Senator from Jefferson seeks to ‘clean up’ Missouri statutes; Senate orders substitute printed

Senator from Jefferson presented a lengthy senate substitute for Senate Bill 889, describing it as a comprehensive cleanup of obsolete, superseded and expired statutory language across many chapters of Missouri law.

"This is a bicameral obligation to clean up our state statutes," the senator said, explaining the substitute pulls references to repealed sections, dissolves defunct committees and removes reporting requirements that are past due. He walked colleagues through numerous chapter and section examples, noting some material dates back decades.

During the floor exchange the senator flagged specific items for attention — including language authorizing corporal punishment in schools — and invited colleagues to offer amendments if parts of the substitute raised concerns. He characterized the bill as "important, but not urgent" and encouraged senators not to use the vehicle for unrelated controversial changes.

Following the presentation and brief questions from members, the chamber moved procedural motions to perfect and print the substitute. The presiding officer announced the senate substitute for Senate Bill 889 was declared perfected and ordered printed.

The sponsor and several senators described the measure as routine codification work intended to reduce confusion in statutory citations; senators were urged to request removal of any provision that caused "heartburn" and to work through committee processes for contested items.

Next steps include any amendments filed during the amendment process and enrollment of the perfected substitute according to the Senate calendar.