The Missouri General Assembly has about a month left in the current session. Below, you'll find descriptions of bills that Mid-Missouri senators have filed and the status of the legislation.
Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City
SB 220
Description: Changes the duration that a person can receive unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits would last 20 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is 9 percent or higher, and the duration of benefits would grow shorter as Missouri's unemployment rate drops.
Hearing: Hearing conducted Feb. 24
Last action: Voted "do pass' with Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on March 4
SB 231
Description: Requires class 2 recreational motorboats in Missouri to carry two B1 type extinguishers, one B2 fire extinguishers, or a fixed fire extinguishing system and one B1 fire extinguisher
Last action: Sent to the House; referred to the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee on April 7
Hearing: Hearing with House committee not scheduled at this time
SB 232
Description: Creates new requirements for operating tow trucks companies, including displaying business address in location visible from the street, a minimum of 2,000 square feet of vehicle storage space and a minimum of 7-foot fencing around vehicle storage space
Hearing: SCS voted "do pass' after Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee on March 18
Last action: On formal calendar for Senate bills for perfection, April 7
SB 233
Description: Allows expert witnesses to testify in court proceedings under modified provisions
Hearing: Hearing conducted with Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on Feb. 10 and voted "do pass' on Feb. 24
Last action: Placed on informal calendar with bills for perfection, April 7
SB 234
Description: Requires mandated reporters to report suspicion of abuse or neglect in long-term care facility for senior citizens to both local law enforcement and the Department of Health and Senior Services
Hearing: Hearing conducted Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, March 10
Last action: Bill combined with SB112-which would modify dealing with criminal offenses to align with changes made in the 2014 Criminal Code revision-on March 17; on formal calendar for Senate bills for perfection, April 7
SB 283
Description: Allows a political subdivision to assign retirement plan operations to the Missouri Local Government Employees' Retirement System (LAGERS)
Last action: Passed Senate and sent to House, read second time on March 9
Hearing: Referred to House Pensions Committee; hearing not scheduled at this time
SB 285
Description: Changes the definition of "waters of the state" in the provisions relating to hazardous substance cleanup and the Missouri Clean Water Law; removes "waters of the United States lying within the state" from the definition
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 11, referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 358
Description: Modifies the Missouri Clean Water Law by adding the statement that "it is the policy of this state to strive to meet the objectives of the Missouri Clean Water Law while maintaining maximum employment and full industrial development of this state"
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on March 10 after hearing conducted with Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on Feb. 24
Last action: Placed on informal calendar Senate bills for perfection, April 7
SB 359
Description: Permits construction managers to bid or perform construction on public works projects if the person submits a sealed bid in the same manner as a trade contractor
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 19 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 403
Description: Modifies ratemaking for gas corporations, so that the Public Service Commission may not approve a gas ISRS that exceeds annual revenues of 1.25 percent of Missouri gross revenues
Hearing: Conducted March 17
Last action: Motion failed to pass in Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on March 31
SB 404
Description: Includes termination pay and severance pay in the definition of "wages" under current employment security law
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 24 and referred to Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 455
Description: Prohibits a political subdivision from requiring an employer to provide an employee a minimum wage rate that exceeds federal or state rules and regulations
Last action: Read a second time on Feb. 26 and referred to Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee
Hearing: Hearing conducted in Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee on March 17
SB 456
Description: Modifies provisions relating to the ownership of motor vehicles, including extending the time period that one may operate a vehicle with a transferred license plate or temporary permit
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on March 10 after hearing conducted on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on March 4
Last action: Place on formal calendar for Senate bills for perfection on April 7
SB 476
Description: Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Natural Resources, including creating the Oil and Gas Resources Fund and changing the fee structure for drilling operation permits
Hearing: Hearing conducted on March 31
Last action: Voted "do pass' in Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee on April 7
SB 520
Description: Sets the maximum fee for motor fuels at 5 cents per barrel and the minimum fee at 2.5 cents per barrel
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Hearing conducted on April 7
SB 521
Description: Authorizes the Public Service Commission to adopt rules and regulations governing the relationship between water and electrical corporations to effectuate potential energy savings
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 522
Description: Modifies the measurement of damages for trespassing or expanded use of an easement against a rural electric cooperative
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Hearing conducted on March 31
SB 564
Description: Allows a court to modify a jury's verdict in an action against a health care provider for medical malpractice if the court finds that the jury's verdict is either excessive or inadequate
