Perspective: The upcoming session
By Sen. Mike Bernskoetter
Time goes by quickly, it seems like. It's already December and the Missouri Legislature is gearing up for the next legislative session. Wednesday, Dec. 1, was the first day for legislators to pre-file bills for next year, and the halls were busy with activity again. It was a strange atmosphere during COVID, but things have gotten back much closer to normal, with more school groups and constituents in the halls.
The pre-filing process differs between the Missouri Senate and the House. In the Senate, bills are filed in order of seniority. Every senator gets to file three bills, and when everyone has filed their three, they file three more. This repeats until all legislation is filed. In the House, however, the bills are filed by a first-come, first-served system. This sometimes results in representatives camping out in line to file their bills, like a Black Friday sale. This year, the line reportedly started at 3 a.m., but I can't confirm that.
Legislators typically file their highest priority bills first, and that gives you an idea of what we'll be concentrating on in the upcoming year. This year, bills were filed on the first day covering a variety of issues. Pro-life legislation is again at the forefront of conversation. With the Supreme Court arguments over Mississippi's pro-life law happening this past week, there is optimism that we will be able to successfully continue our efforts to protect the life of the unborn here in Missouri.
Vaccine mandates are another hot-button topic this year. The president's orders forcing private companies to require their employees be vaccinated or lose their jobs have spurred small government Republicans to stand up for individual rights. Bills have been filed that would provide compensation for those hurt by vaccines. To be clear, this is not to say that the vaccine is dangerous or that people shouldn't get it. This is an issue of government overreach by the president. The U.S. is a free country, and the federal government should not have the power to force health care decisions upon individuals or private companies. People should have the right to decide for themselves.
I have pre-filed several bills, including one that would close a loophole for parole eligibility for convicted murderers. This is a serious issue and one that I am committed to working hard to correct. I have also filed bills that will help ease the employment woes our businesses have experienced as a result of the federal unemployment policies, that will help our family farms and ranches, and to help local schools.
These and many other issues will be in front of the legislature this coming session. Election integrity, domestic violence, education opportunities and parents' rights, critical race theory and Kansas City's efforts to defund their police department will likely all be tackled as we go forward. We also have a supplemental budget to pass and congressional redistricting to deal with. Safe to say, it is shaping up to be a busy year.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th District and shares his perspective on statehouse issues twice a month.