The second regular session of the 101st Missouri General Assembly concluded after passing a congressional redistricting map, which Gov. Parson signed.

The speaker declared the session adjourned sine die as of midnight May 30, in accordance with the constitution.

The passage of House Bill 2909 ends a long stalemate preventing passage of many other legislative priorities this session.

The map will take effect immediately and be used for the primary elections on August 2.

The veto session of the first regular session of the 101st Missouri General Assembly adjourned sine die on September 16 with no vetoes overturned by the Legislature.

During the session, House Majority Leader Dean Plocher was chosen to succeed Speaker Rob Vescovo, who will exit in 2023 due to term limits.

The appointment must be approved by the House during the 2023 session, and Plocher will continue in his current role as majority floor leader until then.

This does not affect lobbyist reporting.

The first special session of the Missouri General Assembly adjourned sine die on June 30.

The special session began on June 23 and called by Gov. Mike Parson to focus on passing the federal reimbursement allowance (FRA) extension, a tax to pay for the state’s Medicaid program.

Before adjourning lawmakers passed health care bills, including Senate Bill 1, sending to Parson the required extension of the FRA.

The Second Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly adjourned sine die, officially ending the session, on May 27.

Before adjourning lawmakers sent House Bill 1386 to the governor, modifying the definition of legislative lobbyist for purposes of lobbying laws.

The definition will exclude legislative liaisons, defined as any state employee hired to communicate with members of the General Assembly on behalf of any elected official of the state, the judicial branch of state government, or any department, agency, board, or commission of the state, provided such entity is a part of the executive branch of state government.

The Legislature also passed Senate Joint Resolution 0038, placing a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot enacting a lobbyist gift ban.

Additionally it will reduce contribution limits made to or accepted by any candidate or committee from $2,500 to $2,000.

And finally it will repeal a redistricting plan enacted by voters in 2018.

The veto session is scheduled for September 16.

Senate Majority Leader of Missouri Caleb Rowden announced, due to concerns over spreading the COVID-19 illness, the Senate will not meet next week.

The legislative spring break was set to begin on March 19, meaning the Senate is not scheduled to reconvene for the rest of the month.

The House will meet next week to work on the budget.

Lawmakers officially passed a legislative fix to an issue regarding vehicle sales during Gov. Mike Parson’s special session.

The session took place from September 9 to September 16, 2019.

Currently, the value of one previously owned motor vehicle, trailer, boat, or outboard motor may be used as a deduction against the sales tax owed on the purchase of any such vehicle within 180 days before or after a taxpayer sells a previously owned vehicle.

House Bill 1 expands the deduction to include the values of one or more previously owned motor vehicles, trailers, boats, or outboard motors.

Parsons stated if he hadn’t called lawmakers to Jefferson City, thousands of people would have suffered financial loss.

The bill will take effect 90 days after receiving Gov. Parson’s signature.

The first regular session of the 100th General Assembly adjourned May 17 at 6 p.m. after four months in session.

Several lobbying bills were introduced, including House Joint Resolution 48 which made its way to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee.

The committee voted do not pass on May 13. The bill would have banned all lobbyist gifts to lawmakers instead of the current $5 maximum limit.

Similarly, House Bill 1199 was introduced to amend the definition of a lobbyist principal to add an entity with authority to direct the lobbyists’ activities. The bill made its way through the Legislative Oversight Committee but did not pass either chamber.

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on January 15, 2020.

Nearly 62 percent of Missourians voted in favor of Amendment 1, placing tighter restrictions on lobbying and campaign contributions.

Amendment 1 will prohibit former state legislators and Missouri General Assembly members from becoming paid lobbyists for a period of two years instead of six months, set a $5 limit on meals and other lobbyist gifts to legislators, and open legislators’ emails to public records requests.

Political candidates and their campaign committees also face more strict contribution limits: $2,500 for a state senator and $2,000 for a state representative.

The measure will become state law once the election results are certified later this year.

Missouri lawmakers will return to work today as the General Assembly convenes a special legislative session.

Following the May 12 adjournment of the regular session, Gov. Eric Greitens hinted a special session was imminent and called for the session just two weeks later. The special session will focus on bringing jobs and an economic boost to the state.

Lawmakers will consider legislation to attract a steel plant and an aluminum smelter to locate there in exchange for lower utility rates.

The session has no target end date and is expected to cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars per week.

The first regular session of Missouri’s 96th General Assembly adjourned the evening of May 13, 2011.

The General Assembly will reconvene for a technical session at 8:00 a.m., May 26, 2011 to last until May 30, 2011 in accordance with the constitution.

Governor Jay Nixon may sign or veto bills until July 14, 2011, and the veto session of the General Assembly is scheduled to convene on September 14, 2011.

Photo of the Missouri Capitol Building by RebelAt on Wikipedia.