Posted 1:53 PM
Day Pass. We've been getting requests for this since day-one. "I just need 15 minutes from Tuesday's debate in the Senate." Heretofore, we've only offered the option of becoming a full subscriber. Understandably, most took a pass on that. This year we're offering what we're calling the "Day Pass."

For $99.00 they get access to our debate archives for 24 hours. They can listen to and record debate audio or --if they prefer-- we'll record the audio for them at an hourly rate of $99.00. Payment is by credit card only. If they need our assistance in recording debate, they need to allow up to ten days for delivery. =

This could get pretty labor-intensive so we're (sort of) hoping we don't get a lot of takers. But, as one caller pointed out, Legislature.com is the ONLY source for debate audio.

If you know of someone that might be interested in a Legislature.com Day Pass, send them this way.

Posted 1:51 PM
New look for Legislature.com. Long overdue for a make-over. Everything is pretty much where it was but if we've dropped a link or two, let us know and we'll fix it. We'll probably make a few more tweaks between now and the beginning of the session.

Posted 1:03 PM
Veto Session Audio. No big surprises from the recent veto session. We successfully streamed and archived all of the House procedings and got the first hour or so of the Senate. We did NOT managed to archive the "goodbye" session from Wednesday afternoon. Server problem. All efforts now focus on getting ready for January. Most Legislature.com subscribers have emailed their intention to renew their annual subscription. If we haven't heard from you, remember you need to confirm your account before September 30th to lock-in at last year's rate of $750. .

Audio link

Posted 6:41 AM
The Legislature failed to override any of Governor Bob Holden's vetos of bills passed last Spring. The only bill with much of a chance was one that mandated homeowners and home builders engage in dispute resolution to avoid lawsuits. Senate sponsor Peter Kinder says it passed with more than enough votes to override. But he couldn't hold all of his votes. The bill needed 23 votes for an override.

The veto session gives outgoing members a chance to say goodbye to friends and colleagues. Dozens of members won't be returning in January. More than 40 members of the House are leaving the chamber. Most of those who spoke from the floor for the final time are term limited out of office. Among them, Representative Bill Ransdall of Waynesville, who offerered some advice to the young lawmakers - respect their colleagues and respect the chamber. Representative Larry Crawford of California made a lot of friends during his time in the House. He says he takes with him the friendships he made on both sides of the aisle. The veto session formally wraps up Thursday with lawmakers tieing up some procedural loose ends. Some lawmakers are saying farewell to politics ... others jump back into their campaigns for higher office.

Delay in archiving audio. There will be a slight delay in getting Wednesday's debate posted to the Legislature.com archives. We have the files but have encountered some database problems. We're working on them and will advise by email and website when the audio is available.

Posted 11:46 AM
Veto Session; Renewal for 2005; Day-Pass; RSS Feeds

Veto Session - The veto session of the Missouri General Assembly will get underway at noon on September 15th. Nobody seems to be expecting a great deal from this session but we will be streaming audio from the House and Senate chambers. So dust off those usernames and passwords. Session scheduled to get underway at noon the 15th and (probably) wrap up on Thursday.

2005 Session - Take advantage of your "Valued Subscriber" status and lock-in your subscription for the 2005 session at the same rate as 2004 (and 2003): $750.00. Email us to let us know your intention to renew (or NOT). We won't send out invoices until December but we need to arrange for bandwidth, tech support and the like. After September 30, Legislature.com will cost a little more.

Day Pass - Every year we get a few inquiries from organizations or individuals that want to access a specific piece of debate from the House or Senate, but are unwilling to subscribe for a full year to get an hour of debate. This year we're considering offering such an option and we'd like your comments. It might work like this: $99 buys 24 hours access to our audio archives. The customer can listen, record, whatever. If they need help in recording a portion of debate, Legislature.com will provide that service for $99 per hour. You wouldn't use this service very often before it makes more sense to become a full subscriber and get access to everything, all the time. We haven't decided to offer this service yet and would welcome any feedback (smays@learfield.com).

