JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe had a busy day July 14 when he signed 10 bills into law. Two of these were sponsored by Chillicothe-based Senator Rusty Black.

The first bill sponsored by Black, along with Representative Dane Diehl, is SB271, which makes modifications to provisions that relate to emergency services.

These establish that no fire prevention ordinances or fire protection shall impose any regulations on any farm structures or buildings. It also requires updates to be made to uphold emergency medical service standards, to provide additional trainings and to make audits required in ambulance districts. It also expands the protection to any person who is unpaid who helps out during an emergency under the Good Samaritan law.

Also sponsored by Senator Black, in addition to Representative Barry Hovis, is HB147, which changes provisions that relate to retirement. This law restricts the Missouri Public Employee Retirement Systems from investing in entities that are United States-sanctioned. It also prohibits the investment fiduciary of a public employee retirement system from considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. The law also creates new avenues for funding of the state’s Sheriff’s Retirement System.

Senator Black represents District 12, which includes Andrew, Atchison, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Sullivan, Worth counties and part of Buchanan County