The Missouri Legislature is close to passing several bills before the clock strikes 6 p.m. on Friday. That’s the latest lawmakers can end their annual regular session.
Whether they end earlier than that is a mystery at this point. It might depend on whether lawmakers play nice in the sandbox.
Bills nearing legislative approval include:
•Bills aimed at providing property tax relief
•Giving the Secretary of State more power on ballot wording
•Giving the same rights to a child born alive during or after an abortion or attempted abortion as anyone else
•Requiring porn sites to check each user’s age before granting access
•Limiting social media and technology use among children
•Creating a Purple Alert System to help locate missing people with developmental disabilities
•Expanding screenings to identify gifted students
•Wide-ranging elections bill to alleviate administrative burdens for county clerks
•Banning the making of doctored videos and images to appear as though someone said or did something they did not say or do
•Changes to help businesses address a national penny shortage
•Allowing studies for alternative treatments to help military veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, depression, addiction, and other health issues
•Limiting drone use around stadiums and other open-air venues
•Increasing the speed limit to 75 miles per hour on rural interstates and freeways
•Requiring semi drivers to adequately speak and read English
•Removing requirement of most vehicle inspections
•Creating an agricultural education program for elementary schools
•Creating an A-F grading system to measure school performance
•Requiring public elementary schools (K–5) to adopt a formal, written policy limiting student screen time and use of instructional technology
•Increasing the penalties for failing to stop when a stopped school bus is flashing its lights
•Requires the reporting of alpha gal disease to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
•A literacy bill that would require students behind on reading performance to repeat the third grade
•Reinstates the Presidential Preference Primary Election
A few notable bills that appear to be losing steam include a childcare tax credit package, an attempt to regulate gas station slot machines and a bill to extend the time childhood sexual abuse survivors have to file lawsuits against their abusers.
This week is a bittersweet reality for several legislators. They are ending a chapter in their lives that brought them to Jefferson City. Many are term-limited and are wrapping up their final regular session.
The final day of session will likely include many farewell speeches, a few tears, many hugs, and the traditional Missouri House paper toss.
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