LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FEBRUARY 24, 2023

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 2-24-23 (pdf)

 

 

February 24, 2023

 

Hearings are increasingly being scheduled, including on bills of interest, along with increased floor debate.   Changes from last week are in red.

 

SB 161 (Coleman) as originally filed would have removed local sales taxes on food.  The committee substitute only removes the one cent education sales tax from food.  However, the sponsor, Senator Coleman, indicated that there will be an attempt to amend the bill on the Senate floor and add back in the removal of the local sales tax.  The bill is not yet on the Senate Perfection Calendar but could be added early next week.  We are asking our members to contact your Senator to oppose any amendment to Senate Committee Substitute for SB 161 (SCS SB 161) that would eliminate the  local sales taxes on food.  This would be a budgetary disaster for cities and counties.

 

 

House Hearing Schedule

Senate Hearing Schedule

 

 

Priority Bills

HB 309 (Riggs) – authorizes two or more political subdivisions, upon a vote of eligible voters, to form a broadband infrastructure improvement district for the delivery of broadband Internet service to their residents. A district has the power to contract with a broadband Internet service provider to provide broadband Internet service to the residents of the district.

HB 394 (Falkner) – defines as closed records email addresses of local government residents for purposes of receiving government correspondence and GPS records of public safety vehicles. (Support)

HB 928 (Falkner) – delays date for lowering video franchise fees from 2023 to 2026 to allow time for Task Force on Right of Way Management and Taxation to meet.  (Support)

HB 978 (Falkner) – modifies provisions for home-based businesses enacted in 2022.  Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/21.  (Support)

Court Bills

HB 252 (Hafner) – currently, if a Missouri resident is charged with a moving violation and fails to dispose of the charges a, the court informs the resident that it will instruct the Department of Revenue to suspend the defendant’s driver’s license until charges are properly disposed. Under this bill, the court will inform the defendant that it may instruct the Department of Revenue to suspend the defendant’s license. If a Missouri resident is charged with only a minor traffic violation and fails to dispose of the charges as ordered and fails to appear on two return dates without good cause, the court will, within 10 days of the failure to comply, inform the defendant that it may instruct the Department of Revenue to suspend the defendant’s driver’s license until charges are properly disposed. A person whose license is suspended under these provisions will receive limited driving privileges unless the Director of the Department of Revenue finds that the defendant is ineligible for such privileges.

HB 305 (Roberts) – prohibits a court from issuing an arrest warrant for a person’s failure to respond, pay an assessed fine, or appear in court for a motor vehicle equipment violation 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 motor vehicle equipment violation have been satisfied.

 

Economic Development Bills

 SB 96 (Koenig) – amended to require a 2/3 vote of a local governing body to establish a community improvement district or transportation development district.   Local Government & Elections Committee.  Heard 1/30.  Passed Committee 2/6.  Perfection Calendar.

SB 306 (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.

HB 536 (Keathley) – requires CIDs and TDDs to be unanimously approved by the governing body.  Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 2/21.

HB 587 (Owen) – allows municipalities to create land bank agencies to help with the development of vacant properties.   Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/21.

Election Bills

SB 202 (Brattin) – changes the filing period for declarations of candidacy in all political subdivisions and special districts that have not otherwise required a filing period by law or charter to be 8:00 a.m. on the 18th Tuesday prior to the election until 5:00 p.m. on the 13th Tuesday prior to the election.  The bill also requires all candidates for offices in cities, towns, villages, and townships to declare a political party affiliation when filing for office.  Local Government & Elections Committee.  (Oppose)

SB 218 (Mosley) – requires each political subdivision to redistrict or reapportion their wards not later than 5 months prior to the opening of filing for office after the census data is reported to the President of the United States. Such wards shall be drawn using the following criteria, in order of priority:  Wards shall be as nearly equal as practicable in population and shall be drawn on the basis of one person, one vote. Wards are as nearly equal as practicable in population if they do not deviate by more than five percent from the ideal population.  Local Government & Elections Committee.

SB 479 (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 which occur in August and November of even number years.

HB 186 (Murphy) – prohibits a political subdivision or election authority from describing any proposed tax on property in a political subdivision as not increasing taxes, or any language to that effect, unless both: (1) Failing to adopt the proposed measure would cause an actual increase in the tax rate; and (2) Adopting the measure would cause the tax rate to stay the same or decrease.  Government Efficiency Committee.  Heard 2/1.  Passed Committee 2/8.  Passed Rules Committee 2/16.  Perfection Calendar.

