Senator Carter joins Morning Newswatch to discuss current priorities

Missouri State Senator Jill Carter, R-Granby, appeared on KZRG Morning Newswatch this morning to discuss several legislative priorities during the current session.

The interview covered topics including daylight saving time, election integrity, child protection, and support for disabled veterans.

Carter addressed the recent "spring forward" time change, noting public frustration with the practice. She highlighted Senate Bill 1072, which would exempt Missouri from observing Daylight Saving Time, allowing the state to remain on standard time year-round. She encouraged constituents to contact their senators and House representatives to prioritize the bill, describing it as achievable with sufficient public support. When asked if it could advance this session, she expressed optimism contingent on citizens making it a priority amid other major issues like tax cuts. She acknowledged the bipartisan appeal of ending clock changes and the debate over attaching such provisions to larger bills but emphasized the need for focused legislation.

Shifting to election-related matters, Carter discussed Senate Bill 985, aimed at enhancing election transparency and integrity. The bill would require precinct-level reporting of vote summaries using unique IDs assigned by the Secretary of State, without including individual voter data. She explained that this would provide better insight into how precincts vote on key issues and improve verification processes. A key provision addresses communication gaps between the Department of Motor Vehicles and local election clerks regarding voter registration, ensuring checks on citizenship status when individuals register via DMV services. Carter noted debates over small precinct sizes and privacy concerns, clarifying that the bill does not involve sharing personally identifiable information beyond what's already publicly available through the Secretary of State's office. She described some media coverage as distorting the bill's intent and stressed its focus on cross-verification to confirm that registered voters are U.S. citizens. Carter expressed strong enthusiasm for legislation making sexual grooming of children a crime, which originated from citizen input in her district through advisory boards, prosecutors, judges, and organizations like CASA and the Rapha House. She reported that a four-hour House hearing featured significant public testimony in support, describing the turnout as "magical" and reflective of proper government function. The bill advanced out of her Senate committee yesterday, and she anticipates it becoming a flagship measure to pass before spring break. She highlighted its bipartisan potential as a child protection issue with broad consensus across party lines.

Finally, Carter mentioned a recent town hall with veterans organized by her citizen advisory boards. She praised their efforts in community engagement and urged support for legislation eliminating property taxes for veterans rated 100% disabled due to service-connected conditions. She noted that this would align Missouri with practices in surrounding states and encouraged veterans or their contacts to reach out to legislators to advance the bill.

Carter represents the 32nd Senatorial District, covering Jasper and Newton counties.