As I write this Capitol Report and reflect on the 2024 Legislative Session, I can only describe it as the most ineffective and frustrating session I have experienced in all my years in Jefferson City.  Because of the Senate’s dysfunction, most days were deemed unproductive.  In spite of the challenges, I was able to get several of the bills I filed across the finish line.

HB 1803 raises the cap on the MO Bucks program, which is designed to allow farmers and small business owners the access to lower interest rates on loans.  This bill has already been signed by the Governor and will become law on August 28th.

SB 912 included a bill that I filed that provides educational assistance to members of the Missouri National Guard.

SB 1359 contained seven bills that I filed.  Included in the bill are provisions that standardize the procedure for selecting a municipal depository for all classes of municipalities.  It also removes inconsistent, outdated, and ambiguous statutory requirements and updates municipal depository laws to conform to current practices and standards.

It creates the Money Transmission Modernization Act, which updates the Missouri Sale of Checks Law that has been largely unchanged since its 1984 enactment, when paper money orders were the primary way to transmit funds.  In the past companies like Western Union and MoneyGram were used to transmit funds, unlike today where most people are now using companies like Venmo and PayPal.

SB 1359 also allows self-storage insurance producers to offer $15,000 worth of insurance coverage to their customers.  The previous limit was $5,000.

In addition, this bill moves Missouri Family Trust accounts from the Secretary of State’s office to the Missouri Division of Finance.

Several other banking and insurance bills that I filed were also included in SB 1359.

I was also successful in getting several projects funded in our state budget.  I will give more details on them after the Governor signs the budget.

I am looking forward to being back home in the District after spending the past few months working in Jefferson City.

I am honored to serve as your senator in the Missouri Senate. If, at any time, you have questions, concerns or ideas regarding state government, please feel free to contact me at 573-751-8793 or Sandy.Crawford@senate.mo.gov.