LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 3-8-24

March 8, 2024

 Bills are being referred to committees and hearings are the primary focus.  The Senate seems to have solved some of its intra-party disputes.  Each week we will send out an update report showing bill actions during the week.  Below are summaries of bills of interest.  Changes from the last report, including committee assignments and hearings, are noted in red.

Priority Bills

SB 1062 (Coleman) – eliminates sales tax on food over a four-year period.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 1115 (Schroer) – provides that when a juvenile officer makes a risk and needs assessment of a child, he or she shall use a cumulative total of points assessed for all alleged offenses committed to determine whether or not the court shall order the child to be detained. Judiciary & Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.  Heard 1/29.  Passed Committee 2/5.   (Support)

SB 1252 (Rehder) – exempts food from sales tax. Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee. (Oppose) 

HB1418 (Sauls) – exempts food from sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB1464 (Sander) – similar HB 1418.  (Oppose)

HB 2055 (Keathley) – exempts food from sales tax over a four-year period. (Oppose)

HB 2174 (Schnelting) – similar to HB 1418 (Oppose)

HB 2273 (Dinkins) – similar to HB 2055.  (Oppose)

HB 2401 (Quade) – eliminates the retail sale of food from state and local sales and authorizes certain tax increases to offset lost revenues, subject to voter approval.

HB 2815 (Merideth) – similar to HB 1418.  (Oppose)

HB 2887 (Windham) – similar to HB 1418.  (Oppose)

 Court Bills

 HB 1796 (Mackey) – eliminates municipal courts and requires all trials in the circuit court.  (Oppose)

 Economic Development Bills

 SB 750 (Hough) – authorizes St. Louis County and any municipality with more than 1,500 inhabitants and not located in St. Louis County to establish a land bank.  Emerging Issues Committee. Heard 1/16.  Passed Committee 1/25.  Perfected 3/6.  3^rd Reading Calendar.  (Support)

SB 919 (Koenig) – requires community improvement districts to be approved by a 2/3 vote of the governing body if a sales tax is proposed.  Also requires a 2/3 vote of the highway commission or local transportation authority if a sales tax is proposed.  Local Government & Elections Committee.

SB1210 (Arthur) – allows a school district to exclude real property from a proposed tax increment financing redevelopment area if the school district determines that such redevelopment area will have an adverse effect on such school district. The school district shall adopt a resolution making such determination and shall deliver the resolution to the municipality establishing the redevelopment area. Within thirty days of receiving the resolution, the municipality shall remove such property from the redevelopment area or terminate the redevelopment area.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.

SB 1242 (Washington) – modifies the definition of “blighted area” for the purposes of tax increment financing (TIF). Such areas shall be in a distressed community and be insanitary or unsafe for living or working; shall have unemployment one and one-half times greater than the average for the state; or have a median household income of less than fifty percent of the median household income of the metropolitan statistical area in which the area is located.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Heard 2/26.

HB 2058 (Keathley) – requires CIDs and TDDs to be unanimously approved by 2/3 vote of the governing body.  Also prohibits resubmission of failed tax proposals for two years unless the proposal is substantially changed. The bill also excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local fees.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/14.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/26.  Perfection Calendar.  (Oppose)

HB 2065 (Owen) – authorizes St. Louis County and any municipality with more than 1,500 inhabitants and not located in St. Louis County to establish a land bank.  Local Government Committee. Heard 2/13.  Passed Committee 2/20.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/4.  Perfected 3/6.  3^rd Reading Calendar.  (Support)

Election Bills

SB 774 (Gannon) – changes the filing period for April elections to 8:00 a.m. on the 16th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 13th Tuesday prior to the election, unless the 13th Tuesday prior to an election falls on a holiday, then the closing of filing shall be at 5:00 p.m. on the next day that is not a holiday.  Local Government & Elections Committee.  Heard 2/5.  Passed Committee 2/12.  (Support)

SB 856 (O’Laughlin) – under current law, mayors of 3rd and 4th class cities must be a resident of such city at the time of the election and for a certain time period before the election.  This act modifies that provision to provide that a person must be a resident of the county in which such city is located at the time of the election and for a certain time period before the election and the city must have a population under 5000.  Local Government & Elections Committee. Heard 2/12.  Passed Committee 2/26.  (Oppose)

SB 926 (Crawford) – contains same filing provisions as SB 774 and other election revisions.  Local Government & Elections Committee.

SB 929 (Cierpiot) – requires all proposals for new local taxes, licenses, or fees, or for a renewal or increase in an existing tax, license, or fee, to be submitted to the voters on a general election day or primary election day – August or November of even numbered years.  Local Government & Elections Committee.  (Oppose)

HB1517 (Murphy) – requires election issues to be labeled in alphabetical or numerical order.  Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 1/23.

HB 1604 (Hinman) – changes the filing period for April elections to the 16th Tuesday prior to the election to the 13th Tuesday prior to the election, unless the 13th Tuesday prior to an election falls on a holiday, then the closing of filing shall be the next day that is not a holiday.  Elections Committee.  Heard 1/9.  Passed Committee Consent (Non-controversial) 1/30.  Referred Consent & House Procedures Committee.  Passed Committee 2/13.  Passed Rules Committee 2/13 Consent.  Passed House 3/7.  (Non-controversial).

