Session reaches its midpoint

Dan Hegeman

This week, the Missouri General Assembly is on legislative spring break, marking the midpoint of the 2016 legislative session.

During the first two months of session, the House and Senate have had extensive committee hearings and floor debate as we began tackling a number of bills.

So far, the House and Senate have sent dozens of bills to the opposite chambers for further consideration. The Senate has begun taking up House measures in committee, and will begin to debate those when we return from break.

Also awaiting the Senate upon the return from spring break is the state budget.

Just before we left for spring break, the Senate Appropriations Committee received the $27.1 billion budget from the House and began working on its version.

It’s expected that the Senate will take up the budget in the next couple of weeks.

The budget is one of the largest tasks of session, and the only one we’re constitutionally required to complete.

I expect us to spend ample time making sure we fund the state’s most important priorities while maintaining a fiscally sound budget.

With so much work behind us, and more work ahead, this year’s spring break will be a much-needed respite for the Legislature. We’ve been working on some very contentious bills in recent weeks.

Accordingly, the Senate has debated late into the night and early into the morning on multiple occasions. Being able to return home to our families for the week and to visit with folks in our respective districts could not have come at a better time.

The short break will allow me and my colleagues to take some time to clear our heads and recharge our batteries as we head into the home stretch.

When the Legislature reconvenes, there will only be seven weeks remaining in session, which is scheduled to end on Friday, May 13.

There is still much work to be done, from passing the budget to making sure priority legislation reaches the governor’s desk before the conclusion of session.