|
Can't view this email? Click here.
If you would prefer not to receive this Legislative News, please reply
with UNSUBSCRIBE LEG NEWS in the subject line.
Please visit to our website
www.mspe.org
for the latest news on bills we are tracking.
This the final MSPE weekly
legislative report for the 2008 legislative session. All bills we tracked
and their final status can be viewed on our website,
www.mspe.org. Please
contact me at brucewylie@mspe.org
or (573) 636-4861.
Key Websites
Bills Of Interest That
Were Truly Agreed to
and Finally Passed
Bill of Interest That Did Not Pass
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS WITH A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY ON FINAL DAY:
The Missouri
legislature adjourned its Second Regular Session of the 94th
General Assembly at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16. With hundreds of bills
poised for final action on Friday, the members of the House and Senate truly
agreed to and finally passed 70 bills, far surpassing the 47 bills
(excluding budget bills) that had been passed during the preceding four and
one-half months of session. Veteran capitol lobbyists were amazed at the
number of bills passed on Friday.
The Governor will be presented with the majority of the bills passed some
time around June 1 and has until July 14 to either sign or veto. Most all
of these measures will be approved by the Governor and will become effective
on August 28.
Governor Blunt declared the session to be a success, having previously
warned legislators that he would call them into special session unless they
delivered legislation addressing illegal immigration and property tax
reform. Both measures passed on Friday. Other significant bills
that passed include:
-
Legislation addressing Internet harassment and cyber-bullying;
-
Economic development legislation creating up to $240 million in tax
credits for mega-projects (Bombardier);
-
Legislation addressing energy efficiency issues and establishing the Show
me Green Sales Tax Holiday.
-
Legislation that permits the retroactive licensing of the Aquila power
plant in Cass County;
-
Legislation repealing the campaign contribution limits in Missouri;
-
Legislation repealing the controversial “village law” that passed last
session;
- An
omnibus bill relating to a myriad of transportation-related issues,
including the use of ignition interlock devices for second offense DWI’s;
-
Economic development legislation authorizing an additional $48 million in
tax credits for the Quality Jobs Program and the Enhanced Enterprise Zone
Program;
-
Passage of an electronic logging program for pyseudoephrine drugs;
-
Legislation creating the crime of mortgage fraud;
-
Legislation that changes a Supreme Court ruling that allowed dependents of
injured workers to receive benefits even after the disabled worked had
died.
Issues that received a lot of attention, but which were not addressed
included:
-
Legislation designed to address access to health care (Insure Missouri
program);
-
Legislation mandating the showing of a photo ID for voting;
-
Legislation to regulate and legalize the practice of midwifery;
-
Legislation changing consent requirements for abortion;
-
Legislation raising the minimum teacher salaries to $31,000;
-
Legislation altering the “Missouri Plan” method for selection of judges;
-
Legislation capping the number of licenses for gaming facilities and
removing the loss limits.
(back to the top)
BILLS OF INTEREST THAT DID NOT
PASS
DESIGN
BUILD FOR SCHOOLS FAILS:
HB 1707
would have authorized school districts to enter into design-build contracts
for construction projects costing more than $15,000. ACEC worked closely
with AIA Missouri and went to Rep. Brian Baker to address our most obvious
concerns prior to the bill moving through the House. After the measure
passed the House, lobbyists for the two organizations approached Senate
Chairman Delbert Scott, Senate Committee on Financial, Governmental
Organizations & Elections, who agreed to give the bill a hearing, but not
move it through his committee. Our biggest threat that this bill might move
was when Sen. Kevin Engler decided it was an excellent vehicle for two of
his amendments, school and construction related. Both grassroots and
Capitol lobbying held our position with members of the committee and Sen.
Engler yielded to our position.
HB 1644 - Provides for a fuel tax holiday.
HB 1707 - Authorizes school districts to enter into design-build
contracts for construction projects costing more than $15,000. See above.
HB 1747 -
Removes the requirement that the Director of the Department of
Transportation give an annual address on the state of transportation to a
joint session of the General Assembly.
HB 1825 - Requires government and public agencies to break up
a contract into smaller parts if the overall size of the contract for a
project prevents the use of in-state firms or contractors.
HB 1854 - Allows companies to conduct voluntary audits relating to
compliance with environmental standards and regulations.
HB 1994 - Changes the laws regarding dam and reservoir safety
to allow for further regulation of high hazard dams 25 feet or higher.
SB 729 - Creates the Missouri County Planning Act.
SB 793 - Allows Department of Transportation to construct
toll roads under certain conditions.
SB 884 - Allows for primary seatbelt enforcement.
SB 976 - Modifies the law regarding certain environmental
appeals transferred to the administrative hearing commission.
SB 1074 - Modifies liens for certain design professionals by
changing from one acre to three acres.
SB 1077 - Broadens applicability of the law that limits indemnity
agreements for construction contracts.
SB 1130 - Expands types of projects that may be completed under
Public-Private Transportation Act and creates various tax incentives for
their completion.
SB 1217 - Proposal to add a one cent sales for ten years for
construction of I-70 and I-44.
SJR 43 - Allocates 10 % of the growth in general state revenue to
state road fund after a vote of the people.
SJR 48 - Voters to decide adding one cent sales tax for ten years
for construction of I-70 and I-44.
(back to the top)
|
|
BILLS
OF INTEREST THAT WERE TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED:
HB 1469
- Changes the laws regarding certain appeals to the Administrative Hearing
Commission.
HB 1670 - Removes
the requirement for certification by the Department of Natural Resources
before a sales and use tax exemption applies to the purchase or lease of
certain items used to monitor water and air pollution.
HB 2001 - A budget bill that includes
appropriations to Water Pollution Control Bond funds; Water & Wastewater
Loan Revolving Fund
HB 2019
- Appropriates money for supplemental purposes for the University of
Missouri, for the purchase of equipment, planning, expenses for capital
improvements, from funds designated for period ending 5-30-08.
HB 2020
- Appropriates money for supplemental purposes for the several departments
and offices of state government, for the purchase of equipment, planning,
expenses for the fiscal period ending 5-30-2008.
HB 2023 - Capital Improvements budget funding
including vocational technical schools; higher education facilities;
railroad program; Facilities Management Design & Construction
HB 2058 - Tax incentives for business
development
HB 2393 - Tax credits for “mega-projects”
SB 907 - Modifies provisions pertaining to
petroleum fuel storage tanks.
SB 930
- Modifies various provisions relating to the
regulation of transportation,
including
removal of cap on aviation trust fund.
SB 1038 -
Repeals campaign contribution limits and modifies reporting requirements.
SB 1040 -
Modifies requirements relating to the issuance of grants and loans by the
Department of Natural Resources for storm water control.
SB 1131 - Excludes certain transportation
sales tax revenues from tax increment finances taxes.
SB 1170 - Creates fund to allow for
no-interest funding to rebuild public schools after disaster.
SB 1181 -
Modifies and creates provisions pertaining to energy efficiency and energy
regulation. Includes legislation that allows for environmental permit
coordination through MDNR (HB 2125)
SB 1190 -
Authorizes the division of professional registration to reduce licensure
fees by emergency rule under certain circumstances.
SJR 45 - Missouri voters will decide to change
requirements relating to the issuance of grants and loans by the Department
of Natural Resources for storm water control.
(back
to the top)
KEY WEBSITES
ź Missouri
House
ź
Missouri Senate
ź
State of Missouri
(back
to the top)
|