RSS Feeds - With the 2005 session, we'll be offering an RSS feed of news from Legislature.com. RSS is a format for syndicating news and the content of news-like sites. Using a program called a news aggregator, you can automatically check the Legislature.com website (or any website, for that matter) for updates. For example you might configure your aggregator to check Legislature.com and Missourinet.com every hour. If there's anything new (in the interest areas you've specified), it brings back a link and brief description. We'll post an FAQ page as we get closer to the session. AND... we'll continue to offer email updates for those that prefer them. We see a lot of value in RSS and will be incorporating in all of our websites.

Posted 1:24 PM
Supreme Court Turns Down AG Request. The State Supreme Court has denied the Attorney General's request to skip the first step in the appeals process in the legal battle over when the same-sex marriage ban should appear on the ballot. The ruling by the Supreme Court means the Attorney General will have to appeal Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan's ruling first to the state appeals court. An appellate court ruling could then be appealed to the Supreme Court. The Attorney General had appealed the Callahan's ruling directly to the Supreme Court. Callahan has ruled Secretary of State Matt Blunt does not have to act on Governor Holden's request that the issue be placed on the August primary ballot. Callahan noted in his ruling handed down late this morning that the Secretary of State is not actually in receipt of the official resolution approved by the legislature, because legislative leaders have refused to sign it. The Attorney General argues that isn't necessary for the Secretary of State to act. [The Missourinet]

Posted 11:49 AM
Judge Refuses to Order August Election on August Ballot. Cole County Circuit Judge Richard Callahan has refused to order the Secretary of State to put the same-sex marriage ban amendment on the August ballot. The Attorney General is immediately appealing to the State Supreme Court, asking it to order Secretary of State Matt Blunt to obey Governor Holden's order setting an August election date. In a statement issued by the Attorney General's office, Jay Nixon said "We need a timely, definitive resolution on these legal issues. Therefore, within an hour of the trial court ruling, we have asked the state Supreme Court to bring certainty to this important public policy question. We have sought an immediate preliminary order, briefing, and a decision in time to comply with the ballot certification and distribution deadlines set by Missouri statute." Republican legislative leaders are refusing to sign the resolution in time for it to be put on the primary ballot. Holden says he does not need their signatures on the actual resolution to set the election date. Secretary of State Matt Blunt's Communications Director, Spence Jackson, issued the following statement, "The law is clear. The law has been upheld. This office will continue to comply with the law. We must not permit any governor to start playing games with election laws." The Missouri House of Representatives approved the Senate Joint Resolution in the last half hour of the last day of the legislative session. Senate President Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau) has refused to sign the resolution and says he will not sign it until May 28th, three days after the deadline for issues to be placed on the August ballot. The resolution asks Missouri voters to decide whether current state law, defining marriage as being between one man and one woman, should be placed into the state constitution. [Missourinet]

Posted 5:50 AM
Kinder Says Holden Has No Authority to Set Election Date. Senate President Peter Kinder (R-Cape Girardeau) insists Governor Holden has no authority to set the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the August ballot. Missourinet story >>

Posted 5:45 AM
Nixon Files Suit Against Secretary of State. Attorney General Jay Nixon says Governor Holden has acted well within his authority by calling for the ban on same-sex marriage to be decided by voters in August. Nixon has filed suit in Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City against Secretary of State Matt Blunt, asking the court to order Blunt to follow the governor's direction and place the issue on the August ballot. Missourinet story >>