Last action: Read second time on March 18 and referred to Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SCR 30
Description: This resolution condemns California laws relating to shelled eggs that have a negative impact on Missouri farmers and calls on the California legislature to repeal such laws
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on March 17 after hearing conducted on March 10 with Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
Last action: Reported on from Committee on April 7 and placed on resolutions calendar
SR 102
Description: Modifies rules relating to Girl Scouts in the Senate chamber
Last Action: Adopted on Jan. 20
SR 294
Description: Modifies rules relating to Missouri Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities in the Senate chamber
Co-sponsored bills
SB 139
Sponsor: Mike Parson, R-Bolivar
Description: Creates the Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act of 2015, which requires the University of Missouri to conduct research on estimated state sales tax revenue generated from dairy products
Last action: Read a second time on Jan. 22 and referred to Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 272
See under Jeanie Riddle
SB 519
Sponsor: Ron Richard, R-Joplin
Description: Creates a separate $4 million cap for state supplemental TIF projects in St. Louis City associated with geospacial intelligence facilities
Last action: Read a second time on March 10 and referred to Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Callaway County
SB 217
Description: This act removes the 2016 expiration date of a current law provision having to do with intervention to pain management. Those types of intervention, such as ablation of targeted nerves and laser or endoscopic discectomy, are only to be performed by licensed physicians
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 2 and referred to Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee. Hearing conducted March 2
SB 218
Description: Requires health care organization managed by MO Health Net to allow healthy behavior incentives so that covered recipients would be able to purchase certain infant and childcare items, such as car seats, playpens, safety gates and diaper bags
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 2 and referred to Veterans' Affairs and Health Committee. Scheduled but not heard on Feb. 5 with Veterans' Affairs and Health Committee
SB 272
Description: Changes laws on motor vehicles in commercial zones; adds Boone County to the municipal commercial zone previously defined for the city of Columbia and further extends that zone
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on March 11 after hearing conducted on March 4 with Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee; No hearing scheduled for House Committee
Last action: Referred to House and read a second time March 31
SB 273
Description: Creates the "Missouri Civics Initiative," which would require high school students to receive a passing grade on a basic civics test
Last action: Read second time on Feb. 11 and referred to education committee
Hearing: Conducted with education committee on March 18
SB 302
Description: Requires abortion facilities and family planning agencies to provide specific printed materials to women seek abortions performed out of state
Hearing: SCS voted "Do Pass' on March 10 after hearing conducted with Seniors, Families and Children Committee on Feb. 24
Last action: Placed on informal calendar Senate bills for perfection, April 7
SB 341
Description: Requires that when the Children's Division receives a report concerning a juvenile with problem sexual behavior, the division will immediately communicate the report to the appropriate local office
Hearing: SCS voted "do pass' on March 10 after hearing conducted on March 4 with Seniors, Families and Children Committee
Last action: Referred to House and read a second time March 20
SB 500
Description: Raises the annual sales level required to maintain separate facilities for the bottling of honey to $50,000
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on April 1 after hearing conducted on March 18 with Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee
Last action: Placed on formal calendar Senate bills for perfection, April 7
SB 501
Description: Grants to the 45th judicial circuit an additional circuit judge to be elected during the 2016 general election
Last action: Read second time March 10
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 506
Description: Adds sheltered workshop boards to the definition of "political subdivision" to allow political subdivisions to cooperate with public and private entities
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 526
Description: Modifies the powers of the Office of the Public Counsel so that the counsel may only represent the interests of residential and small business public utility customers
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SB 532
Description: Allows the presiding judge of certain circuits to appoint a circuit court marshal.
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
Hearing: Conducted on March 31
SB 533
Description: Requires all public and private daycare centers and preschools to notify parents or guardians (on request) whether children attending those centers are not immunized
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Seniors, Families and Children Committee
Hearing: Conducted on April 7
SB 547
Description: Creates the permanent Joint Committee on Capitol Police to oversee the Capitol Police and modifies the jurisdiction and duties of the Capitol Police
Last action: Read second time on March 18 and referred to Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled
SCR 15
Description: Designates March as women veterans' month
Last action: Reported from committee on April 7 and placed on resolutions calendar
Hearing: Voted "do pass' on March 17 after hearing conducted on Feb. 24 with Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee
Co-sponsored bills
SB 508
Sponsor: Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City
Description: Creates the Office of Administration Energy Conservation Fund
Last action: Read second time on March 10 and referred to Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee
Hearing: Not scheduled