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Coping with COVID: Missouri lawmakers’ special session postponed following case outbreak

Gov. Mike Parson’s special session intended in part to discuss remaining CARES Act funding has been postponed until after Thanksgiving. The rescheduled session was announced Monday as numerous COVID-19 cases have sprouted up among legislative members.

Missouri is postponing a special session to deal with budgetary matters and legal protections related to COVID-19 amid an uptick in cases within the legislature.

State Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Republican who represents District 19 in mid-Missouri, tweeted Monday that the postponement until after Thanksgiving was necessary “due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases among members and staff.”

“This decision was not made lightly and, although disruptive, is in the best interest of protecting members, staff, and the public,” Rowden said.

Gov. Mike Parson called for a “very short” special session to handle more than $1 billion is remaining CARES Act funding. The federal dollars must be allocated and spent by the end of the year or returned.

Parson widened the scope of the special session Nov. 12 through executive order, hoping to add liability protection for small businesses and indemnify businesses against claims related to the COVID-19 pandemic.