House lawmakers move several bills in final day of session
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) -
House representatives took care of several bills Friday to wrap up the General Assembly's 2022 session.
The chamber had only so many bills to work on after the Senate's adjournment the day before. It left House lawmakers only with bills that the Senate had passed for final passage. Representatives could not make any amendments to those bills, since doing so would require them to go back to the Senate for a vote.
Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) helped pass an expansion of the Fast Track grant program. The bill expanded who is eligible to receive the financial help from the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, and rolls back rules that would convert the grant into a loan if students did not meet certain requirements.
The legislature also passed a bill naming the Missouri River Bridge at Highways 63 and 54 Callaway and Cole counties after outgoing U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.
Republicans after the session lamented not being able to pass reforms to the state's initiative petition process. Speaker of the House Rob Vescovo (R-Arnold) said his party also wanted to see a so-called "Parents' Bill of Rights" passed, which would place more rules on public school boards.