Posted 7:55 PM
House
Start: 9:00 am - End: 6:05 pm

HB 1453 Hanaway Enacts and modifies various provisions regarding the state foster care system. 9:19am
SB 1081 Kinder Permits contractors to resolve lawsuits without litigation 10:16am
SB 1106 Shields Conveys land to the St. Joseph Museum, Ind. 10:39am
SB 884 Klindt Instructs the revisor of statutes to amend the statutes to reflect certain cases 10:48am
SB 758 Griesheimer Enables certain cities to submit a guest tax to a vote of the people 10:52am
HB 1268 Smith, T Relating to employment security. 11:07am
SB 1096 Caskey Relating to regulating the installation of manufactured homes 12:18pm
SB 1020 Steelman Relating to public records 12:22pm
SB 968 Shields Guarantees teachers partial payment of contacts when teachers are laid off in certain cases 12:37pm
HB 1182 Munzlinger Allows payment of quarterly tax payments for certain corporations. 12:53pm
HB 1548 Crawford Requires overtime pay for state employees to be paid on an hourly basis. 1:10pm
SB 1394 Vogel Modifies various provisions regarding tax collection 1:20pm
HB 978 Baker Creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as liaison between state agencies and small businesses. 1:21pm
SB 1233 Dolan Creates various special license plates and establishes a procedure to streamline the creation of such plates 1:31pm
HB 1177 Guest Modifies various provisions related to concentrated animal feeding operations. 1:38pm
HB 1195 Behnen Expands professional licensing sections including language dealing with interpreter and tattoo artist licensing. 2:21pm
HB 1511 Byrd Enacts the Missouri Uniform Trust Code. 2:23pm
HB 1207 Icet Changes procedures for formation of certain levee districts. 2:29pm
HB 1193 Self Revises procedures for notaries public. 2:31pm
HCR 21 Reauthorizes the Poultry Industry Committee to continue its study of the economic and environmental impact of the poultry industry in this state. 2:33pm
HB 1093 Deeken Establishes the rights of persons who utilize service dogs. 2:34pm
HB 1433 Woods Authorizes the creation of a watershed improvement district in the Upper White River Basin. 2:51pm
HB 1599 Ervin Establishes the Joint Committee on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse to make a continuing study and analysis of inefficiencies in state government. 2:59pm
HB 1039 Yates Clarifies the filing location for campaign finance disclosure reports. 3:10pm
HB 1285 Engler Modifies the provisions regarding car rental insurance. 3:24pm
HB 1403 Moore Creates additional regulations of amusement rides. 3:41pm
HB 841 Angst Prohibits use of glass containers on vessels in navigable waterways. 3:45pm
HB 980 Myers Requires a regulatory impact report for certain rulemaking processes. 3:58pm
SB 762 Champion Modifies various provisions relating to foster care and protective services for children 4:09pm
HB 1195 Behnen Expands professional licensing sections including language dealing with interpreter and tattoo artist licensing. 4:21pm
SB 810 Klindt Immunity from civil liability for certain landowners owning land adjoining public trails 4:30pm
SB 1062 Griesheimer Creates and modifies special licenses available to caterers to serve alcohol at certain functions 4:37pm
SB 1045 Kinder Makes it a crime to burn a cross with the intent to intimidate any person or group of persons 5:02pm
SB 974 Dougherty Limits medical malpractice liability for free medical screenings 5:06pm
SB 974 Dougherty Limits medical malpractice liability for free medical screenings 5:06pm
HB 1268 Smith, T Relating to employment security. 5:13pm
SB 772 Bray Allows certain motor vehicles that stop to load or unload passengers to use alternately flashing warning signals 5:13pm
SB 962 Clemens Athletic trainers shall be licensed, rather than registered 5:14pm
SB 1188 Loudon Modifies the law regarding annuity contracts 5:14pm
SB 1153 Cauthorn Protects hand fishing 5:17pm
SJR 29 Steelman Amends Constitution to state that only marriages between a man and a woman will be valid in this state 5:23pm
SB 1153 Cauthorn Protects hand fishing 5:17pm

