Sen. Sam Graves speaks

@ by State Sen. Sam Graves

Dec. 1 is the first day for the official filing of bills to be debated by lawmakers during the Legislative session that will begin Jan. 5.

This year, a large number of early filings indicate a busy session ahead for lawmakers in Missouri. A total of 164 Senate bills were filed on the first day of filing. This reflects an increase of about 10 percent over the number of bills filed on the first day last year.

Lawmakers can introduce legislation until mid March. Typically, about 400 Senate bills are filed for each regular session of the Legislature. In addition to regular bills that make changes in state statues, lawmakers can file joint resolutions that if approved by both the House and Senate, place an issue before voters for their consideration in statewide elections.

As with the regular bills, this year’s first day of filing also saw in increase in the number of resolutions introduced last year. A total of 14 proposed statewide ballot issues were introduced on Dec. 1. The legislation that is prefiled also gives a first glimpse at some of the major issues lawmakers will consider during the upcoming legislative session.

A debate of funding Missouri is expected to receive under a national tobacco settlement is the topic of several prefiled bills. Missouri could receive an estimated $6.7 billion from this settlement over the next 25 years. Several attempts to dedicate this money have already failed. A key measure introduced in the Senate would set up a trust fund and require a statewide vote by citizens to determine how the money should be used or if it should be returned to citizens as total state revenue limited by Article X revenue limits in the state constitution.

For the last three years, lawmakers have approved legislation cutting taxes in Missouri. This year, a tax cut measure has already been introduced to help cut taxes on working families in Missouri. This plan is modeled after a federal program already in place that is called “earned income tax credit.” The proposal introduced this week would establish an earned income tax credit for state income tax that would be available to working families with lower incomes in Missouri. These families could save up to $700 per year if the program is passed into law and signed by the governor.

Every legislative session brings new ideas and proposed changes to improve our state and the services Missouri provides for citizens. With a large number of bills already prefiled, the Year 2000 session of the Missouri General Assembly is already shaping up to be an important one for our state.