Missouri lawmakers may return in early April, with health safeguards

Despite the rapid escalation in Missouri COVID-19 cases, lawmakers may return to work as early as next week.

Gov. Mike Parson said Friday that he anticipates legislators will be back around April 1 to pass a supplemental budget, which includes $40 million in state and federal emergency funding to combat the pandemic.

Lawmakers face a May 8 deadline to pass the state’s $30 billion budget.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden told The Missouri Times Friday that the Senate expects to return on April 6.

He said the legislature has been working with the University of Missouri Health Care and other health authorities to establish safeguards for lawmakers.

The plan, obtained by The Star through the Missouri Sunshine Law, recommends limiting entrances to the state capitol and restricting public hearings and other activities.

It advises taking the temperature of anyone entering the building and asking if they’ve experienced symptoms or been in contact with anyone who has a known case of COVID-19.

Anyone running a fever or answering “yes” must be moved to an isolation area and are not allowed to proceed into the building.

As for public hearings, the plan suggests that if “there is substantial spread of COVID-19 in your community, cancel events of any size.” If public hearings are held, social distancing should be employed.

Rowden told The Missouri Times that the Senate gallery will be open when they return, but lawmakers will “strongly discourage” people from coming.

The Governor has not signed off on any of the plan’s recommendations, but he highlighted the importance of the Senate returning to pass the supplemental budget in his news conference on Friday.

He said the “drop dead date” for lawmakers to return and pass the supplemental budget is April 24.

Missouri has 670 cases of the new coronavirus, the state said Friday, an increase of 25% over the previous day.

The ninth and 10th deaths were also reported, which included a resident at a Springfield assisted living facility where three others have died.

This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 5:35 PM.