Davis: Bills That Fight For Missouri's Businesses

"Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence." –Ronald Reagan

While the snow continued to fall this week, the General Assembly continued to do work for Missouri. Committees are in full swing and the paper is starting to fly. In this long week, the Missouri House of Representatives has been busy fighting for Missouri Businesses. The Missouri House 3rd read and passed HB162 and HB46, and Speaker Tilley Signed SCR1

HB 162 sponsored by Rep. Barney Fisher (R-125). This bill addresses the precedent set by the Franklin v. CertainTeed Corp. court ruling which, for the first time in history, moved occupational disease claims from the workers’ compensation system into the courts. In response to the business communities “Fix the Six” agenda, HB 162 reverses this ruling. This legislation will permit appropriate compensatory damages to once again be determined by the worker’s compensation system. The result will be a reduction in liability insurance cost for small business and less of a burden on our court system. This saves taxpayer money that can be used to educate our children and strengthen the job market in Missouri.

HCS HB 46 Rep. John Diehl (R-87) also passed the House this week by an overwhelming majority of 149 to 9. This bill eliminates the ability of governments and municipalities to unnecessarily mandate fire sprinkler installation on one or two-family dwellings or townhouses. The builders of said dwellings must still offer to any purchaser the option, at the purchaser's cost, to install or equip fire sprinklers in the buildings. This provides the homeowner the freedom to choose what is best for their family and their family’s finances without an unwarranted government mandate.

Speaker Tilley signed SCR1 which allows Missouri to decide where we get our renewable energy from. Previous statute mandates the state to have a certain percentage of renewable energy, and that energy has to come from within the state according to PSC ruling, but SCR1 allows Missouri to purchase that energy from anywhere which will help save Missouri energy users in the future as well as protect the environment.

Chief Justice Speaks

Ray Price, chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, told the Senate and House in a joint session of the legislature that the state is throwing too many non-violent offenders into prison. He called prison “the most expensive and least effective strategy for a significant number of nonviolent offenders.” He said drug courts are an example of tough, effective, local alternatives to prisons that can break the cycle of addiction and then break the cycle of crime.

With issues like the fair tax, and the budget in the near future, Jefferson City is as busy as ever. I am committed to the people of the 128^th district and will continue to strive to make the right decisions for you and all of Missouri.