HB 416 (Sander) – requires an elected official to resign his or her office before seeking a new elective office.

HB 656 (West) – changes date for closing of election filing from 14th to 12th Tuesday prior to election.

HB 739 (Woods) – establishes ranked choice voting for all candidate elections.

HB 1144 (Keathley) – prohibits submitting unsuccessful tax proposal to voters for 3 years.  (Oppose)

HB 1202 (Lonsdale) – 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 which are August and November of even number years.

HB 1203 (Lonsdale) – requires municipal election candidates to declare a political party.  (Oppose)

HB 1265 (Peters) – 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 which is November of even number years. 

HJR 16 (Seitz) – constitutional amendment to restrict tax increase elections to the general election date, which is November of even numbered years.  (Oppose)

HJR 50 (Mayhew) – constitutional amendment to restrict tax increase elections to the general election date, which is November of even numbered years.   (Oppose)

Miscellaneous Bills

SB 174 (Koenig) – makes various changes to the Sunshine Law including allowing 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.  Governmental Accountability Committee.  Heard 2/9.  Passed Committee 2/23.  (Support)

SB 207 (Eslinger) – establishes a statutory cause of action for damages arising out of a public nuisance and replaces any such common law cause of action to the contrary. This act defines a public nuisance as an unlawful condition that violates an established public right, which is defined as those rights commonly held by all members of the public to the use of public land, air, and water. Additionally, this act provides that public nuisance actions may only be brought by the state or a political subdivision thereof and only through a government attorney of the relevant jurisdiction unless there is a contract to retain a private attorney that meets certain requirements provided by this act.  Judiciary/Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

SB 524 (Bernskoetter) – adds to the definition of “special victim” a sports official assaulted while he or she is performing sports official duties or as a direct result of such duties.

HB 64 (Terry) – establishes term limits of 8 years for 4th class city mayors.  Allows monthly stipends for 4th class city elected officials, rather than salaries.

HB 72 (Dinkins) – adds to the definition of “special victim” a sports official assaulted while he or she is performing sports official duties or as a direct result of such duties.

HB 101 (Davidson) – provides that private contractors, when acting within the scope of a government contract, shall have the same sovereign or governmental tort immunity as a public entity.

HB 103 (Barnes) – establishes the offenses of harassment of a school or recreation athletic official and entry or remaining on site of a school or recreation athletic contest after being forbidden.

HB 108 (Barnes) – adds to the definition of “special victim” a sports official assaulted while he or she is performing sports official duties or as a direct result of such duties.

HB 256 (Pollitt) – expands the definition of “special victim” under Section 565.002, RSMo, to include sports officials assaulted at a sporting event while performing their duties as sports officials.

HB 264 (Sander) – adopts the “International Swimming Pool and Spa Code” as it existed on May 1, 2022 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.

HB 296 (Haden) – 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.

HB 362 (Proudie) – specifies that limited liability companies that own real property in St. Louis County must designate a contact person with the county clerk.

HB 380 (Quade) – in a civil action brought by the Attorney General against a political subdivision, including school districts, the court shall award attorney’s fees, court costs, and all other expenses incurred by the political subdivision or school district in defense of any such action brought if the action is terminated in favor of the political subdivision or school district. (Support)

HB 516 (Mayhew) – for any 4th class city with no more than two thousand inhabitants, if a statute or ordinance authorizes the mayor  to appoint a member of a  board or commission, any requirement that the appointed person be a resident of the 5city shall be deemed satisfied if the person owns real property or a business in the city,  regardless of whether the position to which the appointment is made is considered an officer of the city under section 79.250.

HB 562 (Sauls) – 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.  (Support)

HB 580 (Houx) – establishes a limit on the regulation of construction standards for insulation in new dwellings that political subdivisions may adopt and enforce.  Amended to prohibit a political subdivision from requiring an exempt homeowner to obtain a license, certification, or professional registration or be tested as a condition of applying for a building permit if all work is done by the owner.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 2/1.  Passed Committee 2/22.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 625 (Lovasco) – prohibits a political subdivision from requiring an exempt homeowner to obtain a license, certification, or professional registration or be tested as a condition of applying for a building permit if all work is done by the owner.  (Oppose) Local Government Committee.  Heard 1/31.

