State Rep. Bryan Spencer has filed a number of bills for the upcoming 2020 session of the Missouri Legislature.

Some of the bills are issues Spencer has pushed before that didn’t make it to passage. Others are new measures related to issues in the communities Spencer represents.

2020 will be Spencer’s final year in the Missouri House of Representatives for District 63, which includes the Wright City and Wentzville areas. He will be term-limited at the end of next year, and has announced a run for the state Senate in 2022.

Below are the bills Spencer has filed so far for 2002.

• HB 1753 would create new protections for health care workers. Spencer said one of the dangers facing hospital workers are when they are asked to treat patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol who are brought in by police. Medical staff have been assaulted in such situations, Spencer said.

This bill would require police officers to remain with the patient at the hospital any time someone intoxicated is brought in for “involuntary commitment.” 

The bill also outlines new restrictions against interfering with the operations of a health care facility or ambulance service.

• The “Right to Remember Act,” HB 1751, would make it more difficult for local towns and counties to use eminent domain to relocate or modify historical military monuments, memorials or veteran grave markers. Public entities would have to hold a public hearing and have a majority vote before taking any such action.

Spencer said he believes it is important to preserve such historical markers. He has filed similar bills in previous years.

• Protecting the use of working animals is the goal of HB 1752, another goal Spencer has sought for multiple years. The bill would prevent local cities from banning or creating undue financial hardship on the use of working animals in commerce.

• In response to what Spencer alleged to be misconduct by the Wentzville School Board, he has filed the “Show Up to Vote” bill, HB 1760. The bill would require all members of certain public governmental bodies to be physically present in order to vote on issues.  It specifically prohibits voting electronically or by proxy.

• HB 1810 would authorize cities and counties to direct U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff after the death of a person of local significance.

Spencer said he is looking forward to officially introducing his bills when the legislative session begins Jan. 8. More information about each bill can be found at the Missouri House of Representatives website, www.house.mo.gov.