budget committee about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, March 15, and that budget will be presented to the full House during the week of March 26, following our spring break. We managed to restore some of the cuts from last year’s budget and will hope to be able to provide extra monies in those areas as our economy rebounds. Revenues are looking better each month than was originally thought.
It is a complex task to be able to balance a budget the size of the state of Missouri’s. I applaud our budget committee chairman, Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (#158), on how well he manages our committee and for the expertise he has with the budget amounts. Missouri is in an elite group of states that are, and will remain, financially solvent.
Last week Thornfield eighth graders, along with their teacher Melissa Campbell and a group of parents, came to visit and tour the capitol. It was great to see them enjoying their state Capitol.
Last week the House passed to the Senate the following bills:
HB 1344 modifies provisions relating to private probation services for misdemeanor offenders.
HB 1364 modifies provisions relating to hazardous waste fees paid to the Missouri Emergency Response Commission.
HB 1388 modifies provisions relating to certain sports contests.
HB 1443 prohibits temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) benefit cards from being used at ATMs or to access cash, and limits the items that may be purchased with TANF benefits.
HB 1461 modifies provisions relating to the Address Confidentiality Program.
HB 1503 establishes a fund for providing state-guaranteed small business loans to veterans.
HB 1578 modifies provisions relating to civil procedure in tort claims.
HB 1600 establishes the Fair Fare Passenger Safety Act that prohibits any person operating a motor vehicle for compensation from using a hand-held wireless device.
HB 1614 prohibits political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing ordinances or regulations relating to seeds or fertilizers.
HB 1635 modifies mandated reporting requirements for sexual assault victims in long-term care facilities.
HBs 1656 & 2075 establishes the Professional Employer Organization Act.
HB 1713 allows a birth parent or adoptee to request a contact preference form that will accompany the birth certificate of an adopted person.
HB 1714 gives an adopted adult, biological parent, adoptive parent or the lineal descendants of an adopted adult the ability to make a written request to the court to disclose information identifying the adopted adult’s biological parents.
HB 1719 specifies that an oversight body shall not deny a person 18 years of age or older a license on the basis of age.
HBs 1729, 1621, & 1436 repeals provisions relating to prevailing wages on public works.
HB 1800 changes provisions of law relating to the public service commission’s complaint procedure.
HB 1828 creates a certification process for individuals and organizations engaged in animal care training.
HB 1831 changes the laws regarding the sales tax holiday that occurs in early August by adding an exemption for disposable diapers.
HB 1872 establishes a grant program for the installation of broadband internet service.
HB 1874 requires all nonfood items sold in the state Capitol to be made in the USA.
HB 1953 requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop and disseminate information regarding the bone marrow registry.
HB 1991 modifies provisions relating to wireless facilities and related infrastructure.
HB 2026 modifies provisions relating to the separation of persons confined in jails.
HB 2042 modifies provisions relating to sexual offenders.
HB 2043 designates the first Tuesday in May as “Law Enforcement Appreci-ation Day.”
HB 2122 modifies provisions relating to vehicle sales.
HB 2127 modifies provisions relating to assistant physicians.
HB 2171 modifies provisions relating to the blind pension fund.
HB 2194 modifies provisions relating to criminal records.
HB 2208 modifies provisions of law relating to paper ballots.
HB 2249 modifies provisions relating to child care facilities.
HB 2265 modifies provisions for public utilities.
HB 2277 & 1983 exempts permanently disabled persons from the requirement that a physician’s statement be provided each time a disabled license plate or windshield placard is renewed.
HB 2322 modifies provisions of the retirement system for prosecuting and circuit attorneys.
Complete bill information can be found on the House website at www.house.mo.gov.
As always, it is a privilege to represent you in state government.

Ozark County Times

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