• Giving the Gift of Life - (SB1139)
  New laws establish a first person consent organ and tissue donor registry. Any eligible Missourian who agrees to have his or her name in the registry will have given full legal consent to the donation of any of his or her organs or tissues upon death. The legislation also enacts changes to better ensure that Missourians' wishes to become organ donors may be honored. The registry will be managed by the Department of Health and Senior Services and is in the planning stages.

• New Life Saving Measure for Heart Attack and Stroke Victims - (HB1790)
  State laws creating a "Time Critical Diagnosis System" for stroke and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a particularly fatal type of heart attack, have been established. Missouri is the first state in the nation to enact legislation governing a STEMI and stroke statewide system of care.

• Enhancing Support for Second Amendment Rights - (HB 2034)
  Legislation Blunt signed to provide civil immunity for owners and authorized users of firearm ranges takes effect. The legislation provides civil and criminal liability protection for owners and authorized users of hunting preserves. It prevents owners and patrons of ranges and hunting preserves from being sued by people who have built or will build homes next to the range or hunting preserve, then complain about the noise from them. The legislation changes state law to allow new residents of Missouri to apply for concealed carry endorsements once they have established and proven legal residence in Missouri. It also states that convicted felons who knowingly possess firearms can be charged with the crime of unlawful possession of a firearm, a Class C felony. Finally the legislation encourages landowners to grant permission for others to participate in outdoor recreation on their property by providing immunity for the landowner in the event of injury to invited individual or damage to their property.

• Fighting Copper and Metal Theft - (SB1034)
  Laws now improve record keeping for the sale of metals to scrap dealers and others and will give law enforcement new tools to protect Missourians from the growing problem of copper and metal theft. The new law the governor championed and signed also prohibits scrap dealers from purchasing metal that can be identified as belonging to local governments without specific authorization including traffic signal boxes, street signs, manhole covers, guardrails and bleacher seats removed from local parks. Scrap dealers are also prohibited from buying metal beer kegs unless they are sold by the brewer.

• Protecting Missouri Families - (SB714)
  Another law Blunt signed requires registered sex offenders to register their e-mail addresses and other online identifiers with county law enforcement before using them. This information will ultimately be made available to Missourians to search and also will be available to online network businesses for comparison with their members lists so that children will be protected when they use the Internet. The registry and search mechanism designs are in the works.

• Fighting Mortgage Fraud - (HB 2188)
  Blunt also secured new laws enacting stronger penalties for those who commit mortgage fraud against Missouri homebuyers, including prison and steep monetary fines. In addition new protections further enhancing consumer knowledge, protecting against unscrupulous businesses that prey upon at-risk homeowners, and creating new punishments for mortgage fraud also are in effect.

"At the beginning of the year I proposed an aggressive package of priorities for Missouri's lawmakers to consider," Blunt said. "We exceeded the predictions of critics who said we would not be able to pass anything in an election year. We proved them wrong by having a solid session this year that greatly benefits Missouri families."

From the news desk--

Other laws that took effect today that the governor's office didn't mention include: (SB1038), the repeal of campaign donation limits allowing candidates for statewide office to take any amount of money from any contributor they want; (SB724), liberalizing the ability of advanced practice registered nurses to write prescriptions; (SB765), repealing the provisions which allow villages to incorporate in an alternative way rather than requiring a petition by 2/3 of the taxable inhabitants that is approved by the county commission; (HB 1715), changing the BAC count for boaters to be consistent with driving laws (from .10 to .08); (SB 818, 795), making Internet and telephone harassment a felony for adults; , the rollback of property tax levies (go here), and (HB1549, 1771, 1395, 2366), making it difficult for businesses that receive state contracts to hire illegal aliens, and other restrictions placed upon illegals.

For all laws that passed during the last session go here.

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