HB 2061 (Keathley) – prohibits resubmission of failed tax election for four years unless the proposal is substantially changed. Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 2/13.  Passed Committee 2/20.  (Oppose)

HB 2140 (McGaugh) – changes filing period to open 16 weeks before election and close 13 weeks before election.  Elections Committee.  Heard 1/16.  Passed Committee 1/30.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/12.  Perfection Calendar. 

HB 2225 (Bonaker) – changes filing period to open 16 weeks before election and close 11 weeks before election.  Elections Committee. 

Miscellaneous Bills

 SB 911 (Ben Brown)- under this act, the state’s laws shall preempt any local laws, ordinances, orders, rules, or regulations enacted by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state regulating the sale of tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products.  Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 2/27.

SB 994 (Ben Brown) – provides that when a person submits a request to a political subdivision for a permit to develop property, the political subdivision shall approve or deny the request within 60 days upon the receipt of the request from an applicant. If the political subdivision fails to approve or deny the request within 60 days, then the request is approved. If the political subdivision denies the request, the political subdivision shall provide in writing the reasons for the denial.  Local Government & Elections Committee.

SB 1346 (Trent) – as it relates to political subdivisions purchasing liability insurance for tort claims made against the political subdivision, this act defines the term “purchase” to refer only to the direct acquisition of insurance coverage by a governing body and not any indirect action by contract or otherwise.  Insurance & Banking Committee.  Heard 2/6. Passed Committee 3/5.  (Support)

SB 1362 (Crawford) – Modifies provisions relating to financial statements of certain local governments, allows State Auditor to wave fines for failure to submit annual financial report in certain situations.   Local Government and Elections.  Heard 2/12. Passed Committee 2/26.  (Support)

HB 1635 (Terry) – establishes term limits of 8 years for mayors and alderpersons in 4^th class cities. 

HB 1720 (Falkner) – defines as closed records email addresses and telephone numbers submitted to a public governmental body by individuals or entities for the sole purpose of receiving electronic or other communications limited to newsletters, notifications, advisories, alerts, and periodic reports.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 1/16.  Passed Committee 1/23.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 1/29.  House Perfection Calendar. Perfected 2/6. Passed House 2/8.   Senate Local Government & Elections Committee.  (Support)

HB 1724 (Falkner) – no public official or other person who would otherwise be personally  liable under applicable law or at equity to a contractor, subcontractor, supplier at any tier, or otherwise, by reason of the failure of a public entity to require a contractor to furnish a payment bond as required by this section shall be so liable unless the contractor provides, prior to the time the contract is executed, to the presiding official or officer and to the secretary, clerk, or similar official or officer of the public entity a written notice identifying the persons who will have personal liability for payment.  Financial Institutions Committee.  Heard 3/5.  (Support)

HB 1809 (Wright) – establishes authority for cities to issue municipal search warrants for ordinance violations.

HB 1902 (Proudie) – specifies that limited liability companies that own real property in St. Louis County must designate a contact person with the county clerk.

HB 1931 (Toalson-Reisch) – eliminates prevailing wage on public works projects.

HB 2060 (Keathley) – enacts state pre-emption of local authority over tobacco products and sales.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 3/6.  (Oppose)

HB 2206 (West) – requires public comment and establishes procedures for public comment at local government meetings.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 3/6.

HB 2279 (Toalson Reisch) – requires city populations to be posted on city limits signs.  Transportation Accountability Committee.  Heard 1/18. Passed Committee 2/8.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/19.  Perfected 3/5.  Passed House 3/7.

HB 2282 (Lovasco) – no political subdivision shall require an exempt homeowner to obtain any license, certification, or professional registration or submit to any examination or testing as a condition of applying for or utilizing a building or construction permit, provided all 8 work is performed by the owner or other current resident.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.   Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/14.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/26.  Perfected 3/5.  Passed House 3/7.

HB 2284 (Lovasco) – limits authority of political subdivisions to restrict parking of unlicensed vehicles or to restrict usage of property.

HB 2292 (Falkner) – establishes provisions governing no-impact, home-based businesses.  General Laws Committee.  (Support)

HB 2328 (Casteel) – requires public notices that are filed in newspaper to also be filed on the Secretary of State website.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 3/6.

HB 2380 (Brown) – prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a home inspection before the sale of residential property.  Small Business Committee.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 1/23.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 1/29.  Perfection Calendar.

HB 2385 (Keathley) – prohibits local governments from requiring private property owners to accept Section 8 vouchers.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/30.  Passed Committee 2/20.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/26.  .  Perfected 3/5.  Passed House 3/7.

HB 2419 (Burnett) – repeals the state prohibition of local governments regulating paper and plastic bags.

HB 2526 (Owen) – establishes new procedures for municipalities to select repositories of public funds.  Financial Institutions Committee.

HB 2533 (Morse) – prohibits the state and any political subdivision from requiring businesses to be open on Sundays.  Transportation Accountability Committee.

HB 2611 (Gray) – prohibits 3^rd & 4th cities in St. Louis County from imposing a fee for a false alarm to which the police department responds if it is the alarm user’s first false alarm in a twelve-month period.  

HB 2870 (Casteel) – establishes a Missouri Building Code to be adopted by political subdivisions.

HB 2925 (Stacy) – requires local budgets to be submitted to members of the governing body at least 7 days prior to the scheduled approval vote.   

 Personnel & Employment Bills

 SB 1066 (Ben Brown) – Under current law, state minimum wage laws preempt and nullify all political subdivision ordinances, rules, and regulations relating to the establishment or enforcement of a minimum or living wage or the provision of employment benefits that exceed state laws, rules, or regulations. This act adds to the list of political subdivision policies, ordinances, or resolutions that may not be enacted to include the following:

• Those that regulate the information an employer or potential employer shall request, require, or exclude on an application for employment from an employee or prospective employee.
• Those that regulate work stoppage or strike activity of employers and its employees or the means by which employees may organize;
• Those requiring an employer to provide to an employee paid or unpaid leave time;
• Those regulating the hours and scheduling that an employer is required to provide to employees;
• Those requiring an employer or its employees to participate in any educational apprenticeship or apprenticeship training program that is not required by state or federal law; and
• Those regulating or creating administrative or judicial remedies for wage, hour, or benefit disputes, including, but not limited to, any benefits described in this subsection. Local Government & Elections Committee.

HB 1735 (Crossley) – establishes the “First Responders’ Bill of Rights” and provisions relating to investigations of first responders.

HB 1769 (Perkins) – establishes a disciplinary procedure process for firefighters.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 1/18.  Passed Committee 2/1.

HB 1861 (Sauls) – establishes a procedure for investigations of firefighters.

HB 2056 (Keathley) – requires municipalities to reimburse telcom providers for site relocation costs incurred due to road maintenance.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/30.  Passed Committee 2/20.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 2459 (Ealy) – similar to HB 1861.

HB 2817 (Sauls) – adds additional job-related conditions as covered injuries under the workers comp law for public safety officers.

Public Safety Bills

 SB 730 (Rowden) – establishes a pilot program known as the “Community Crime Reduction Grant Program” which shall provide money to municipal police departments that apply to the Department of Public Safety for a grant for

• Up to 50% of the cost of employing new law enforcement officers needed to raise the department’s officer to population ratio to two officers per one thousand people; and
• Up to 100% of the cost for law enforcement officers hired with grant money by the municipal police department to attend not less than one seminar relating to fair and impartial policing and one seminar relating to racial sensitivity at the University of Missouri Law Enforcement Training Institute. Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

SB 808 (Schroer) – puts St. Louis City police back under a state appointed board of commissioners.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 2/1.

SB 901 (Schroer) – creates the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle if the person knows that a law enforcement officer is attempting to detain the vehicle and the person flees at a high speed which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death or causes physical injury or death to another person. This shall be a class D felony if the person creates a substantial risk of injury, a class B felony is the person causes physical injury, and a class A felony if the person causes death of another.  Additionally, a person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop if he or she has seen or heard or reasonably should have seen or heard emergency lights or sounds. It shall not be a defense that the law enforcement officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee. Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/21.

SB 948 (Brattin) – no political subdivision shall adopt any order or ordinance relating to the sale, purchase, or ownership of a firearm unless it conforms exactly with state law.  This act adds that any officer of a governing body who violates those provisions shall be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for every offense and shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

SB 1334 (Eigel) – prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from purchasing, installing, or using automated license plate reader systems (ALPRs) as defined in the act, and from accessing or using captured license plate data from vehicles located on public highways.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

SB 1414 (May) – places all municipal police departments under a state board of police commissioners.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  (Oppose)

SJR 72 (Schroer) – constitutional amendment to require the Department of Public Safety to establish a uniform crime reporting system and shall annually determine the most dangerous cities in the state. Each political subdivision in this state shall report their crime statistics. Any political subdivision which fails to do so shall not receive any state funds.  The Department shall then develop a policing plan for those cities which shall determine a minimum number of commissioned peace officers required to be on duty. Such cities shall implement the policing plan within 90 days. If any city fails to implement the policing plan, the Attorney General shall file a petition with the circuit court for injunctive relief or a declaratory judgment.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

HB 1462 (Brown) – repeals provisions that prohibit political subdivisions from adopting orders, ordinances, or regulations relating to firearms.

HB 1481 (Christ) – puts St. Louis City police back under a state appointed board of commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/8.  Passed Committee 2/22.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/6.

HB 1601 (Bosley) – requires all peace officers in the state to wear video cameras that include audio and video affixed to their uniforms when they are on duty, with some exceptions. Recordings must be preserved for at least 60 days and the recordings must be made available to the public within 14 days of an incident.