Senate
Start: 8:30 am -- End: 6:10 pm

SB 1265 Bartle Creates requirements for membership on a civilian review board 8:42am
SB 987 Quick Changes provisions about water service to annexed areas 9:09am
SB 966 Shields Establishes requirements a temporary help firm employee must follow before claiming unemployment benefits 9:23am
HB 1617 Hanaway Makes it unlawful to destroy evidence pertaining to securities proceedings, sets out penalties, and empowers securities commissioner to promulgate
rules. 9:28am
HB 1195 Behnen Expands professional licensing sections including language dealing with interpreter and tattoo artist licensing. 9:36am
SB 1196 Klindt Modifies various provisions of law relating to firework regulation 10:08am
HB 1195 Behnen Expands professional licensing sections including language dealing with interpreter and tattoo artist licensing. 10:18am
HB 1288 Threlkeld Requires franchisors to provide certain information to franchisees and to stand by warranties. 10:41am
SB 1233 Dolan Creates various special license plates and establishes a procedure to streamline the creation of such plates 10:49am
SB 762 Champion Modifies various provisions relating to foster care and protective services for children 11:28am
HB 1149 May Designates a bridge over a portion of Interstate 44 in Phelps County the Trooper Mike L. Newton Memorial Bridge. 11:45am
HB 1442 Lipke Designates the Thomas G. Tucker, Jr. Memorial Highway. 11:47am
HB 1179 Corcoran Revises surcharge in criminal cases so that the money collected may also be used to pay for any expenses related to housing costs or fees for prisoners. 11:49am
HB 1631 Dixon Removes outdated reference to the State Training School for Negro Girls. 11:54am
HB 904 Luetkemeyer Repeals the Uniform Commercial Code provisions relating to bulk transfers. 11:57am
HB 1427 Portwood Modifies the provisions regarding forfeiture of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. 12:00pm
HB 994 Cunningham, M Extends the expiration date for section 488.2205 (Thirtieth judicial circuit surcharge) to 2010 and removes the requirement that the laws must be
adopted prior to January 1, 1997 12:02pm
HB 1048 Parker Clarifies appropriations for community college district maintenance funds. 12:04pm
HB 844 Mayer Enacts the open contracting act to prohibit public agencies from imposing certain labor requirements as a condition of performing public works. 12:10pm
SB 972 Stoll Seeks to create a Public Safety Medal of Valor for the state of Missouri 12:38pm
HB 1150 May Modifies provisions of lobbyist reporting and campaign finance disclosure. 12:43pm
HB 852 Holand Prohibits immunizations and dental restorations containing mercury after January 1, 2005. 1:10pm
HB 1150 May Modifies provisions of lobbyist reporting and campaign finance disclosure. 1:37pm
HB 978 Baker Creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as liaison between state agencies and small businesses. 1:48pm
HB 1182 Munzlinger Allows payment of quarterly tax payments for certain corporations. 1:55pm
HB 1548 Crawford Requires overtime pay for state employees to be paid on an hourly basis. 2:13pm
HB 1339 Cunningham, J Enacts various provisions relating to consent for abortion. 2:21pm
HB 1209 Jetton Designates the Hadrosaur dinosaur as the state dinosaur. 2:47pm
HB 1195 Behnen Expands professional licensing sections including language dealing with interpreter and tattoo artist licensing. 3:05pm
HB 1453 Hanaway Enacts and modifies various provisions regarding the state foster care system. 3:13pm
HB 1566 Stefanick Limits eligibility for certain medical assistance benefits to amounts appropriated for such benefits. 5:51pm

Posted 9:23 PM
House
Start: 10:00 am; Recess: 12:00 -- 2:00 pm; End: 10:30 am

SB 1233 Dolan Creates various special license plates and establishes a procedure to streamline the creation of such plates 10:23am
SB 1155 Cauthorn Modifies the Missouri Rural Economic Stimulus Authority 10:47am
SB 1394 Vogel Modifies various provisions regarding tax collection 12:01pm
SB 1196 Klindt Modifies various provisions of law relating to firework regulation 1:54pm
SB 1040 Griesheimer Extends various environmental fees 2:10pm
SB 1211 Wheeler Modifies service of summons in landlord/tenant actions 2:35pm
HB 795 Johnson, Bob Places additional qualifications on members of boards of equalization in charter counties. 2:58pm
HB 978 Baker Creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as liaison between state agencies and small businesses. 3:08pm
HB 959 Luetkemeyer Establishes the Higher Education Deposit Program and revises other laws relating to banking. 3:33pm
HB 1055 Bruns Increases the punishment for possession of child pornography to a class D felony. 3:39pm
HB 1487 Self Revises the crime of kidnapping by including kidnapping of a child under fourteen years of age. 3:43pm
HB 1288 Threlkeld Requires franchisors to provide certain information to franchisees and to stand by warranties. 3:53pm
SB 1265 Bartle Creates requirements for membership on a civilian review board 3:57pm
SCR 37 Shields Establishes the Joint Interim Committee on Teacher Support, Regulatory Reduction and Accountability 4:06pm
HB 1617 Hanaway Makes it unlawful to destroy evidence pertaining to securities proceedings, sets out penalties, and empowers securities commissioner to promulgate rules. 4:19pm
HB 1617 Hanaway Makes it unlawful to destroy evidence pertaining to securities proceedings, sets out penalties, and empowers securities commissioner to promulgate
rules. 4:19pm
SCR 34 Caskey Urges the Governor to Create the Division of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind by Executive Order 4:38pm
SCR 32 Gibbons Relating to character education in public schools 4:40pm
SB 972 Stoll Seeks to create a Public Safety Medal of Valor for the state of Missouri 4:45pm
SB 987 Quick Changes provisions about water service to annexed areas 4:49pm
SB 1391 Foster Enables the cities of Steele, Marston, and Mathews to propose a transient guest tax for certain purposes 5:05pm
HB 855 Holand Requires health insurers to treat mental health in the same manner as other medical services. 5:31pm
SB 1233 Dolan Creates various special license plates and establishes a procedure to streamline the creation of such plates 7:04pm
SB 987 Quick Changes provisions about water service to annexed areas 7:10pm
SB 845 Yeckel Establishes the Grand Army of the Republic Veterans' Memorial Highway on a portion of Interstate 44 7:27pm
HB 1304 Byrd Revises various laws pertaining to claims for damages and the payment of such claims. 7:49pm
SB 807 Loudon Authorizes special motion to dismiss in Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAlPP) 8:44pm
SB 987 Quick Changes provisions about water service to annexed areas 9:08pm
SB 1344 Champion Modifies the procedure of the Joint Committee on Economic Development Policy and Planning 9:36pm
SB 966 Shields Establishes requirements a temporary help firm employee must follow before claiming unemployment benefits 9:53pm