HB 626 (Lovasco) – prohibits local governments from regulating parking of vehicles on private property.  Also prohibits local governments from limiting or banning home rentals.  (Oppose)

HB 646 (Lovasco) – allows members of the general assembly to serve as ex-officio members of boards, commissions, councils or legislative bodies within their district without voting privileges.

HB 772 (Burnett) – repeals the state prohibition of local governments regulating paper and plastic bags.

 HB 798 (Mackey) – in a civil action brought by the Attorney General against a political subdivision, including school districts, the court shall award attorney’s fees, court costs, and all other expenses incurred by the political subdivision or school district in defense of any such action brought if the action is terminated in favor of the political subdivision or school district. (Support)

HB 815 (Gray) – prohibits 3rd & 4th class 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 863 (O’Donnell) – provides that a municipality that issues a municipal green bond shall establish a green bond holder protection fund separate from the municipality’s debt service reserve fund or an equivalent fund.  Financial Institutions Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/16.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 926 (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 in bold, ten-point or greater type identifying the persons who will have personal liability for payment.

HB 962 (Brown) – prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a home inspection before the sale of residential property.  Small Business Committee.

HB 1059 (Diehl) – makes various changes to the Sunshine Law including allowing 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.  (Support)

HB 1118 (Casteel) – public notices that are required to be published in a newspaper would instead be posted on a website to be established by the Secretary of State.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.

HB 1145 (Keathley) – prohibits political subdivisions from requiring a property owner to have a home inspection conducted of a residential property regarding the sale of the property.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.

HB 1221 (Plank) – allows municipal bid notices to be placed on the jurisdiction’s website or other social media account, rather than in a newspaper.   (Support)

HB 1244 (Toalson-Reisch) – eliminates prevailing wage on public works projects.

 Personnel & Employment Bills

 SB 24 (Hough) – establishes the “Missouri First Responder Mental Health Initiative Act”. This act establishes the rights of first responders to access behavioral health care services and responsive treatment and to have certain records of such treatment be deemed confidential, as specified in the act, and shall not be shared with an employer. First responders shall have the right to seek treatment in any geographic area without restrictions or limitations imposed by an employer or insurance carrier and the right to receive expanded Family and Medical Leave Act protections while voluntarily seeking preventative treatment. First responders shall have the right to have treatment and living quarters in facilities separate from other patients, as well as access to behavioral health treatment for up to 36 months following retirement regardless of Medicare restrictions.  First responders receiving behavioral health services shall be able to seek reimbursement from the First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program established by this act, in amounts specified in the act. The Department of Mental Health shall make grants to eligible recipients to reimburse behavioral health care expenses, as well as peer support education, prevention and awareness training, software, and other services.  Insurance/Banking Committee.  Heard 1/31.  Passed Committee 2/7.  Perfected 2/14.  Passed Senate 2/23.

SB 46 (Gannon) – political subdivisions may elect to cover telecommunication first responders as public safety personnel.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/22.

SB 119 (Luetkemeyer)- establishes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition, (DSM-5) as a compensable occupational disease under workers’ compensation when diagnosed in first responders. A first responder shall not require a physical injury to be eligible for benefits, but preexisting PTSD is not compensable.  Judiciary/Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.  Heard 1/30.  Passed Committee 2/6.  Perfected 2/14.  Passed Senate 2/23.

SB 311 (Beck) – This act provides that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosed in any person who is a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher or other first responder shall be presumed as an occupational disease resulting from employment.

• The person has completed at least 5 years of employment; and
• The person was examined by a medical professional upon commencing employment and the examination failed to reveal any evidence of PTSD.

Denial of a claim under this act shall be on the basis of clear and convincing medical evidence that the cause of the PTSD is unrelated to the person’s employment as a firefighter, police officer, emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher, or other first responder.  Insurance & Banking Committee.

SB 476 (Trent) – prohibits public employers from denying consideration to any applicant based solely on the applicant lacking a post-secondary degree. A public employer may include prior direct experience and particular certifications and courses as baseline requirements but may not include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement.

SJR 43 (Schroer) – constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides that no elected county or municipal officer shall receive a higher annual compensation than any member of the General Assembly.

HB 125 (Nurrenbern) – requires public employers to pay state minimum wage. (Oppose)

HB 141 (Adams) – requires every first responder agency to provide critical incident counseling services for all of its employees at the agency’s expense.