HB 1692 (Sparks) – creates the offense of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle if the person knows that a law enforcement officer is attempting to detain the vehicle and the person flees at a high speed which creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death or causes physical injury or death to another person. This shall be a class D felony if the person creates a substantial risk of injury, a class B felony is the person causes physical injury, and a class A felony if the person causes death of another.  Additionally, a person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop if he or she has seen or heard or reasonably should have seen or heard emergency lights or sounds. It shall not be a defense that the law enforcement officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/8.  Passed Committee 2/22.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/4.  Perfection Calendar.

HB 2735 (Johnson) – repeals provisions that prohibit political subdivisions from adopting orders, ordinances, or regulations relating to firearms.

HB 2823 (Proudie) – no political subdivision shall penalize a resident, tenant, or landlord for a request to law enforcement or emergency services by or on behalf of a victim of abuse, a victim of a crime, or an individual in an emergency if the contact was made with the reasonable belief that intervention or emergency assistance was necessary to prevent the perpetration or escalation of, or to respond to, such abuse, crime, or emergency or if the intervention or emergency assistance was actually needed in response to such abuse, crime, or emergency.

Taxation & Revenue Bills

 SB 725 (Hoskins) – requires political subdivisions to annually reduce current personal property tax rate percentage such that the amount by which the revenue generated by taxes levied on such personal property is reduced is substantially equal to one hundred percent of the growth in revenue generated by real property assessment growth, as defined in the act. Annual reductions shall be made until December 31, 2073. Thereafter, the percentage of true value in money at which personal property is assessed shall be equal to the percentage in effect on December 31, 2073.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Heard 1/16.  (Oppose)

SB 733 (Eigel) – similar to SB 725. Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee. Heard 1/16. (Oppose)

SB 777 (Moon) – eliminates food sales from the state 1% education sales tax and authorizes political subdivisions to exempt food from local sales taxes.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee. 

SB 879 (Beck) – authorizes municipalities located within St. Louis County to impose a property tax to provide fire protection services, with such tax not to exceed $0.25 per $100 assessed valuation.  This act also authorizes fire protection districts and municipalities located within St. Louis County to impose a sales tax of up to 0.5% to provide fire protection services. A fire protection district or municipality imposing a sales tax authorized by this act shall reduce any property tax levy imposed by such district or municipality for the purposes of providing fire protection services such that the revenue generated by such property tax levy is offset in an amount equal to one hundred percent of the amount of revenue generated by the sales tax imposed pursuant to this act.  Local Government & Elections Committee.  Heard 2/26.  Passed Committee 3/4.  (Oppose fire district sales tax provision)

SB 1086 (Brattin) – identical to SB 725.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee. (Oppose)

SJR 53 (Eigel) – constitutional amendment to freeze state revenues and eliminate personal property tax by 2028.  Fiscal Oversight Committee.  (Oppose)

SJR 82 (Brattin) – replaces real property taxes with a countywide sales tax.  General Laws Committee.

HB 1527 (Buchheit-Courtway) – specifies that motor vehicles seven years of age or older, based on the model year and used solely for noncommercial purposes, will be assessed at 5% of their true value in money.  Transportation Infrastructure Committee.  Heard 3/6.

HB 1667 (Matthiesen) – authorizes taxpayers to submit petitions to reduce local tax rate levies up to 5%.  Property Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 3/6.

HB 1669 (Matthiesen) – exempts vehicles from personal property taxes upon adoption of a constitutional amendment.  Property Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 2/28.  (Oppose)

HB 2231 (Merideth) – allows political subdivisions to tax tobacco products.

HB 2908 (Merideth) – allows counties to enact an earnings tax to replace property taxes.

HJR 82 (Seitz) – constitutional amendment provides that any individual 65 years or older that has a Missouri taxable income of less than $45,000 will not be subject to or liable for any property tax.  Property Tax Reform Committee. 

HJR 85 (Terry) – constitutional amendment provides that residential property shall be assessed at 50% of the value at which such property would otherwise be assessed if the property owner is a senior or disabled.  Property Tax Reform Committee. 

HJR 88 (Matthiesen) – constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to eliminate personal property taxes. Property Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 2/28.   (Oppose)

Transportation and Vehicle Bills

SB 953 (Moon) – repeals the gas tax increase.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 1269 (Schroer) – prohibits political subdivisions from using automated photo red light enforcement systems to enforce red light violations.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 1377 (Cierpiot) – prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from purchasing, installing, or using automated license plate reader systems and from accessing or using captured license plate data from vehicles located on public highways. Referred Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee.

HB 1511 (Murphy) – requires political subdivisions that require the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain businesses to pay the costs associated with the installation, maintenance, and operation of such station.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 1/10.  Passed Committee 1/17.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 1/29.  Perfected 2/5.  Passed House 2/8.  Senate Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Hearing 3/11.

HB 2550 (Fountain Henderson) – establishes requirements for speed humps installed for traffic calming purposes.

HB 2842 (Lovasco) – prohibits political subdivisions from using traffic cameras to enforce red light violations, speed law and other traffic laws.  (Oppose). 

HB 2849 (Mayhew) – prohibits political subdivisions from using automated photo red light enforcement systems to enforce red light violations.  Transportation Accountability Committee.  (Oppose)

HB 2899 (Murphy) – changes control and operation of Lambert Airport from St. Louis City to the Regional Airport Authority.

 Utility & Broadband Bills

SB 803 (Trent) – modifies the definition of “video service” to include the provision of video programming by a video service provider provided through wireline facilities located in a public right-of-way without regard to the delivery technology. “Video service” does not include any video programming accessed via a service that enables users to access content over the internet, including streaming content. Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 947 (Thompson Rehder) – identical to SB 803. Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  Heard 2/27. Passed Committee 2/27.  (Oppose)

SB 999 (Hoskins) – identical to SB 803.  Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee. (Oppose)

SB 1018 (Justin Brown) – whenever the state or a municipality requires a broadband or a video service provider to relocate their telecommunications infrastructure installed for the purpose of delivering internet and video service to customers, the state or the municipality shall reimburse the internet and video service providers for all relocation costs. Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 1205 (McCreery) – completion of the Task Force on the Future of Right-of-Way Management and Taxation report of its activities for submission to the General Assembly shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2025, instead of December 31, 2023, as currently provided. The Task Force shall expire on December 31, 2025, instead of on December 31, 2023, as currently provided.  Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  (Support)

SB 1316 (Cierpiot) – identical to SB 803.  Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 1411 (May) – extends the expiration date for the task force on right-of-way management to 12/31/29. Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.   Hearing 3/12.   

SB 1418 (Ben Brown) – prohibits cities from enacting gross receipts-based taxes on telcom services.  Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee. 

HB 1816 (Riggs) – establishes a broadband development council.  Workforce & Infrastructure Development Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 3/7.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 1995 (Perkins) – repeals the expiration date of the Uniform Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 1/24.  Consent & House Procedures Committee.  Passed Committee Consent 2/13.  Perfection Calendar.

HB 2057 (Keathley) – excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local fees.  Utilities Committee. Heard 1/10. Passed Committee 1/24.  Referred Rules Committee. Passed Committee 2/5.  Perfected 2/21.  Passed House 2/29.  Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & Environment Committee.  (Oppose)

HB 2281 (Knight) – identical to HB 2057.

HB 2409 (Falkner) – extends the expiration date for the task force on right-of-way management to 12/31/26.

HB 2501 (Farnan) – identical to HB 1995.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 3/6.

HB2549 (Christ) – identical to HB 1995. 

HB 2606 (McGirl) – establishes the “Municipal Telecommunications Business License Tax Modernization Act” which would prohibit city class actions to enforce telcom taxes.  The bill also caps tax rates at 5% and does not authorize any increases.  It also limits the tax base to sales tax base and abrogates court victories applying tax more broadly such as the recent case against Charter.  (Oppose)

April 29, 2022

There is still no agreement between the House and Senate on the congressional district bill, the House has asked meet in conference with the Senate to hash out a compromise, but the Senate has refused to meet.  The Senate has approved its version of the budget and now the House and Senate will appoint conference committees to work out the differences.  The budget must be approved by May 6, per the Missouri Constitution.  Bills from the opposite chamber are now being heard.  Below are summaries of bills of interest.  Changes from last week are shown in red.  Bills that have not come out of committee have been deleted.  Bills that have not been perfected have been lined through.

The links below will take you to the weekly hearing schedules.  Bills are added throughout the week, by clicking on the link and committee name you can see the most current bills that will have public hearings or be voted out of committee.

Senate Hearing Schedule

House Hearing Schedule   

Priority Bills

HB 1992 (Coleman) – exempts food from state and LOCAL sales taxes.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 2/9.  Passed Committee 3/9.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/23.  Informal Perfection Calendar and could be debated next week. (Oppose)

SB 743.  (Crawford) – authorizes any taxing jurisdiction to impose one or more sales taxes for purposes to be designated by the taxing jurisdiction, provided that the total combined rate of local sales taxes imposed and retained by a taxing entity that is an incorporated city, town, or village shall not exceed 4.5%; the total combined rate of local sales taxes imposed and retained by a county shall not exceed 4.5%; the total combined rate of local sales taxes imposed and retained by the City of St. Louis shall not exceed 9.0%; and for all other taxing jurisdictions, the total combined rate of sales taxes in any given taxing jurisdiction shall not exceed 3.0%.  Perfected 3/9.  Passed Senate 3/21.  House Government Accountability Committee.  Heard 4/20.

The provisions of this bill have been included in the Senate Committee Substitute for SB 649 (Eigel) Perfected 3/2.  3rd Reading Calendar. 

The provisions are also in  SB 759 (Hough) – Local Government and Elections Committee.  Heard 1/26.  Passed Committee 2/16. (Support) 

 SB 930 (Koenig) – a public governmental body is authorized to close records that are related to email addresses and telephone numbers submitted to a public governmental body by individuals or entities for the sole purpose of receiving electronic or other communications.  Government Accountability Committee.  Heard 3/3.  Passed Committee 3/10.  (Support) This language has been amended onto SB 741 (Crawford) – Perfected 4/21.  3rd Reading Calendar.

