Senator Brian Williams’ Legislative Column for March 27, 2025

Batter Up!

If you are a die-hard Cardinals fan like me and my family, you have been patiently waiting for an umpire’s “Batter up” command since September of last year! Opening Day at Busch Stadium is one of our community’s most celebrated and cherished past times, and I am so glad the Redbirds came out on top of the Minnesota Twins to launch another fantastic season of sportsmanship and competition in The Lou. 

The General Assembly will start its final seven-week stretch of the legislative session next week. To date, three bills have been sent to the governor’s desk. One is a supplemental spending bill which fills the gaps in funding that occurred after last year’s budget was finalized in May. I opposed some of the language in the other two bills as they could be detrimental to our community and my constituents. Senate Bill 4 is a comprehensive utility bill designed to proactively address future infrastructure costs and utility rate hikes. I fear it will burden consumers, who are already struggling to stay afloat among rising prices, but I’m thankful it includes hot and cold weather rules to prevent utility companies from disconnecting services during extreme weather. The other is the public safety omnibus I discussed last week, which places the control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in the hands of citizen commissioners. The optimist in me is thankful the bill contains some good provisions, like reducing the costs and increasing access to phone calls from correctional institutions and prohibiting restraints on incarcerated women in their third trimester of pregnancy.

Memorializing Important Missourians

Some of you may remember the story I shared last session about a former slave in Callaway County named Celia Newson, who was hanged in 1855 for killing her sexually abusive owner. Celia was pardoned this past January and has since become an unsung hero for survivors of abuse for having the courage to defend herself against her perpetrator. Since she was considered property at the time, she wasn’t afforded the rights of self-defense, bodily autonomy or self-determination, rendering her unable to testify on her own behalf, even though Celia’s lawyers argued that her owner’s homicide was justifiable.

On March 26, the Senate passed Senate Bill 348 to enact several state designations, including Celia Day on the second Tuesday of each year and the Celia Memorial Highway on sections of Highway 54 in Callaway County, where she was executed. The bill also includes a provision to name the second week of April as Human Trafficking Awareness Week to coincide with Celia’s heroic actions and somber story. These observances will give educators an opportunity to present age-appropriate instruction and promote awareness of human trafficking and the history of slavery to students across the state.

Another provision of SB 348 is near and dear to my heart and will designate each Jan. 5 as Kappa Alpha Psi Day in Missouri. As a proud member of this fraternity, I am thrilled to see this observance advance to honor the historic achievements and contributions of this historically African American fraternity that was founded at Indiana University in 1911.

Introduction of Guests

March 25 was Hispanic Advocacy Day at the State Capitol. I enjoyed introducing some passionate members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Advocacy Alliance to my colleagues as they met with lawmakers and provided input on Hispanic issues: Saida Correjo, Dr. Giselle Cruzdebaeza, and Efraine, Perla and Israel Baeza. 

On March 26, I gladly introduced a group of artists and art advocates from Recording Academy to my colleagues: Reid Wick, Erin Frankenheimer, Carl Nappa, Karin Biznik, M.J. Johnson and Denise Fink.

I also was honored to present members of the University City Lions Club, Anne Cummings, Bruce Brookheart, Zachary Dorsey, Kendra Sosa, Tomas Carvajal, Jeffrey Chandler, Mary Sanders, Modou Ba, Bee Ahrold, Jaden Cole, Naomi Coronel, Natalie Zamacona and Keyanna Dorsey. Later, I introduced leaders from University City, Danielle Davis, Roy Rice and Marlene Hoehn.

It is an honor representing each of you in the Missouri Senate. If you have any ideas to improve our district or questions about legislation, please contact my office at 573-751-4106 or visit my Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Williams.