Greetings from your Missouri Capitol. Floor action remained limited this week, with one notable exception, as two joint sessions of the General Assembly took place to receive updates on two important issues: conflict in Israel and the state of the judicial branch.

The Israeli Consul General visited Jefferson City early in the week and provided an address to the Senate and House on Tuesday. In addition to his update on the current conflict against Hamas and Israel’s fight to protect its sovereignty, the consul general reemphasized the strong relationship and history between Missouri and Israel and stressed the need to continue that bond.

On Wednesday we heard from the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court who delivered the annual State of the Judiciary address. I was filled with pride as the chief justice spoke of the history that was made with the current bench, Missouri’s first female-majority Supreme Court. She also spoke of the challenges that face Missouri’s courts and the need for more competitive juror pay and mental health courts.

While the time in joint session limited the availability for significant floor activity, the Senate did have a lengthy discussion regarding state funding going making its way to abortion providers and their affiliates. While the bill did not make it to a vote, the discussion is likely the first of many surrounding this topic, and it was refreshing to be working on legislation and not simply sitting through a standoff over ideologies.

Several of my bills moved forward in that process this week. Senate Bill 752, an act to identify any economic development programs that are impacting rural areas of the state that are scheduled to expire in the coming year, and Senate Bill 753, the “Commercial Financing Disclosure Law,” were both passed out of committee.

It’s my honor to serve as your senator. If you have questions, please call my office at 573-751-5713 or log onto my webpage at senate.mo.gov/brown.