Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, was recently chosen as the “2012 Legislator of the Year” by the St. Louis Business Journal. The legislative award was featured in the June 15 issue and profiled Sen. Parson, the most recent legislative session and what lawmakers are working on for the next year.

“I’m honored to be recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal, and I am proud of my involvement with important legislation this year,” Sen. Parson said. “In these economic times, I am especially pleased with this recognition because it means we are on the right track to attract new jobs to Missouri and retain existing ones. There is still much left to do, but in the Legislature, success is usually measured in small steps rather than giant leaps.”

Senator Parson sponsored and supported a wide range of legislation during the 2012 legislative session and two of his sponsored bills were passed by the General Assembly and await the governor’s approval.

Senate Bill 631, an omnibus agriculture bill, would among other provisions, require employees of animal agriculture operations who videotape what they suspect is animal abuse to provide the recording to a law enforcement agency within 24 hours. Senate Bill 568, an omnibus transportation bill, would expand Missouri’s “Move Over Law” to include vehicles operated by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), among other provisions.

Senator Parson served as the Senate Majority Whip for the 96th General Assembly, which recently adjourned on May 18 and served as vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee and the Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee.