JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Local efforts to name a highway after a fallen Northwest Missouri soldier, dispatch more help during statewide emergencies and a push to keep tractor parades legal only need signatures from Gov. Jay Nixon to become law.

The Republican-led Legislature this week has passed the different bills from three regional lawmakers, including one Democrat. The round of consent bills are the first from any area legislators to see enough success to go to the governor’s desk.

The Senate in late April unanimously passed a bill that would turn U.S. Highway 69 near Cameron into a memorial for Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Kelley. Mr. Kelley, 30, of Osborn, died Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash in northern Iraq.

Rep. Jim Guest, a King City Republican, originally wrote HB 867 to designate a portion of U.S. Highway 36, from Cameron, Mo., to Osborn, Mo., the “CW2 Matthew G. Kelley Memorial Highway.” But senators revised the bill after opposition from a Chillicothe VFW member because that section already is part of a VFW memorial highway.

Rather than fight with the VFW, Mr. Guest instead asked to name a part of U.S. Highway 69, from the southern city limits of Cameron to its intersection with Interstate 35, after Mr. Kelley. That section was part of the soldier’s funeral procession.

The House on Tuesday voted to accept the Senate’s changes. If the governor signs off on it, the Patriot Guard Riders will assist with fundraising efforts for the signs, which the Missouri Department of Transportation would erect on Highway 69. Cost is roughly $2,000.

Also this week, lawmakers backed legislation from a former St. Joseph firefighter aimed at improving statewide disaster relief.

The state fire marshal’s office already manages a voluntary system of reciprocal agreements among fire departments, but state law doesn’t include other emergency workers, such as medical workers, volunteer firefighters or homeland security response teams, such as the hazmat unit in Buchanan County.

HB 103 from State Rep. Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, would allow any public safety agency, including those on university campuses, to enter into a voluntary statewide mutual aid agreement that the Department of Public Safety would coordinate.

Recent changes to the bill include a good samaritan clause, which would protect ordinary citizens who use automatic defibrillators in times of emergency from any legal liability. Also, for at least two more years, home buyers have the option of installing fire sprinklers into their homes. Mr. Wildberger said without this provision, home builders would be forced to add the sprinklers, which would increase home costs by at least $15,000. The House accepted the updated bill 150-5.

Tractor cruises also received Statehouse attention this week. Rep. Mike Thomson, a Maryville Republican, and Mr. Guest moved their combined bills to clear up state language on tractor parades out of the Legislature.

“Tractors in Northwest Missouri aren’t just a tool,” Mr. Thomson said. “(Cruises) are big events. They raise a lot of money for charity.”

Since state law authorizes tractors on roadways only for agricultural purposes, Missouri State Highway Patrol officials believe the legality of tractor cruises and parades could be questioned, Mr. Thomson said.

HB 93/HB 216 would allow tractors in parades as long as licensed drivers are operating them during daylight hours. Width, height, length and registration regulations would apply and the parades need permission from the patrol’s superintendent.

The bills wouldn’t become effective until August, except for the tractor fix, which would take effect immediately.

Alyson E. Raletz can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.