Sen. Ron Richard's Column for the Week of April 21: Bringing Science and...
This session, we've been steadily working on Senate Bill 491, legislation that revises Missouri's criminal code, something that hasn’t been done since 1979. We've devoted a substantial amount of floor...
View ArticleSen. Ron Richard's Column for the Week of April 28: Senate Approves Its...
The Missouri Senate spent the first part of this week finalizing its version of the state's $26.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
View ArticleGeneral Assembly Overrides Governor's Veto to Increase Take-Home Pay for...
Missourians will soon see the first major tax overhaul in the Show-Me State in nearly 100 years. The General Assembly successfully overrode the governor's veto of Senate Bill 509 today. The legislation...
View ArticleSen. Ron Richard's Column for the Week of May 5: Missouri Legislature...
This week, the Missouri Legislature overrode the governors veto of a broad-based tax cut bill designed to encourage economic growth in the state.
View ArticleSession Scorecard: Missourians Will See More Take-Home Pay and Better Access...
Today marked the end of the Second Regular Session of the 97th General Assembly as the gavel fell promptly at 6 p.m. When the senators drive home this evening, they can look back at the last five...
View ArticleSen. Ron Richard's Column for the Week of May 12: 2014 Legislative Session Ends
The 2014 Legislative session wrapped up on Friday at 6 p.m. I'm proud to say the Senate tackled a number of high-profile issues this year, and worked diligently to resolves problems that have been...
View ArticleSen. Ron Richard's Column for the Week of May 12: 2014 Session...
Although the 2014 legislative session came to a close on Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m., the session didn't constitutionally end until last Friday, May 30.
View ArticleSenate Leaders Applaud the Missouri Supreme Court's Swift Decision on...
JEFFERSON CITY - Senate Leaders are applauding the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling, calling it reassuring. The Court had been asked to consider whether the title and ballot summary for Constitutional...
View ArticleSen. Ron Richard's Column for Sept. 2, 2014: Clarifying the Facts Regarding...
Toward the final weeks of session, it's not at all uncommon for bills to be added to other measures as amendments. It's a standard part of the legislative process.
View ArticleOverturning the Misguided Vetoes of a Disengaged Governor
JEFFERSON CITY - As the annual veto session began today (9-10) at the Capitol, Senate leaders expressed their frustration at the governor's vetoes of more than 30 bills and more than 100 budget items...
View ArticleSen. Richard's Legislative Column for the Week of Sept. 8: Legislature Meets...
On Wednesday, the General Assembly gathered in Jefferson City for the annual veto session. During this time, legislators have the opportunity to override the governor's vetoes of measures passed during...
View ArticleSenate Leaders Call on the Attorney General to Defend Missouri's Laws...
JEFFERSON CITY - On Monday, Senate leaders called on Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster to abide by the will of the people as expressed in the state constitution and defend their decision to define...
View ArticleSenate Majority Caucus Elects Leadership
The majority caucus today endorsed once again Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, elected as Majority Floor Leader.
View ArticleHouse and Senate Leaders Call for Public Hearings to Investigate Governor's...
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri Senate and House leaders today called for public hearings to investigate the governor's response to the unrest in Ferguson, and to determine if emergency appropriations are...
View ArticleSenate Leaders Designate Legislative Priorities for the 2015 Session
JEFFERSON CITY - Addressing the state's education policies and municipal court reform will be top priorities for the upper chamber, Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, announced today (1-7) in...
View ArticleSenate Convenes for the 2015 Legislative Session
Lawmakers returned to Jefferson City this week as the 98th Missouri General Assembly convened at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
View ArticleFirst Senate Bills Referred to Committee
During this second week of the 2015 session, senators continued filing new legislation, and the first Senate bills were referred to committee for consideration.
View ArticleGovernor Releases FY 2016 Budget
With the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, the governor's annual State of the State address Wednesday evening and Chief Justice Mary R. Russell's State of the Judiciary on Thursday,...
View ArticleSenate Advances First Priority of the 2015 Regular Session
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri senators once again showed their support for one of the biggest industries in the state today (1-29) as they advanced Senate Bill 12 to the House. The legislation was a top...
View ArticlePromoting Ethics and Agriculture; Preserving our State Buildings and Parks
The fourth week of session brought significant movement on several key pieces of legislation. On Tuesday, my ethics reform bill, Senate Bill 11, was passed out of the Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions...
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