Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

My in-district Friday started with breakfast at the Landmark in Lowry City.  One of the “regulars” commented to me, “That’s not the same hat you normally wear.”  I said, “No, sir, this is a Stockman’s Scotch Cap.  I put it on this morning to keep my ears warm, because I am starting to spread fertilizer today!”  Since the weather was great and the ground was dry, I managed to get the equipment over 120 acres.

I had an opportunity to visit with Michael Brown, Prosecuting Attorney for Hickory County, on Tuesday.  He was at the Capitol to advocate on legislative and policy priorities for the MO Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.  Among those priorities, we discussed the elimination of the statute of limitations for child sex abuse, increasing the available tools to ensure accountability for official misconduct, strengthening procedures for sentencing predatory sex offenders, and the prevention of witness intimidation and protection of personal information of victims and witnesses.

Legislation this week:

HB1872 was perfected in the House on Thursday.  It establishes a grant program within the Department of Economic Development to expand broadband Internet access to unserved and under-served parts of MO. Grants may be awarded to fund the acquisition and installation of middle-mile and last-mile infrastructure that support Internet speeds of at least 10 megabits per second download and one megabit per second upload. Grants may be provided to corporations, incorporated businesses or partnerships, nonprofit organizations, cooperative associations, and political subdivisions. Any grant awarded under the bill may not fund more than 50% of the total cost of a broadband service project, and no single project shall be awarded grants that cumulatively exceed $5 million.

HB 1456 would make quality emergency 911 services more readily available to all Missourians. The bill would provide a mechanism to increase efficiency, improve levels of technology, and provide enhanced 911 mapping and service to areas of the state that do not currently have it.  It would also give counties additional options for funding their local 911 services, and would give local voters more freedom to approve the funding method that works best for their county.  This bill has been passed by the House and has now moved to the Senate.

HB 1618 was third read and passed and now goes to the Senate.  It would allow unused controlled substances to be accepted from the public through collection receptacles, drug disposal boxes, and other means provided through drug take-back programs by a DEA-authorized collector in accordance with federal regulations, regardless of whether the authorized collector originally dispensed the drug. It would require the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop an education and awareness program about drug disposal. This legislation would help get prescription drugs off the street. The goal is to allow collection in as many places as possible to make it easy for people to dispose of unused prescription drugs.

The Missouri Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (HB1625) designed to provide low-income seniors with fresh, Missouri-grown produce has passed through the House and will now be heard in the Senate. Many seniors live on a fixed income and cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables; this bill would help seniors afford fresh produce from farmers’ markets across the state.

2018 Missouri Vietnam Veterans Day:

Since being signed into law in 2012, Missouri Vietnam Veterans Day is observed on March 30 each year.  In recognition of those who served in this conflict, Vietnam Veterans are invited to the Capitol on Thursday, March 29, for a special ceremony and presentation at 9 a.m. to be followed by a formal recognition at the start of session in the House Chamber.   House members are encouraging Vietnam Veterans throughout the state to come forward to receive special recognition for their service.  If you are able to attend, please call our office at 573-751-4065 for special arrangements.  The House of Representatives and I would be greatly honored by your presence, and we hope to make this a day of celebration to recognize all the Vietnam Veterans across the state.