HB 164 (Seitz) – recognizes PTSD as an occupational disease, under Chapter 287, RSMo dealing with Workers’ Compensation, when diagnosed in specified first responders.

HB 223 (Crossley) – if, preceding the date of an injury or death, an employee who was employed on active duty as a first responder is diagnosed with a mental impairment and had not been diagnosed with the mental impairment previously, the mental impairment shall presumptively be considered an occupational disease and shall be presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment.

HB 466 (Gregory) – modifies provisions related to workers’ compensation to establish PTSD as an occupational disease for first responders.

HB 733 (Boggs) – creates the Expanding Public Sector Career Opportunities Act to promote hiring for government careers.  Workforce & Infrastructure Development Committee.  Hearing 3/1.

HB 866 (Mosley) – establishes guidelines to determine those unfit for public elected office or employment.  Those deemed unfit must resign and lose benefits.

HB 1147 (Ealy) – establishes disciplinary procedures for firefighters.

Public Safety Bills

 SB 38 (Williams) – under current law, the POST Commission sets a minimum number of basic training hours for licensure for peace officers no lower than 470 hours and no higher than 600 with certain exceptions as provided in law. This act changes this requirement to be no lower than 600 hours.

Additionally, this act adds additional grounds for when the Director of the Department of Public Safety shall discipline peace officers. This act provides that any peace officer shall be disciplined who:

• Is unable to perform the function of a peace officer with reasonable competency or reasonable safety;
• Has been convicted, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, in a criminal prosecution under any state laws, any federal laws, or any laws of another country, regardless if a sentence was imposed;
• Has committed any act that involves moral turpitude or a reckless disregard for the safety of the public;
• Has tested positive for a controlled substance without a valid prescription;
• Is subject to an order suspending or revoking a peace officer license from another state, territory, the federal government, or any peace officer licensing authority; or
• Has committed any act of gross misconduct indicating inability to function as a peace officer. Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee. Heard 2/22.

SB 78 (Schroer) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appoint board of police commissioners.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 2/8.

SB 197 (Williams) modifies numerous provisions relating to warrants executed by law enforcement officers.  Judiciary/Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

SB 280 (Eigel) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appoint board of police commissioners.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

SB 445 (Washington) – modifies provisions relating to use of force by law enforcement officers.

HB 33 (Brown) – repeals Section 21.750, RSMo, in which the General Assembly preempts the entire field of firearms regulation. This bill allows political subdivisions to regulate firearms in any manner allowed by state and federal law that is consistent with their police powers or charter.

Combined with HB 702 HB 53 (Copeland) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appoint board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.

HB 109 (Sharp) – a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if that person, with criminal negligence, discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality.

HB 117 (Shields) – currently, qualified first responders are allowed to administer naloxone to a person suffering from an apparent overdose. This bill clarifies the definition of first responders so that state and local law enforcement agency staff members do not need to be acting under the directives and established protocols of a medical director of a licensed ground ambulance service. That requirement only applies to fire department personnel, fire district personnel, and licensed emergency medical technicians.  Health & Mental Health Policy Committee.  Heard 2/21.

HB 199 (Wright) – establishes authority for cities to issue municipal search warrants for ordinance violations.

HB 210 (Smith) – provides that no person will be stopped, inspected, or detained solely for a traffic violation that does not involve speeding or failure to register or re-register a vehicle, that does not involve an accident or injury, and that does not involve points assessed by the Department of Revenue

Combined with HB 702 HB 213 (Sparks) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.

Combined with HB 702 HB 216 (Myers) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.

HB 282 (Schnelting) – allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation.

Combined with HB 702 HB 306 (Perkins) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.

Combined with HB 702 HB 359 (Cook) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.

HB 411 (Doll) – prohibits the assessment of a fine greater than $500 or a penalty involving jail time for a violation of any pedestrian offense.

HB 439 (Hovis) – currently, when the Director of Public Safety finds probable cause to immediately suspend a peace officer as a result of a disciplinary complaint, the Director may, without notice or a hearing, issue an emergency order to suspend the officer’s license until final determination of the disciplinary complaint. This bill requires the Director to issue the emergency order to suspend the officer’s license, instead of leaving it up the Director’s discretion.

HB 440 (Hovis) – revises disciplinary procedures for police officers.

