JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A special session of the Missouri Legislature has officially convened at the capitol.

The Missouri Senate, the body handling the initial introduction of bills, met for a little over a half hour as senators introduced a variety of measures, some of which don’t fall under Governor Mike Kehoe’s purview for legislators to tackle during the extraordinary session.

Kehoe spelled out three areas for lawmakers to focus on: relief for storm victims across the state, capital spending projects that were not passed in the regular session and a comprehensive financing package that could sway the owners of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals from moving across the state border in Kansas.

“I think the offers from the other state (Kansas) are very real and sincere,” Kehoe said. “I’m hopeful Missouri can put a foot forward to give us a seat at the table to help try to keep those two businesses on this side of the state line.”

Kehoe told reporters gathered at an event at the Truman Office Building in Jefferson City that he remains optimistic about the session.

“Special sessions are never easy, but we have some tasks before us,” he said. “I hope they’ll take them seriously and figure out what the best path forward is for Missourians.”

A big piece of the governor’s call has to do with providing relief to Missourians impacted by a string of severe storms that ripped through the state this spring.

“That’s a major part of this call that’s very timely and it’s something that citizens are very much hurting on,” the GOP governor said.

“Look, this legislature has done a great job this session. I’m grateful for the work they did in regular session and I’m hopeful they’ll take that same spirit into looking at the issues before them in the special session.”

Senators introduced roughly 20 bills on the first day. They have 60 days to pass any final pieces of legislation before the Missouri Constitution’s window for a special session expires.