It is now mid-April and we are seeing flowers blooming, regular warmer temperatures in the forecast and more people enjoying outdoor activities. Spring also means that days are longer in the Senate as pressure begins to mount to get priority legislation out of the General Assembly and on to the governor’s desk.

The Senate navigated a late-night filibuster on Tuesday and into Wednesday morning while working to pass House Bill 2634. This bill statutorily prohibits state funds from being distributed to abortion facilities or affiliates of abortion providers. While performing abortions is illegal in Missouri, I believe taxpayers deserve to know that their hard-earned money will not be spent on controversial procedures or funneled to providers in other states. This bill now goes back to the House, where they can approve the Senate’s changes and send it on to the governor or decline to pass it, which would lead to a conference committee that would negotiate a final version. Passing this bill could be vital to moving forward on other legislation such as the Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA) bill and the state operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025.

Other progress made this week on my legislation includes Senate Bill 938 being passed out of the Emerging Issues Committee. This act allows self-service storage facility operators to sell the contents of a storage locker to satisfy a lien, and to advertise such a sale. The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee passed my proposal to simplify labeling requirements for pesticides with Senate Bill 1416. Those bills can now be brought up for discussion by the full Senate.

In the Missouri House of Representatives, Senate Bill 1453 was passed out of committee this week. This bill would designate a portion of Highway 63 in Rolla as the “Dr. Dan Brown Memorial Highway.” It is now one final vote away before being handed over to the governor for his signature. I am beyond thrilled and grateful that this honor for my father’s legacy in Phelps County and in our state Capitol appears to be on a great track to be passed by the General Assembly well before we adjourn.

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and involved in the workings of your state government. The next five weeks will be a flurry of activity before session ends on May 17 and I want to make sure your voice is heard. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns you have about any legislation we are currently considering.

It’s my honor to serve as your senator for the 16th District. If you have questions or need any assistance, please call my office at 573-751-5713 or log onto my webpage at senate.mo.gov/brown for more information.