Legislative Update 4/26/2024

 

 

April 26, 2024

 

Hearings on bills from the other chamber and floor debate are now the main focus for the last three weeks.  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.  Bills that have not been voted out of committee are unlikely to pass and have been deleted.  Bills that have not been perfected have been lined through.

 

Link to the Senate hearing schedule can be found here.

 

Link to the House hearing schedule can be found here.   

 Priority Bills

 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)

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.  Passed House 3/11.  Senate Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 4/9.  (Support)

 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.  Emer

HB 2058 (Keathley) – requires CIDs and TDDs to be 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.  Perfected 3/15.  Passed House 4/3. Senate General Laws Committee.  (Oppose)

 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)

HB1517 (Murphy) – requires election issues to be labeled in alphabetical or numerical order.  Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 1/23.  Passed Committee 3/12.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/17.  Perfection Calendar.

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.  Senate Local Government & Elections Committee.  Heard 4/2.  Passed Committee 4/15.

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.  Perfected 3/12.  Passed House 3/28.  Senate Local Government & 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.   Passed Committee 3/12.

 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.  Perfection Calendar.  (Support)

 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.  Heard 3/25.  Passed Committee 4/2.  (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.  Passed Committee 3/12.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/9.  Perfection Calendar.  (Support)

 

HB 2060 (Keathley) – enacts state pre-emption of local authority over tobacco products and sales.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 3/6.  Passed Committee 3/13. 

HB 2206 (West) – now an omnibus local government bill including:

• Bars political subdivisions from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless specifically authorized by state law;
• HB 1511 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 stations;
• HB 2282 establishes the Building Permit Reform Act;
• HB 2057 modifies provisions relating to video service providers;
• HB 1995 repeals the expiration date of the Uniform Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act;
• HB 2286 specifies that certain residency requirements of a city of the fourth classification may be satisfied by certain conditions;
• HB 2571 modifies provisions relating to financial statements of certain local governments;
• HB 2104 modifies provisions relating to elections;
• Any local public health agency that imposes a fine or other monetary penalty against an individual, business or church, shall return all monies collected;
• HB 1751 modifies provisions regarding solid waste disposal permits;
• HB 2265 modifies provisions relating to pet shop operations;
• HB 1484 modifies tobacco product regulations;
• HB 2380 prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a home inspection before the sale of residential property;
• HB 1514 modifies provisions regarding homeowner’s association restrictions on pasturing chickens;
• HB 1720 modifies provisions of the sunshine law.

  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 4/3.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/15.  Perfection Calendar.

 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.  Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

 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.  Senate Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 4/23.

 HB 2292 (Falkner) – establishes provisions governing no-impact, home-based businesses.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 4/16.  Passed Committee 4/23.  (Support)

 

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.  Senate Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 4/8.  Passed Committee 4/16.

 HB 2526 (Owen) – establishes new procedures for municipalities to select repositories of public funds.  Financial Institutions Committee.  Heard 3/12.  Passed Committee 3/26.

 HB 2533 (Morse) – prohibits the state and any political subdivision from requiring businesses to be open on Sundays.  Transportation Accountability Committee.  Heard 3/14.  Passed Committee 4/4.

 Personnel & Employment Bills

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

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.  Passed Committee 4/2.  Perfection Calendar.

Public Safety Bills

 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.

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.  Perfected 3/26.  Passed House 3/28.  Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 4/24.  Passed Committee 4/25.

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.  Perfected 3/12.  Passed House 3/27.  Senate Judiciary & Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.  Heard 4/22.

Taxation & Revenue Bills

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)

SJR 50 (Koenig) – Constitutional Amendment that modifies a provision prohibiting sales taxes levied on transactions not taxed as of January 1, 2015, by providing an exception for sales and use taxes on subscriptions, licenses for digital products, and online purchases of tangible personal property.  This amendment also provides that no state or local sales or use taxes or any similar transaction-based tax shall be authorized on the provision of video service if the state, a franchise entity, or a political subdivision also imposes a franchise fee on the provider of such video service.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Passed Committee 2/19.  Perfected 3/27.  Passed Senate 4/4.  House Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 4/16.  Passed Committee 4/17. Referred Rules Committee.  (Support)

SJR 53 (Eigel) – constitutional amendment to freeze state revenues and eliminate personal property tax by 2028.  Fiscal Oversight Committee.  Heard 4/11.  Passed Committee 4/18.  (Oppose)

HB 1516 (Murphy) – eliminates St. Louis City earnings tax for remote workers.  Economic Development Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed committee 2/21.  Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/6.  Perfected 3/11.  Passed House 3/27.  Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee.  Heard 4/18.  Passed Committee 4/24.

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.  Passed Committee 4/24.

 Transportation and Vehicle Bills

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.  Heard 3/11.  Passed Committee 4/2.  3^rd Reading Calendar.

 Utility & Broadband Bills

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

SB 1018 (Justin Brown) – a municipality shall reimburse any nonrate regulated utility provider, as defined in the act, from its treasury for any costs associated with facility relocation required due to road maintenance or construction.  Commerce, Consumer Protection Energy & Environment Committee.  Heard 3/26.  Passed Committee 4/2.  (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.   Heard 3/12.  Passed Committee 3/26.

HB 1816 (Riggs) – establishes a broadband development council.  Workforce & Infrastructure Development Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 3/7.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/26.

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.  Perfected 3/12.  Perfected 3/12.  Passed House 4/22.

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.  Heard 3/26.  Passed Committee 4/3. 3^rd Reading Calendar (Oppose)

HB 2409 (Falkner) – extends the expiration date for the task force on right-of-way management to 12/31/26.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 3/26.  Passed Committee 4/2.

HB 2501 (Farnan) – identical to HB 1995.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 3/6.  Passed Committee 3/13.