2008 Legislative Session
Below is the summary of the bills we are following.
HB 6 – Appropriations for MO Department of Natural Resources, which includes the funding for the soil and water conservation program. This includes a 4-2% ($375,000) expansion in the Grants to Districts. Referred to the Budget Committee and the Budget Committee voted Do Pass on 3-11-08 following hearings on March 5, 6, 10 and 11. Referred to the Rules Committee on 3-12 and they voted Do Pass on 3-13. Passed by the full House on 3-26-08 by a vote of 134-15, and referred to the Senate. Public hearing on 4-3-08, continued on 4-5-08. Executive session held on 4-10-08 and the bill was voted Do Pass on 4-15-08. The Senate Committee Substitute was adopted by the Senate by a vote of 34-0 on 4-16-08 and reported back to the House. The expansion of $375,000 in the Grants to Districts was included in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. Conference Committee was appointed on 4-22-08. They are: House -- Allen Icet, Ed Robb, Rick Stream, Tom Shively, and Belinda Harris. Senate -- Gary Nodler, Rob Mayer, Scot Rupp, Joan Bray, and Timothy Green. The Conference Committee Report was approved by both the House and Senate on 5-6-08 and the bill is Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed. HB 6 - DNR Budget
HB 1440 -- Open Meetings and Record Law. Changes the Sunshine Law to require each elected or appointed public official who is a member of a public body to complete a one to two hour course covering the responsibilities of public officials and the Open Meetings Law as well as a separate one to two hour course regarding the responsibilities of the public governmental body to public information laws and open records. Each public official must complete the courses within 90 days of taking office. Sponsor is Jeff Roorda. Introduced and assigned to the Special Committee on Government Affairs on 2-4-08. Voted Do Pass by this committee on 3-6-08 following hearing on 2-19-08. Has not been approved by the full House yet, is not on the current calendar of bills waiting approval. HB 1440 Bill did not get through the Legislature this term.
House Representatives Contact Information
Legislative Session ends on May 16, 2008. Appropriations must be truly agreed to and finally passed by 6:00 p.m. on May 9, 2008. Veto Session is September 2008.