Veto Session Roundup: Lawmakers fail to override gun rights bill veto; sponsor withdraws sex offender registry bill

Editor's note: The following are reports updated throughout the day of action in the Missouri Legislature's current veto session.

We will be tweeting action from the Capitol today. You can get updates by following @NewsTribune or @NTedit; we'll be using a hashtag of #moleg.

10:03 p.m. update

Lawmakers vote to override Nixon on Mo. farm bill

Missouri lawmakers have voted to override Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of an agriculture measure.

SB9 includes changes to Missouri's animal abuse and neglect law and a longer maximum prison sentence for stealing livestock. It also would replace a prohibition on foreign ownership of farmland with a 1 percent cap.

Nixon had objected to the provisions on foreign ownership and animal abuse and neglect.

The Senate voted 23-10 on Wednesday to override the veto. Later, the House voted 111-50 to override.

Proponents of the bill contend changes to the animal abuse and neglect law are needed and that tougher punishment for stealing livestock could help combat cattle rustling.

Lawmakers override veto on lead lawsuit bill

A Missouri lead mining company has won a shield against large legal judgments as a result of a veto override by state lawmakers.

Legislators on Wednesday overrode Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of HB650, intended to benefit The Doe Run Co.

At issue are numerous liability lawsuits pending against Doe Run, including one scheduled for trial in October alleging that lead contamination caused health problems for children. Doe Run says a costly court judgment could drive it out of business.

The bill would bar punitive damages related to mining sites that ceased operating before 1975, so long as the owners are making "good faith efforts to remediate such sites." If not, then punitive damages would be capped at $2.5 million.

The House vote was 110-50. The Senate vote was 26-8.

Posted earlier (8:34 p.m.)

Lawmakers fail to override veto of gun bill

Missouri lawmakers have failed to override a veto of a bill nullifying some federal gun control laws, after falling a single vote short in the Senate.

Senators voted 22-12 for the veto override Wednesday night, just shy of the required two-thirds majority. The override attempt had passed the House 109-49.

The legislation declared that any federal policies that "infringe on the people's right to keep and bear arms" shall be invalid in Missouri. It would allow state misdemeanor charges to be brought against federal authorities who attempt to enforce those laws or against anyone who publishes the identity of a gun owner.

Gov. Jay Nixon said the bill could violate the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of free speech and its supremacy clause that gives precedence to federal laws over conflicting state ones.

Posted earlier (7:45 p.m.)

House backs veto override on lead lawsuit bill

Missouri House members have voted to override the governor's veto of a bill shielding a lead mining company from large legal bills.

The House voted 110-50 Wednesday for HB650, benefiting The Doe Run Co. It still needs a two-thirds majority in the Senate to become law.

At issue are numerous liability lawsuits pending against Doe Run, including one scheduled for trial in October alleging that lead contamination caused health problems for children. Officials at Doe Run say a costly court judgment could drive the company out of business.

The bill would bar punitive damages related to mining sites that ceased operating before 1975, so long as the owners are making "good faith efforts to remediate such sites." If not, then punitive damages would be capped at $2.5 million.

Posted earlier (7:03 p.m.):

Lawmakers vote to override Mo. gov on holidays

Missouri lawmakers have voted to override a veto of legislation barring public entities from putting the kibosh on celebrations of federal holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

House members supported the override by a 114-45 vote Wednesday. Later, the Senate voted for the override 24-9.

Supporters say the HB278 is aimed at protecting traditional celebrations of Christmas and Thanksgiving, which they claim are being secularized in some schools.

But Gov. Jay Nixon said the measure also could prevent officials from enforcing fireworks ordinances and create staffing shortages by potentially allowing state workers to demand time off to celebrate federal holidays.

Lawmakers vote to override on Mo. lending measure

The Missouri Legislature has voted to override the governor's veto of a bill permitting lenders to charge higher fees on certain short-term loans.

The legislation would increase the maximum fee from 5 percent to 10 percent on installment loans, which generally run for at least four months. Lenders still would not be allowed to charge more than $75.

The House voted 109-51 Wednesday for the veto override of HB329 - just barely meeting the required two-thirds majority. The Senate followed suit on a vote of 25-9.

Gov. Jay Nixon said in his veto message that the higher fees could be used by firms that typically offer payday loans.

The bill also expands options for people saving money for pre-paid funerals.

Lawmakers override on uninsured motorists

Missouri lawmakers have approved a veto override of legislation restricting lawsuits by uninsured motorists.

The House approved the override of HB339 Wednesday on a 109-51 vote, the bare minimum needed for a two-thirds majority. The bill achieved the mark only after Republican leaders held the voting board open for several minutes while persuading several undecided members.

The margin was wider in the Senate, where the override passed 26-8.

Under the legislation, drivers lacking insurance would forfeit the ability to collect noneconomic damages from insured drivers. The restriction would not apply if insured drivers involved in accidents were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Supporters say the legislation prevents those without insurance from driving up costs for the system. Opponents note that there already are penalties for driving without insurance.

Lawmakers override school repair veto

Missouri lawmakers have voted to override a line-item budget veto of $1 million to help rebuild a vocational education school in northeast Missouri.

The House's 112-47 vote on HB19 was the first taken Wednesday as lawmakers considered 33 vetoes by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. Senators then approved the override 28-5.

At issue is money targeted for the Pike-Lincoln Technical Center, which was damaged by a fire. Although the school had insurance, bill supporters said it was not enough to outfit the building with computers and make it accessible to people with disabilities.

Nixon said he vetoed the bill because of the source of the money. He said lawmakers want to pay for the repairs from a fund dedicated for the state school funding formula.

Posted earlier: