The 44th annual conference of the Silver Haired Legislature set priorities for 2018 at the state Capitol in Jefferson City Oct. 16-18.  

The 114 delegates in attendance chose their top five priorities and formulated plans to advocate for senior issues during the coming legislative session.  

After spirited debates in the legislative chambers, the delegates chose these issues to focus on for the 2018 session:

• Senior services growth and development services;

• Revision of MoRx;

• Increase funding for home-delivered meals provided by Area Agencies on Aging; 

• Maintain property tax credit known as the circuit breaker for renters and homeowners at the 2016 level; and

• Approval of medical marijuana use in Missouri.

Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The group is composed of 15 volunteers from each of the 10 statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates, elected by their peers, identify and advocate for issues critical to older Missourians.

For more information about the priorities of the Silver Haired Legislature call or email Walt Bittle, Northeast AAA Delegation chair, at 636-456-5603, waltb50@charter.net.