Missouri chamber lays out legislative priorities

The state's General Assembly convenes today for the start of its 2022 legislative session, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has priorities for lawmakers to consider.

Key priorities include workforce issues and Missouri's growing technology industry, according to a news release from the state chamber.

"We believe these policies, and many others in our 2022 agenda, will find support in the Missouri General Assembly," said Dan Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri chamber, in the release. "We are optimistic about where Missouri is headed, and the 2022 legislative session is a critical opportunity to help move Missouri forward."

The state chamber is recommending legislators reauthorize the Fast Track program, which provides scholarships to Missouri adults who want to pursue degrees, credentials or certificates in high-demand fields.

Additionally, the chamber is asking the legislature to consider adding tools for employers to train and retain their current employees through short-term credentialing programs. Helping high school students access training and financial aid opportunities also is a priority, according to the release.

The Missouri chamber's tech priorities for this legislative session focus on cybersecurity protection to help businesses better respond to cyberattacks.

At the federal level, the chamber is pushing back against the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandates. According to the release, the orders stand to impact more than 3,700 Missouri employers.

“It is never appropriate for politicians to legislate how businesses should be run,” said Mehan, in the release. "Long before COVID-19, employers have had a firmly established legal right to make their own decisions on vaccinations. And that right should remain – let business decide."