Senator Ben Brown’s Capitol Report for May 14, 2025

Homeschoolers Sports Act Heads to the Governor

The First Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly will adjourn on May 16, leaving lawmakers with just hours remaining to transform legislation into law. Several of my top priorities have reached the governor’s desk, and am hopeful he will codify them into statute in the coming weeks.

One of my priority pieces of legislation awaiting the governor’s signature is Senate Bill 63. On May 8, the Legislature passed what I call the Homeschoolers’ Sports Act, which permits homeschooled children to participate in their school districts’ sports and extra-curricular activities. This legislation will give all Missouri children equal access to the enrichment of these taxpayer-funded activities. I appreciate the tireless advocacy of homeschooled families who helped steer this legislation to passage, including the Andersons, Spiekers, Dotsons, Tuckers and Huffs.

Senator Brown, Chief of Staff Frank Catanzaro and homeschooler Abram Dotson celebrate the passage of SB 63.

Senator Brown joins Rep. Deaton, the handler of SB 63 in the House.

Another of my bills, Senate Bill 396, was truly agreed to and finally passed on May 1. This commonsense reform will allow public library districts to change the dates of their fiscal year to better align with their planning, budgets and other fiscal responsibilities. 

Several more of my proposals are approaching the finish line. My legislation to permit experienced professionals from other states to apply for a temporary license and practice their craft while obtaining full licensure in Missouri was passed by the House Rules Committee on May 8. Senate Bill 61 may be brought up on the House floor this week. This legislation also includes Senate Bill 283, which would provide license reciprocity for spouses of law enforcement officers.

My push to prohibit foreign influence in the initiative petition process is one step closer to final passage in the House. Senate Bill 152 creates an enforcement mechanism to specifically target foreign nationals who attempt to directly influence the decision-making process of a voter or solicit or contribute to a ballot measure. Putting a stop to foreign influence could greatly enhance election security in Missouri.

I will also remain persistent on the passage of Senate Bill 230 or its companion, House Bill 618. It is past time to update our health care system and eliminate the extra red tape caused by costly prior authorizations. This dated policy had unintended consequences in my opinion, delaying health care procedures and making them more costly. My legislation has been well-vetted by an interim legislative committee and is greatly supported by physicians and national data, which indicate prior authorizations directly interfere with positive health outcomes.

This has been an amazing session, and I am sincerely pleased with the progress my legislation has made thus far. Hopefully, I’ll be able to add a few more to the list of bills that are governor-bound. 

Defending the Sanctity of Life

In response to the passage of Amendment 3 last November, the Senate Majority Caucus has renewed its resolve to defend the sanctity of life. Passed by the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee on May 5, House Joint Resolution 73 is a constitutional amendment to prohibit abortion in Missouri, except for cases of emergencies, rape or incest. I will always stand for the unborn, and I’m hopeful voters will have the opportunity to pass HJR 73.

Protecting your Second Amendment Rights

In 2021, the Missouri Legislature codified the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) into law to protect firearm owners’ rights from federal overreach. That law is currently being litigated. House Bill 1175 is now in the Senate and could further solidify second amendment protections into state law. I will keep fighting to pass this bill before adjournment Friday.

Do You Have Unclaimed Property?

According to the Unclaimed Property database, the Missouri Treasurer is holding $15.1 million belonging to approximately 218,460 residents in the 26th Senatorial District. Click the image above or visit treasurer.mo.gov to search the database and claim your property.

Welcoming Constituents to the Capitol

On May 6, Dave O’Donnell stopped by to thank me for filing Senate Bill 522, a bill to allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to select, issue orders for and administer certain controlled substances. Dave is a member of the Missouri Association of Nurse Anesthetists, an advocacy organization that supports the legislation.

It’s an honor representing District 26 in the Missouri Senate. If you need assistance with navigating state government or the legislative process, please reach out by calling 573-751-3678 or emailing Ben.Brown@senate.mo.gov.