 HB 1594 (Walsh) – repeals the gas tax increase.  Government Oversight Committee.  Heard 2/8.  Passed Committee 2/16.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/24.  Perfection Calendar.  (Oppose).  Similar bills are SB 782 (Moon) and SB 811 (Eigel)

 HB 2363 (McGirl) – current law authorizes ambulance and fire protection districts in certain counties to propose a sales tax at a rate of up to 0.5%. This bill allows such districts to propose a sales tax of up to 1.0%.  The bill also allows municipalities that contract for fire protection services to, with voter approval, implement a sales tax of up to .5%.  Local Government.  Passed Committee 3/3. Referred to Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/23.  Informal Perfection Calendar.   (Support) Similarly there is HB 2147 (Schwadron) – allows cities which contract for fire service to levy up to 1/2 cent sales tax.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 3/10.  Passed Committee 3/24.  Referred Rules Committee. (Support)

HB 2209 (Hurlbert) – the state, any political subdivision thereof, and any other entity that receives public funds shall not establish, levy, maintain, or collect any fee for parking on any public street or road and shall not use any mechanical or electronic device to receive funds for such a fee including, but not limited to, on-street parking meters.  (Oppose) Downsizing Government Committee.  Heard 3/23.  Passed Committee 3/31.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/6.  Informal Perfection Calendar

 Court Bills

HB 1702 (Roberts) – amended to prohibit a court from issuing an arrest warrant for a person’s failure to respond, pay an assessed fine, or appear in court for a traffic citation issued for an offense that is classified or charged as an infraction. Instead, the court must issue a notice, which will include a second scheduled court date, to be sent to the driver of the vehicle. If the driver fails to respond a second time, the court will issue a second notice of failure to respond, pay the fine assessed, or appear. A copy of the notice will be sent to the driver and to the Department of Revenue. When the driver applies to renew his or her driver’s license, the Department of Revenue must deny the application until all delinquent fines and fees in connection with the traffic offense have been satisfied.  Crime Prevention Committee.  Heard 2/14.  Passed Committee 2/28.  Referred Rules Committee.  (Support) 

 HB 2007 (Haffner) – allows municipal judges to suspend the driver’s license for failure to appear in court for violations of municipal ordinances.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/23.  Passed Committee 2/24.  Referred Rules Committee.  (Support)

Economic Development Bills

 SB 735  (Koenig) – requires NIDs, CIDs and TDDs to be terminated upon completion of improvements and satisfaction of debt.    Also limits total combined sales taxes of CIDs and TDDs to 3.25% and exempts food.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 1/20.  Passed Committee 1/27.

 SB 874 (Arthur) – allows a school district to exclude real property from a proposed tax increment financing redevelopment area if the school district determines that such redevelopment area will have an adverse effect on such school district.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 3/3. Passed Committee 3/10.  Perfection Calendar. (Oppose)

 SB 908 (Koenig) – requires the governing body of a city or county establishing a NID, CID, TDD or TIF to submit to the State Auditor and the Department of Revenue a description of the boundaries of the district, as well as information on assessments made in the district, as described in the act.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 3/2.  Passed Committee 3/10. Passed Senate 4/6.  House Government Oversight Committee.  Heard 4/13.  Passed Committee 4/20.  House 3rd Reading Calendar.

Election Bills

HB 1601 (Chipman) – requires a person appointed to elective public office not be delinquent in the payment of state income tax, personal property tax, municipal tax, or real property tax.  Elections Committee.  Heard 3/9.  Passed Committee 3/10.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/23.  Informal Perfection Calendar.

HB 1859 (Eggleston) – political subdivisions or special districts shall label ballot measures of any type that are submitted to a vote of the people alphabetically in the order in which they are submitted.  Elections Committee.  Heard 2/9.  Passed Committee 2/16.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/24.  Perfected 4/14.  Passed House 4/25

HB 2678 (McCreery) – allows elected officials to use campaign funds for legal fees incurred as result of official duties.   Judiciary Committee.  Heard 3/2.  Passed Committee 3/9.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/30.

HJR 91  (Eggleston) – upon voter approval the Constitutional amendment would change the process and requirements for initiative petitions seeking a Constitutional amendment.  Heard 2/1.  Passed Committee 2/9.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/16.  Perfected 2/24.  Passed House 3/10.  Senate Elections Committee.  Heard 4/13.  Similar to HJR 102 (Evans) Elections Committee.  Heard 1/26. 

Miscellaneous Bills

 HB 1581 (Mayhew) – provides that, for a city of the fourth classification with no more than 2,000 inhabitants, if a statute or ordinance authorizes the mayor to appoint a member of a local board or commission, any requirement that the appointed person be a resident of the city will be deemed satisfied if the person owns real property or a business in the city.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 4/7.  Passed Committee 4/14.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/25.  Perfection Calendar.

 HB 1584 (Murphy) – requires political subdivisions that require the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at certain businesses to pay the costs associated with the installation, maintenance, and operation of such station.  Transportation Committee.  Heard 1/12.  Passed Committee 1/26.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Rules Committee 2/10.  Perfected 2/28.  Passed House 3/10.  Senate Commerce/Environment Committee.  Heard 4/20.  Passed Committee 4/27.

