Davis: Firearms Legislation Advance, Busy Week For Committees

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go." –Dr. Seuss

This was a very busy week and it will only get busier. Now we have a few days off for spring break and I am excited to be able to spend a few days with my family and some friends and constituents Jeff and Michelle Bruner in Branson. I want to thank my wife and family for allowing me to serve in the Missouri House. They sacrifice so much and I am a blessed man to have such a wonderful wife and great children.

Here are some statistics about what has been done thus far:
# House Bills Filed 926
# HBs Reported Do Pass 127
# HBs Reported Do Pass Consent 100
# HBs Perfected 75
# HBs Third Read 35
# HBs Reported Do Pass in the Senate 3

This week in my committees

Veterans Committee voted do pass on three bills

HB79 - MILITARY MEDALLIONS AND MEDALS
Fisher (125)
Authorizes the issuance of a military medallion, medal, and certificate to certain veterans who served in specified conflicts regardless of whether they are or ever were legal Missouri residents.

HB673 - NATIONAL GUARD RIBBONS AND AWARDS Hoskins (121)
Authorizes the presentation of a Missouri National Guard Overseas Training Ribbon, a Missouri National Guard State Partnership Program Ribbon, and the Order of Minuteman Award.

HCS HB303 - COURTESY PROFESSIONAL LICENSE
Lampe (138)
Requires any state agency or board that regulates an occupation or profession to establish rules for the issuance of a courtesy license to a nonresident spouse of certain active duty military members.

HCS HB239 - VETERAN WORKFORCE ACT
Fisher (125)
Establishes the Veteran Workforce Act which requires the Office of Administration to develop rules and regulations ensuring a uniform hiring preference for veterans, disabled veterans, and their spouses.

Utilities voted do pass on one bill

HB711 - TERMINATION OF WATER SERVICE NOTICES Torpey (052)
Removes the certified mail requirement on the notice to a customer to terminate water service for the nonpayment of sewer bills.

Tax Reform voted do pass on three bills

HB36 - ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE TAX EXEMPTION
Sater (068)
Specifies that farm machinery and equipment as it relates to exemptions for sales tax will include certain all-terrain vehicles.

HB425 - EXEMPTION FOR STILLBORN CHILDREN
Dieckhaus (109)
Authorizes an income tax dependency exemption deduction for a stillborn child for the taxable year in which the child was born.

HB740 - MANUFACTURING SALES TAX EXEMPTION
Nolte (033)
Clarifies the current exemptions from sales and use tax by defining "manufacturing, processing, compounding, mining, or producing" to include testing, installing, calibrating, maintaining, and repairing.

Small Business voted do pass on one bill

HB386 - SMALL CLAIMS COURT ACTION
Kirkton (091)
Increases the amount in controversy from less than $3,000 to less than $5,000 for a case where the judge of a small claims court will have original jurisdiction.

Floor Actions

The Missouri House of Representatives were busy this week. With double sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, the house perfected several bills, many of which were passed with consent. Other bills stirred passionate debate.

We must protect those who cannot protect themselves. The Missouri House made a step in the right direction this week by passing HB213.

HB213 - ABORTIONS
Specifies that no abortion of a viable unborn child can be performed or induced except in certain specified situations.

Also protecting the rights of the voters, the House passed HJR6

HJR6 - RIGHT TO VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT
Conway (014)
Proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right of individuals to vote by secret ballot.

HB731 helps protect our liberty and our borders.

REPORTING OF CERTAIN ILLEGAL ALIENS
Adds citizenship information to the sexual offender registration form and requires the State Highway Patrol to report to the federal government any non-U.S. citizen on the sexual offender registry.

We also fought hard for your second amendment rights.

HB294 - FIREARMS
Franz(151)
Changes the laws regarding firearms, ammunition, and concealed carry endorsements.

HB123 - SALES TAX ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
Wyatt (002)
Prohibits the sales tax on firearms or ammunition from being levied at a higher rate than for any sales tax or other excise tax charged on any sporting goods or equipment or any hunting equipment.

HB125 - PURCHASE OF FIREARMS
Wyatt (002)
Allows a resident of Missouri to purchase a firearm in any state and a resident of any state to purchase a firearm in Missouri if he or she conforms to certain laws.

HB113 - CONCEALED CARRY ENDORSEMENTS
Wright (159)
Lowers the age at which a person can obtain a concealed carry endorsement from 23 to 21 years of age if the person is a member of the armed forces.

HB271 - CONCEALED CARRY ENDORSEMENTS
Guernsey (003)
Lowers the age at which a person can obtain a concealed carry endorsement from 23 to 21 years of age.

HB215 - FIREARMS
Fisher (125)
Allows a resident of Missouri to purchase a firearm in any state, increases to five years the period that a concealed carry endorsement is valid, and lowers the age to obtain an endorsement to 21years.

The days are getting longer and the work of the General Assembly is getting more intense. Getting to the capitol at 7AM and getting home after 10PM on most nights makes for long days but I am so blessed to be able to be here. I hope everyone has a great spring break and I pray God’s blessings on you all.