FROM THE CAPITOL

It’s been busy at the Capitol, but because of the snow storm, things have slowed down a lot the past few days. Over the past week, we’ve held several hearings on a variety of bills, and I’ll talk about four bills that I’ve been working hard to get passed.

First, this past week I filed HB 2599. This bill is one of my personal favoites because the idea came from a local Howell County farmer. To help small farmers, Missouri law has for several years granted an exemption from sales tax being paid by farmers on certain farm equipment. Recently, some folks have been trying to get rid of this exemption. This bill is written to not only safeguard that exemption but to expand it allowing more farmers to get this important tax break. I’m asking for a quick hearing.

I also filed HB 2358. This bill passed out of committee and should be debated on the House floor in the coming week. This bill is written to protect religious freedoms. If passed, every employee’s claim for religious exemption from a federally mandated vaccine shall be presumed valid and cannot be second guessed by the employer. In other words, the individual employee (and not the employer) gets to decide his or her own religious beliefs. Because the federal government is now trying to force all health care workers to get their first vaccination by the end of this month, it will be my top priority to try and fast track this bill to the Governor’s desk.  

Another bill that we heard in the Judiciary Committee this past week is HB 1876. This bill is filed by my friend and fellow representative Mike Haffner. It is written to give farmers better protections against the threat of private eminent domain by large corporations. It’s a bit complicated but a good bill. We will be having the final committee hearing on the bill this coming week, and it’s also likely to be fast tracked for debate to the House floor.

And last, I’ll give an update on my HJR 102. This is one of several initiative petition reform resolutions filed in the House this year. Initiative petition reform is a Republican priority in the House. These bills are all designed to try and stop out-of-state big money groups from constantly amending our Missouri Constitution for their own special interests. HJR 102 had a long hearing before the House Elections Committee this past week. Although it appeared from questioning that both parties agree that the initiative process in Missouri is now controlled by big money (and not by Missouri citizens), we disagree as to whether that should ever change. Most Missourians strongly agree that we have to take big money out of the constitutional process .  Another initiative petition reform bill (HJR 79) was filed by Representative Mike Henderson, and I’ve also agreed to co-sponsor his bill. It should be debated on the House floor later this coming week.

In closing, it’s my honor to highlight the life of a great man, Mike Wall. Mike recently passed away as a result of a car crash. Mike was a big guy but had a gentle soul. He was a long time Howell County deputy and for several years served as the chief security officer at the Howell County Courthouse. Prior to that, he served in the National Guard. He is survived by his wife Nancy “Gloria” Wall and his daughter, Christie. He was a colleague, a good father, a good husband, and a good friend. He will be deeply missed.  

Please watch the House website for updates on bills and resolutions, and remember, you can offer your testimony and your opinion on-line through that same site. It is my honor to represent your commonsense values. If you would like to schedule a specific time to meet locally or at the Capitol, please call my office at 573-751-1455, or email my office at david.evans@house.mo.gov. 

Best regards,

David Evans 

Missouri State Representative

154th District