LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 2-2-24 pdf

February 2, 2024

 Bills are being referred to committees and hearings are the main focus.  The Senate seems to have solved some 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.  (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.

 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.  (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.

HB 2058 (Keathley) – requires CIDs and TDDs to be unanimously approved by 2/3 vote of the governing body.  The bill also excludes streaming services from the definition of video services thus eliminating streaming services from local fees.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Hearing 2/7.  (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. (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.  Hearing 2/5.  (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. Local Government & Elections Committee. (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 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.  Elections Committee.  Heard 1/9.  Passed Committee Consent (Non-controversial).  Referred Consent & House Procedures Committee.

HB 2061 (Keathley) – prohibits resubmission of failed tax election for four years unless the proposal is substantially changed.  (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

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.

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.  (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.  (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.  (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.  (Oppose)

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

HB 2279 (Toalson Reisch) – requires city populations to be posted on city limits signs.  Transportation Accountability Committee.  Heard 1/18.

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.

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.

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.  House Perfection Calendar.

HB 2385 (Keathley) – prohibits local governments from requiring private property owners to accept Section 8 vouchers.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/30.

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.

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

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.

 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 non-rate regulated utilities for site relocation costs incurred due to road maintenance.  General Laws Committee.  Heard 1/30.

HB 2459 (Ealy) – similar to HB 1861.

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 820 (McCreery) – 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.

SB 901 (Schroer) – similar to SB 820.  Transportation, Infrastructure & Public Safety Committee.

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.

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.

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.

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 (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.

HB 1667 (Matthiesen) – authorizes taxpayers to submit petitions to reduce local tax rate levies up to 5%.

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

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

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.   (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.

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.

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.  House Perfection Calendar.

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

 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.  (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)

HB 1816 (Riggs) – establishes a broadband development council.  Workforce & Infrastructure Development 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.

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.   (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. 

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)

January 27, 2023

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE 1-27-23 – pdf

Senate hearing schedule can be found HERE.

House hearing schedule can be found HERE.

 Hearings are increasingly being scheduled, including on bills of interest.   Changes from last week are in red.

Please note that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment will meet next Tuesday morning to hear testimony on SB 152 relating to video service providers.  Similar legislation in the House (House Bills, 479, 651, and 647) will be heard by the House Utilities Committee on February 8, 2023.  This is the time for elected officials to reach out to lawmakers, especially those on the two committees, to educate them on our opposition to the bills. 

Priority Bills

HB 177 (Van Schoiack) – currently, no city in Missouri shall submit, to the voters, any proposal that results in a combined rate of sales taxes adopted under Section 94.510,RSMo in excess of 2%. This bill removes this requirement.

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.  (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) – requires a unanimous vote of a local governing body to establish a community improvement district or transportation development district.   Local Government & Elections Committee.  Hearing 1/30.

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.

HB 536 (Keathley) – requires CIDs and TDDs to be unanimously approved by the governing body.

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. (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.

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 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.  Hearing 2/1.

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

HB 566 (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.

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.  (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

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.  Government Efficiency & Downsizing Committee.  Hearing 2/1.

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.  Hearing 1/31.

HB 626 (Lovasco) – prohibits local governments from regulating parking of vehicles in 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 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.

 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.  Hearing 1/31.

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

SB 120 (May)  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 in order to be eligible for benefits, but preexisting PTSD is not compensable.  Judiciary/Civil & Criminal Jurisprudence Committee

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 if:

• 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.

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.

HB 125 (Nurrenbern) – subjects public employers to the state minimum wage law. (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 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (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.

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

 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 anther 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.

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.

SB 197 (Williams) modifies numerous provisions relating to warrants executed by law enforcement officers.

SB 280 (Eigel) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appoint board of police commissioners.

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.

HB 53 (Copeland) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appoint board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.

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.

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

HB 213 (Sparks) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.

HB 216 (Myers) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.

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

HB 306 (Perkins) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.

HB 359 (Cook) – returns operations of the St. Louis City police to a state appointed board of police commissioners.  Crime Prevention & Public Safety Committee.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.  Hearing 1/31.

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) – requires political subdivisions to annually reduce such 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 January 1, 2073.  Subject to appropriations, a political subdivision that receives less than the allowable amount of total real and personal property tax revenues shall be eligible for reimbursement from the state in an amount equal to the amount by which such revenues are below the allowable amount. (Oppose) Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  Heard 1/17.

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.

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.

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.  Government Accountability Committee.

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.  Government Accountability Committee.

SB 161 (Coleman) – provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state and local sales taxes.  Economic Development & Tax Policy Committee.  (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 purchase.   Government Accountability Committee.

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.

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.

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. Hearing 2/2.

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)

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.

SB 242 (Eigel) – repeals the 2021 gas tax increase. (Oppose)

SB 260 (Moon) – repeals the 2021 gas tax increase. (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.

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.  Hearing 2/1.  (Oppose)

 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.  (Oppose)

SB 299 (Hoskins) – Tmodifies 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”

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

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

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