Supporting the Will of Missouri Voters There are just six weeks left in the legislative session, and we have much left to accomplish. Each session, the Missouri General Assembly’s only constitutional mandate is to balance a state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs July 1 through June 30. The fiscal year 2026 budget will fund all state functions and reflect Missouri’s priorities. Appropriation bills are generated in the Missouri House of Representatives and then sent to the Senate where our Appropriations Committee begins the markup process. The Senate can vote to adhere to the governor’s budget proposals, go with the House’s suggestions or draft our own line item figures. The legal deadline to submit a finalized budget to the executive branch is 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9. On March 17, the governor signed House Bill 14, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget bill approved by the General Assembly last month. This ensures important services continue uninterrupted for Missourians throughout the end of fiscal year 2025. My priority throughout this second half of session is to protect the will of the people and ensure votes cast by Missourians last November remain in place. Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition A to implement paid sick leave and gradually increase Missouri’s minimum wage. Missouri voters also approved Amendment 3, the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative, giving them the fundamental right to reproductive health care, including safe, legal abortions. I will continue to stand strong with the Senate’s minority party, supporting the will of Missouri voters. I will also continue doing all I can to ensure children cannot get married in Missouri. Senate Bill 66, which raises Missouri’s minimum age to marry to 18, had a hearing in the House Children and Families Committee on April 1. I believe raising the age of marriage to 18 is imperative to the health and welfare of all Missouri children, especially young girls. On March 26, the governor signed into law House Bill 495, the public safety omnibus bill. The minority party filibustered for nearly 10 hours and was able to negotiate significant improvements to this bill, including removing language that criminalized the right to peacefully protest, adding provisions for restitution payments for wrongly convicted individuals and increasing safety for incarcerated pregnant women. Senate Bill 4, the utilities omnibus bill, was delivered to the governor last month for his signature. Though I was able to negotiate several provisions of this bill to protect against shutoffs and strengthen the voice of consumers, I voted against it. By changing how utility rates are calculated, I believe SB 4 could significantly increase consumers’ utility bills. Missouri Birding Challenge Missouri is home to a diverse array of beautiful birds and habitats. New and experienced birders can register at mdc.mo.gov for the first-ever Missouri Birding Challenge and explore new birding areas with a bit of friendly competition. Registration is open through April 30, and the challenge will take place May 1-15. Mail-back Envelopes for Opioid Analgesics New federal regulations took effect on March 31 ensuring free, prepaid, mail-back envelopes are available when opioid analgesic prescriptions are picked up at pharmacies. This action is the result of a new U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modification to the rules governing opioid analgesic producers. More information is available at fda.gov. This offers another means of drug disposal for Missouri residents in addition to the 38 disposal options in District 24 and 413 options in communities around Missouri. You can visit myoldmeds.com and click “LOCATOR” at the top right to find convenient disposal options for other prescription and OTC medications. Hydration Station Grants Missouri American Water is accepting applications through April 30 for hydration station grants from eligible organizations within its service areas. This program aims to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that end up in landfills and make safe and healthy hydration options more accessible in public spaces. Selected recipients will receive grants to help purchase indoor or outdoor bottle filling stations and/or drinking fountains. For more information and to apply, visit missouriamwater.com. REAL ID Just another reminder that effective May 7, 2025, you will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver license or nondriver ID card, or another form of identification accepted by the Transportation Security Administration, to board domestic flights. You can apply for a REAL ID-compliant driver license or nondriver ID card at one of Missouri’s more than 170 license office locations. Visit dor.mo.gov for a list of acceptable documents for REAL ID-Compliant document processing. Contact Us If there is anything I or my amazing staff, Hannah Dolan and Emily O’ Laughlin, can do to assist you, please call 573-751-9762, email tracy.mccreery@senate.mo.gov or visit us in State Capitol Room 427. If you would like updates more often, please visit my senate webpage at senate.mo.gov/McCreery or visit youtube.com/mosencom to view weekly updates from my office. | 