House Democrats re-nominated Steve Gaw for House Speaker and re-elected Gracia Backer as majority leader. Earlier in the day, House Republicans re-elected Mark Richardson as their leader.
The house voted to remove the upper age limit on school bus drivers. Bill sponsor, Gracia Backer from Callaway, says rural school districts have trouble finding drivers and should be allowed to keep drivers as long as they are competent, regardless of their age. Representative Dale Whiteside, from Northern Missouri, opposed the bill. Actuality: Whiteside
In the mean time, while the governor's "safe school" legislation was being debated on the floor, Democratic leadership was missing. House Speaker Steve Gaw, D-Moberly, and House Majority Leader Gracia Backer, D-New Bloomfield were missing from Jefferson City -- somewhere in Springfield and aides were unsure when they would return.
After the House elected a speaker, Democrats returned to a closed-door caucus to elect Gracia Backer of New Bloomfield to the Majority Floor Leader's position - the highest legislative office to be held by a woman in Missouri's history.
Among the changes made in the Missouri House of Representatives, Gracia Backer was elected to the House Majority Floor Leader position by the Democratic Caucus.