LEGISLATIVE UPDATE May 05, 2023

May 5, 2023

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 5-5-23 (PDF)

Floor debate is taking most of the time now as bills from the other chamber are being debated.   The  session ends on May 12.  Changes from last week are in red.  Bills that have not yet been perfected have been deleted.  Bills that have not passed one chamber are unlikely to be considered and have been lined through.

As noted last week, the House has added the video service provider language to  SB 275 in the House.  This bill will be up for 3rd reading but the Senate would have to approve the House changes.   None of the other bills with this language are moving very quickly. 

Legislation to eliminate the sales tax on food appears to have stalled for this session.

  HOUSE HEARING SCHEDULE    SENATE HEARING SCHEDULE

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.  Amended to include provisions of HB 1144 to prohibit submitting unsuccessful tax proposal to voters for four years.  Local Government & Elections Committee.  Heard 1/30.  Passed Committee 2/6.  Perfected 2/28.  Passed Senate 3/1.  House Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 4/4.  Passed Committee 4/11.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/25.  Passed House 5/4.  In conference committee.

HB 587 (Owen) – allows municipalities and counties to create land bank agencies to help with the development of vacant properties.   Local Government Committee.  Heard 2/7.  Passed Committee 2/21.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/6.  Perfected 3/8.  Passed House 3/20.  Senate Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 4/25.  Passed Committee 4/27.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

Election Bills

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.  Perfected 2/28. Passed House 3/2.  Senate Local Government/Elections Committee.

Miscellaneous Bills

SB 222 (Trent) is an omnibus local government bill that is in a conference committee.  Some of the main provisions being considered include:

• no political subdivision shall require an owner of residential property to have a home inspection conducted prior to the sale of the property, unless such inspection requirement is for new construction or occupancy permits.
• MODIFIES A PROVISION REGARDING FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES IN THE CITY OF CRESTWOOD
• MODIFIES PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE OBLIGATION OF CITIES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOR THE PROVISION OF FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES
• ESTABLISHES PROVISIONS REGARDING LOCAL REGULATIONS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF LICENSED PET SHOPS
• REMOVES THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT FOR ST. LOUIS CITY POLICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES
• ESTABLISHES THE BUILDING PERMIT REFORM ACT
• AUTHORIZES THE CLOSURE OF RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED BY REGISTERING FOR A RECREATIONAL OR SOCIAL ACTIVITY OR EVENT SPONSORED BY CERTAIN LOCAL PUBLIC BODIES
• MODIFIES THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE UNIFORM SMALL WIRELESS FACILITY DEPLOYMENT ACT
• ESTABLISHES A PROVISION REGARDING LOCAL REQUIREMENTS ON ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS
• REQUIRES LOCAL GOVERNING BODIES TO ADOPT A MEETING SPEAKER POLICY 
• ESTABLISHES A PROVISION REGARDING MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS IN FOURTH CLASS CITIES 

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.  Passed Committee 3/9.  Perfected 3/22.  Passed House 3/27.  Senate Insurance & Banking Committee.  Heard 5/2.

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.  House Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 4/3.  Passed Committee 4/6.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/17.  Passed House 5/4.  Senate to Consider House Amendments

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.  House General Laws Committee.  Heard 4/4.  Passed Committee 4/27.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 5/3.

Public Safety Bills

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.  Passed Committee 2/27.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/6.  Perfected 3/21.  Passed House 3/22.  Senate Health & Welfare Committee.  Heard 5/1.  Passed Committee 5/4.

HB 282 (Schnelting) – allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation and in churches.  Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 3/8.  Passed Committee 3/22.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/3. Perfected 4/13.  Passed House 4/17.  Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 5/1.  Passed Committee 5/3.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

HB 532 (Mayhew) – modifies provisions relating to keeping records for the sale of catalytic converters.  Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 3/1.  Passed Committee 3/8.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/3.  Perfected 4/25.  Passed House 5/1.  Senate General Laws Committee.

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.  Passed Committee 2/27.  Perfected 3/1.  Passed House 3/6.  Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 4/5.  Passed Committee 4/12.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

Taxation & Revenue Bills 

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.  House Emerging Issues Committee.  Heard 4/12.  Passed Committee 4/19.  Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/24.  House 3rd Reading Calendar.

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.  Passed House 2/27.  Senate Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.  Heard 4/12.  Passed Committee 4/19.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

HB 589 (Murphy) – allows earning tax payers working remotely outside of St. Louis City to file for refunds.  Tax Reform Committee.  Heard 3/21.  Passed Committee 4/4. Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 4/11.  Perfected 4/24.  Passed House 5/1.  Senate Local Government Committee.

Transportation and Vehicle Bills

HB 184 (Murphy) – provides that any political subdivision in St. Louis City or County 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.  Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & Environment Committee.  Heard 4/11.  Passed Committee 4/11.  Senate 3rd Reading Calendar.

Utility & Broadband Bills

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.  Passed Committee  2/27.  Perfected 3/7. Passed House 3/9.  Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & Environment Committee.  Heard 4/25.  Passed Committee 5/2.  (Oppose)

HB 651 (Richey) – excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local franchise fees.  Utilities Committee.  Heard 2/8.   Passed Committee 3/1. Referred Rules Committee.  Passed Committee 3/8.  Perfected 3/23.  Passed House 3/27.  Senate Local Government & Elections Committee.  (Oppose)