Senate
Start: 10:10 am; Recess: 12:20 -- 2:05 pm; End: 8:30 pm

SB 758 Griesheimer Enables certain cities to submit a guest tax to a vote of the people 10:23am
HB 1099 Reinhart Clarifies sales and use tax exemption eligibility for manufacturing and material recovery plants. 10:31am
SCR 36 Gibbons Creates a Joint Interim Committee on Underage Drinking 10:56am
HB 852 Holand Prohibits immunizations and dental restorations containing mercury after January 1, 2005. 11:00am
HB 1099 Reinhart Clarifies sales and use tax exemption eligibility for manufacturing and material recovery plants. 11:51am
HB 980 Myers Requires a regulatory impact report for certain rulemaking processes. 11:56am
HB 946 Crawford Clarifies leadership selection of the State Highways and Transportation Commission. 12:06pm
HB 1509 Portwood Modifies the provisions regarding health insurance coverage of chiropractic care. 12:11pm
HB 855 Holand Requires health insurers to treat mental health in the same manner as other medical services. 1:56pm
SB 1155 Cauthorn Modifies the Missouri Rural Economic Stimulus Authority 2:40pm
SB 762 Champion Modifies various provisions relating to foster care and protective services for children 3:12pm
SB 1020 Steelman Relating to public records 3:25pm
HB 1509 Portwood Modifies the provisions regarding health insurance coverage of chiropractic care. 3:51pm
HB 978 Baker Creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as liaison between state agencies and small businesses. 4:11pm
HB 1487 Self Revises the crime of kidnapping by including kidnapping of a child under fourteen years of age. 4:28pm
HB 1055 Bruns Increases the punishment for possession of child pornography to a class D felony. 4:53pm
HB 978 Baker Creates the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board to serve as liaison between state agencies and small businesses. 5:02pm
HB 795 Johnson, Bob Places additional qualifications on members of boards of equalization in charter counties. 5:04pm
SB 1394 Vogel Modifies various provisions regarding tax collection 5:17pm
HB 795 Johnson, Bob Places additional qualifications on members of boards of equalization in charter counties. 5:24pm
SCR 32 Gibbons Relating to character education in public schools 5:34pm
SB 968 Shields Guarantees teachers partial payment of contacts when teachers are laid off in certain cases 5:42pm
HB 1277 Townley Creates task force for restructuring hazardous waste fees and allows in state waste facilities receiving out state waste to pay fees and taxes for out of
state facilities. 5:52pm
SB 1394 Vogel Modifies various provisions regarding tax collection 7:02pm
HB 959 Luetkemeyer Establishes the Higher Education Deposit Program and revises other laws relating to banking. 7:07pm
SCR 47 Griesheimer Establishes the Joint Interim Committee on State Supported Passenger Rail Service and Multimodal Transportation 7:17pm
SB 1040 Griesheimer Extends various environmental fees 7:20pm
SB 1211 Wheeler Modifies service of summons in landlord/tenant actions 7:31pm
SB 1122 Shields Modifies provisions relating to the practice of dentistry 7:41pm