HB 460 (Merideth) – changes the law regarding the Second Amendment Preservation Act by removing the provisions that subject law enforcement agencies and local governments to penalties.

HB 485 (Baker) – changes the law regarding concealed carrying of weapons by allowing firearms in churches and other places of worship with a concealed carry permit.

HB 514 (Mayhew) – prohibits a fire protection district from adopting any ordinances, orders, rules, or regulations related to the subdivision of land for residential purposes or to the construction or installation of improvements or infrastructure or utility facilities related to serving residential construction.  Heard 2/16.

HB 570 (Christ) – creates the offense of unlawfully gaining entry into a motor vehicle, which a person commits if he or she lifts the door handles or otherwise tries the doors and locks of successive vehicles in an attempt to gain entry.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/16.

HB 602 (Reedy) – modifies the offense of unlawful use of a weapon by clarifying circumstances of firing from a vehicle legally and by adding Blair’s Law, which adds the discharging of a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality to the offense.

HB 702 (Christ) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/9.  Passed Committee 2/23.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 751 (Crossley) – modifies provisions relating to keeping records for the sale of catalytic converters.  Emerging Issues Committee.

HB 868 (Lovasco) – no law enforcement agency or prosecuting authority shall refer,  transfer, or otherwise relinquish possession of property or currency owned by a Missouri resident and seized under state law to a federal agency.

Taxation & Revenue Bills

 SB 8 (Eigel) – current law requires that personal property be assessed at 33.3% of its true value in money. Beginning January 1, 2024, this act requires that personal property be assessed at 31% of its true value in money.  Also eliminates personal property tax on vehicles over 10 years old.  Heard 1/17.  Passed Committee 2/6.  Perfected 2/21.  3rd Reading Calendar,

SB 23 (Hough) – requires licensed motor vehicle dealers to collect and remit to the Department of Revenue the sales tax on all motor vehicles the dealer sells, beginning January 1, 2024.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/1.  Passed Committee 2/8.  Perfected 2/14.  Passed Senate 2/23.

SB 66 (Mosley) requires financing entities that extend financing to cover state and local sales taxes owed on the purchase of a motor vehicle to remit the amount of such state and local sales taxes to the appropriate taxing authority on behalf of the purchaser. The financing entity and purchaser shall be jointly liable to the taxing authority for the amount of sales tax owed.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 2/1.

SB 104 (Cierpiot) – current law requires personal property to be assessed at 33.3% of its true value in money. Beginning with the 2024 calendar year, this act reduces such percentage by one percent a year through the 2035 calendar year. Beginning with the 2036 calendar year, personal property shall be assessed at 20% of its true value.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 2/22.

SB 105 (Cierpiot) – current law requires residential real property to be assessed at 19% of its true value in money. Beginning with the c024 calendar year, this act reduces such percentage by one percent a year through the 2026 calendar year. Beginning with the 2027 calendar year, residential real property shall be assessed at 15% of its true value.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 2/8.  Passed Committee 2/20.  Informal Perfection Calendar.

SB 161 (Coleman) – provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state and local sales taxes.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Heard 2/6.   Passed Committee 2/22.  (Oppose)

SB 478 (Cierpiot) – requires political subdivisions to submit tax reductions and repeals to voters when receiving a petition signed by 15% of voters.

SJR 7 (Eigel) – constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, prohibits total state general revenue appropriations for any fiscal year, as defined in the amendment, from exceeding the level from the previous fiscal year, allowing for growth in an amount equal to the annual rate of inflation plus the annual percentage change in state population. Total state general revenue appropriations may exceed the previous fiscal year’s amount only under certain conditions, as described in the amendment.  Fiscal Oversight Committee.   Heard 1/26.

SJR 18 (Brattin) – constitutional amendment to replace property taxes with a sales tax on the home purchase.   General Laws Committee.  Heard 2/8.

HB 58 (Terry) – Establishes a one-time one-year period to set up payment plans for unpaid vehicle sales tax

HB 181 (Van Schoiack) – authorizes all cities in the state to levy a transient guest tax of 2-5% to promote tourism.  Subject to voter approval. Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/21.  (Support)

HB 247 (Hurlbert) – allows any municipality to levy a public safety sales tax of up to 1/2 cent, subject to approval by 4/7 of the voters.  The bill also allows any city with a fire department, any city contracting for fire service or any fire district (including those in St. Louis County) to levy a fire service sales tax of up to 1/2 cent, subject to 4/7 voter approval.  The League supports the sales tax flexibility offered to cities in this bill but has long opposed sales tax authority for County fire districts.  Local Government Committee.