 HB 1614 (Lovasco) – prohibits the state and any political subdivision of the state from making or enforcing any statute, ordinance, or rule regarding the parking of an unlicensed motor vehicle on private property if the vehicle is wholly within the property boundaries, is parked on a surface suitable for a driveway or parking area, and is not supported by any device other than its own tires unless it is being repaired for a period not to exceed 72 hours. The bill also prohibits the state and any political subdivision from making or enforcing any statute, ordinance, or rule, except for a statute, ordinance, or rule restricting air pollution or noise pollution, that would prohibit or penalize a noncorporate owner or renter of a private, single family residence from using the residence in a way that does not pose a clear and present danger to the health or safety of the neighbors, or would require a noncorporate owner or renter of a private residence to use the property in a way contrary to the wishes of the owner or renter.  Downsizing Government Committee.  Heard 3/2.  Passed Committee 3/9.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/23.  Informal Perfection Calendar.

 HB 1657 (Hicks) – specifies that the General Assembly occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way the control or regulation of specific breeds of dogs. However, a village, town, city, or county can still prohibit dogs from running at large or to further control or regulate dogs within its boundaries so long as the ordinance, order, policy, or regulation is not breed specific.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 1/27.  Passed Committee 3/3. Referred Rules Committee.

 HB 1661 (Hicks) – adopts the “International Swimming Pool and Spa Code” as it existed on May 1, 2021, and promulgated by the International Code Council, as the county and municipal swimming pool and spa code for the state. The Code applies to all construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, and repair of swimming pools and spas in any county or municipality that elects to regulate pools and spas. Counties and municipalities are authorized to establish procedures for the administration and enforcement of the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and are authorized to adopt local amendments to the Code or amendments made by the International Code Council. 

Economic Development Committee.  Heard 2/24.  Passed Committee 3/24.  Referred Rules Committee.

 HB 1682 (Brown) – amended to state that no political subdivision shall require a property owner to have a home inspection conducted of a residential property regarding the sale of the property. This provision shall not apply to any inspection requirement of new construction or occupancy permit.  Perfected 3/30.  Passed House 4/6.  Senate Local Government Committee.  Hearing 5/2.

 HB 2593 (Lovasco) – limits political subdivisions regulations on home-based businesses.  Downsizing Government Committee.  Heard 2/23.  Passed Committee 3/3. Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/8.  Perfected 4/6. Passed House 4/14.  Senate Small Business Committee.  Heard 4/26. Passed Committee 4/28.  (Oppose)

 SB 697 (Gannon) – a village, town, city, or county may prohibit dogs from running at large or further control or regulate dogs within its boundaries so long as the ordinance, order, policy, or regulation is not breed specific.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 3/2.  Passed Committee 3/9.

 SB 724 (Hegeman) – if a political subdivision’s failure to timely submit annual financial statement is the result of fraud or other illegal conduct by an employee or officer of the political subdivision, the political subdivision shall not be subject to a fine if the statement is filed within 30 days of discovery of the fraud or illegal conduct.  If the political subdivision has an outstanding balance for fines at the time it files its first annual financial statement after August 28, 2022, the Director of Revenue shall make a one-time downward adjustment to such outstanding balance in an amount that reduces the outstanding balance by 90%. Local Government Committee.  Heard 1/26.  Passed Committee 2/16.  Perfected 3/9.  Passed Senate 3/21.  House Public Policy Committee.  Heard 4/14.  Passed Committee 4/21.  Referred Rules Committee.

 SB 809 (Koenig) — limits political subdivisions regulations on home-based businesses.  Small Business Committee.  Heard 3/8.  Passed Committee 3/22.  Perfection Calendar.

 SB 867 (Koenig) – establishes the statewide mechanical contractor license for mechanical contractors which shall be regulated by the Division of Professional Registration, within the Department of Commerce and Insurance. This act creates the Office of Mechanical Contractors within the Division to carry out the provisions of this act. Political subdivisions may establish their own local mechanical contractor’s license but shall recognize a statewide mechanical contractor license in lieu of a local license for the purposes of performing contracting work or obtaining permits to perform work within such political subdivision. No political subdivision may require the employees of a statewide licensed mechanical contractor or its subcontractors or manufacturers’ representatives to obtain journeymen licenses, apprenticeship licenses, or occupational licenses that require passing any examination or any special requirements to assess proficiency.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 3/1.  Passed Committee 3/22.  Perfection Calendar.

 Personnel & Employment Bills

 HB 1640 – (Seitz) – recognizes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an occupational disease, under Chapter 287, RSMo dealing with Workers Compensation, when diagnosed in specified first responders.  Public Safety Committee.  Heard 3/29.  Passed Committee 4/5.  Referred Rules Committee.

 HB 1656 (Hicks) – specifies that no political subdivision can require its employees to reside within a jurisdiction.  Public Safety Committee.  Heard1/25.  Passed Committee 2/1.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/22.  Perfected 3/23.  Passed House 3/28.  Senate Transportation/Infrastructure Committee.

 HB 2439 (Hovis) – adds additional grounds for when the Director of the Department of Public Safety shall discipline peace officers.  Crime Prevention Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/7.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/24.  Perfected 4/25.  Passed House 4/28.