HB 260 (Sander) – exempts food from sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB 377 (Quade)- exempts food from sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB 415 (O’Donnell) – requires licensed motor vehicle dealers to collect and remit to the Department of Revenue the sales tax on all motor vehicles the dealer sells, beginning January 1, 2024.  Ways & Means Committee. Heard 2/2.  Rules Committee.  Heard 2/13.  Passed Committee 2/13.  Perfected 2/23.

HB 452 (Coleman) – exempts food from sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB 526 (Mosley) – requires entities that provide financing that covers the sales tax on motor vehicle purchases to remit the sales tax directly to the Department of Revenue on behalf of the purchaser.

HB 589 (Murphy) – allows voters of surrounding counties to vote on the retention of the St. Louis earnings tax every five years.

HB 591 (Sauls) – exempts food from sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB 641 (McGirl) – authorizes cities which contract for fire service to levy a fire sales tax.  (Support)

HB 810 (Merideth) – allows any political subdivision to increase the tax on cigarettes subject to a public vote.

HB 896 (Gray) – exempts food from state and local sales tax.  (Oppose)

HB 1136 (Merideth) – exempts food stamp items for state and local sales tax. (Oppose)

HB 1188 (Ealy) – requires that revenue from municipal fines be allocated to school district when cases are heard before a circuit judge. (Oppose)

HJR 60 (Matthiesen) – constitutional amendment to allow for eliminate or reduction of personal property taxes.

Transportation and Vehicle Bills

SB 233 (Brown) – provides that any political subdivision that adopts an ordinance or other regulation that requires installation of electric vehicle charging stations at any non-automotive fueling station business shall pay all costs associated with the installation, maintenance, and operation of the stations. No political subdivision shall adopt any ordinance or other regulation that requires more than five such stations per parking lot located at any non-automotive fueling station, or infrastructure for future installation of more than five such stations. Such ordinances and regulations shall only apply to parking lots with more than thirty parking spaces.  Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & Environment Committee.  Heard 2/21.

SB 242 (Eigel) – repeals the 2021 gas tax increase. Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee. (Oppose)

SB 260 (Moon) – repeals the 2021 gas tax increase. Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee. (Oppose)

SB 454 (Carter) – repeals the 2021 gas tax increase. (Oppose)

HB 184 (Murphy) – provides that any political subdivision that adopts an ordinance or other regulation that requires installation of electric vehicle charging stations at any non-automotive fueling station business shall pay all costs associated with the installation, maintenance, and operation of the stations. No political subdivision shall adopt any ordinance or other regulation that requires more than five such stations per parking lot located at any non-automotive fueling station, or infrastructure for future installation of more than five such stations. Such ordinances and regulations shall only apply to parking lots with more than thirty parking spaces.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 1/25.  Passed Committee 2/2.  Rules Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/9.  Perfected 2/14.  Passed House 2/16.

HB 246 (Hurlbert) – prohibits the state and any political subdivision from establishing or collecting any fee for parking on any public street.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Heard 2/1.  (Oppose)

HB 1237 (Fountain0Henderson) – establishes standards for speed humps.

 Utility & Broadband Bills

SB 152 (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 services 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.  Heard 2/7. Passed Committee 2/14.  (Oppose)

SB 299 (Hoskins) – modifies the definition of “video service” for provisions of law relating to video service providers. The act excludes streaming content accessed via a service that enables users to access content via the internet from the definition of “video service”.  Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & Environment Committee.

SB 604 (McCreery) – delays implementation of video service franchise fee reduction from 2023 to 2026.  (Support)

HB 461 (Riggs) – establishes a broadband development council to explore ways to expand access to broadband services; the potential for increased use of broadband for education, career readiness, workforce preparation, and alternative career training; ways to encourage state and municipal agencies to expand service to better serve the public through the use of streaming, voice over Internet protocol, teleconferencing, and wireless networking.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 2/1.  Passed Committee 2/15.  Referred Rules Committee.

HB 479 (Bromley) – excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local taxes.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 2/8.  (Oppose)

HB 647 (Knight) – excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local taxes.  Utilities Committee.  Heard2/8.   (Oppose)

HB 651 (Richey) – excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local taxes.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 2/8.   (Oppose)