 SB 689 (Williams) – adds additional grounds for when the Director of the Department of Public Safety shall discipline peace officers.  Public Safety Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 3/1.

 Public Safety Bills

 HB 1462 (Schnelting) – allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation, as defined in the bill.   Anyone with a permit may also carry a firearm while traveling by bus.  Also removes the prohibition on the carrying of firearms in churches and other places of worship by a person with a valid concealed carry permit.   General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/7.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 2/24.  Perfected 3/1.  Passed House 3/9.  Senate General Laws Committee.  Heard 3/29.  Passed Committee 4/5.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

 HB 1660 (Hicks) – allows concealed carry permit holders to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation. “Public transportation system” is defined in the bill. In addition, this bill exempts persons transporting non-functioning or unloaded firearms on buses from the crimes prohibiting the possession of weapons on buses.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/7.  Referred Rules Committee.

 HB 2154 (Perkins) – the costs of installing a fire hydrant, excluding dry fire hydrants, within the city limits of an incorporated city shall be paid by the city. If a city cannot or does not pay for the installation of such a fire hydrant, the city shall not require the installation of any such fire hydrant.  Public Safety Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 4/5.  Referred Rules Committee.

 HB 2432 (Roden) – returns the control of the City of St. Louis Police Department back to the Board of Police Commissioners.  Public Safety Committee.  Heard 3/29.  Passed Committee 4/26.  Referred Rules Committee.

 SB 752 (Burlision) – repeals provisions that prohibit someone with a valid concealed carry permit from carrying a concealed weapon in any meeting of the governing body of a unit of local government or the General Assembly.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 3/1.

 SB 804 (Onder) – a person carrying a concealed firearm who possesses a valid concealed carry permit or endorsement shall not be prohibited from accessing or using any public transportation system. The person may not be harassed or detained for carrying a concealed firearm on the property, vehicles, or conveyances owned, contracted, or leased by such systems that are accessible to the public. Additionally, an employee of the Bi-State Development Agency may carry a weapon into any facility or conveyance of the agency.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 3/1.

 Taxation & Revenue Bills

 HB 1583 (Murphy) – if, prior to the expiration of a temporary levy increase, voters approve a subsequent levy increase, the new tax rate ceiling shall remain in effect only until such time as the temporary levy expires under the terms originally approved by a vote of the people, at which time the tax rate ceiling shall be decreased by the amount of the temporary levy increase. If, prior to the expiration of a temporary levy increase, voters of a political subdivision are asked to approve an additional, permanent increase to the political subdivision’s tax rate ceiling, voters shall be submitted ballot language that clearly indicates that if the permanent levy increase is approved, the temporary levy shall be made permanent.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 1/12.  Passed Committee 1/19.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Rules Committee 2/7.  Perfected 4/6.  Passed House 4/14.  Senate Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 4/25.  Passed Committee 4/28.

 HB 1740 (Dogan) – prohibits telecommuting work from being subject to earnings taxes.  Workforce Development Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/14.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/3.  Informal Perfection Calendar.

 HB 2220 (Falkner) – relates to penalties for failure to file annual municipal finance reports.  Penalties could include disincorporation.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/23.  Passed Committee 3/3.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/10. Informal Perfection Calendar.

 SB 911 (Eigel) – for the 2022 and 2023 calendar years, this act requires each political subdivision to reduce its property tax levy such that the amount of tax revenue generated by such tax levy shall be reduced by an amount that is substantially equal to the total amount of funds received by such political subdivision pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 during such calendar years.  Clearly violates federal law.  Ways & Means Committee.  Heard 2/24.  Passed Committee 3/3.  (Oppose)

 SB 967 (Hough) – requires all motor vehicle dealers to apply to collect and remit sales tax on motor vehicles sold by such dealer.  Transportation Committee.  Heard 3/1.  Passed Committee 3/8.

 Transportation and Vehicle Bills

HB 2705 (Lovasco) – prohibits the use of traffic cameras.  Downsizing Government Committee.  Heard 4/13.  Passed Committee 4/27.  Referred Rules Committee.

 Utility Bills

SB 1074 (Hegeman) – no federal funds received by the state, or a political subdivision shall be expended for the construction of broadband internet infrastructure unless the project to be constructed is located in an “unserved area” or “underserved area”, and the project will provide broadband internet service to customers at certain speeds as stated in the act.  Commerce Committee.  Heard 4/6.  Passed Committee 4/13.

SB 1232 (O’Laughlin) – modifies the definition of “video service” for provisions of law relating to video service providers and such definition now includes streaming content.  The act also states that any suit arising out of a dispute over the video service provider fee established in statute shall be filed by the Public Service Commission under its own name or on behalf of the franchise entity seeking to recover an additional amount or seeking a refund.  A video service provider shall not be required to retain financial records associated with payment of the video service provider fee for more than 3 years unless the Public Service Commission, rather than a franchise entity, has commenced a dispute regarding such payment.  Commerce Committee.  Heard 4/13.  Passed Committee 4/27.