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Dale Amick, Legislative Director
April 3, 2008 - Legislative Report
March 24, 2008 - Legislative Report
January 18, 2008 - Legislative Report
August 30, 2007 - Final Special Session Report
August 24, 2007 - Special Session Report
May 23, 2007 - Final Legislative Report
May 11, 2007 - Legislative Report
May 4, 2007 - Legislative Report
April 26, 2007 - Legislative Report
April 19, 2007 - Legislative Report
April 12, 2007 - Legislative Report
April 5, 2007 - Legislative Report
March 29, 2007 - Legislative Report
February 2, 2007 - Legislative Report
January 4, 2007 - Legislative Report
Business Legislation Reports (.pdf)
Equipment Dealer Legislation Reports (.pdf)
Health Care Legislation Reports (.pdf)
Immigration Reports (.pdf)
Motor Vehicle Legislation Reports (.pdf)
Taxation Legislation Reports (.pdf)
MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE REPORT
by Dale Amick
A sweeping crackdown on
illegal immigrants has been passed by the Missouri Senate.
In quick fashion, the upper
chamber put together comprehensive legislation aimed at keeping illegal
immigrants from being employed in
While most issues spotlighted
at the start of the 2008 session are languishing, immigration legislation has
taken shape in both chambers in the last few weeks. The session ends May 16.
The Senate-approved
legislation bans employers from hiring unauthorized immigrants. Violators are
subject to the suspension of their business permits and licenses. In order to
correct such a violation and have permits reinstated, an employer shall
terminate the illegal immigrant, request a second verification from the federal
government and enroll in a federal work authorization program.
Business entities must
participate in a federal work authorization program to be eligible for state
contracts under the Senate-passed legislation.
The Senate legislation says
contractors are not liable for unauthorized immigrants hired by subcontractors
if the contract binding the two parties affirmatively states that the
subcontractor does not knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants. Contractors are
not liable for employing unauthorized immigrants if they are enrolled in a
federal work authorization program.
The legislation also states
that individuals are barred from transporting or harboring any immigrant knowing
or in reckless disregard of the fact the immigrant has entered or remained in
the
The legislation bans illegal
immigrants from attending public colleges or obtaining driver's licenses or
public benefits.
SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
by Dale Amick
The Missouri legislative session has passed the halfway point with many spotlighted issues still in doubt.
At the start of the session, Gov. Matt Blunt and legislative leaders targeted immigration reform as a major issue. Yet, as the legislature enters its spring break, only one immigration-related bill has passed either house.
The House has passed legislation (HB 1463) not to allow illegal aliens to attend public colleges or universities. And that happened only after a long and sometimes contentious debate.
Meanwhile, the House Special Committee on Immigration has approved several measures for consideration by the House when it returns March 25 from spring break. The measures would prohibit local sanctuary of illegal aliens (HB 1395), make it a crime to assist illegal aliens to obtain a driver’s license (HB 2366), require highway patrol to check immigration status of those arrested (HB 1549) and require all law enforcement officials to verify immigration status of those arrested (HB 1771).
Over in the Senate, the Senate General Laws Committee is preparing legislation to crack down on illegal aliens. Still in that committee is legislation not to allow illegal aliens to obtain public assistance, not allow them out on bail while awaiting a court date, make businesses who hire illegal aliens ineligible for tax credits or loans. It is expected the committee will have legislation ready soon after the spring break for the full Senate to debate.
Legislation supported by the Association to limit liability of business owners for crimes committed on their property has been approved by a House committee and is ready for House debate.
The number one priority of the legislature this year is writing a new state budget. The governor proposed an expansive new budget, adding funding for a variety of programs. However, the recent economic downturn has budget writers in the House worried about overspending. The House Budget Committee has written a proposed new budget that cuts $200 million from the governor’s recommendations. The full House will begin debate on that budget blueprint the week of March 26.
The proposed House committee budget makes further cuts in the Department of Agriculture. Over the past 10 years, that department has one of the highest percentage reductions of general revenue for its operations among all state departments.
The House Committee maintained ethanol incentive payments and added funding for animal health services. However, the committee deleted the governor’s proposal to spend $280,000 for dairy planning and parlor renovation grants. The dairy industry in Missouri is losing farmers on a daily basis and the governor feels these grants may help to begin a reversal of this trend. There is sentiment in the Senate to restore the dairy grants.
Controversy over the Second Injury Fund within the workers’ compensation program may be a highlighted issue during the stretch run of the 2008 legislature and could have a big impact on Missouri employers.
The Second Injury Fund may go insolvent in the near future, partially as a result of high awards to those claiming injuries under the fund, according to legislative leaders. If the Second Injury Fund does go insolvent, it may mean higher workers’ compensation rates for many employers. More on this issue later.
by Dale Amick
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has recommended major spending increases in the Department of Agriculture in his new budget blueprint to boost the rural economy of the state.
The agriculture sector is one of the few economic areas that is promoting growth in the state economy. The governor realizes continued rural economic growth is vital to the future of the state and that is why he is promoting major funding hikes for a number of agriculture-oriented state programs and services.
Included in the governor’s proposed 23-billion-dollar budget is 14 million dollars for the ethanol incentive fund and another 15 million dollars for the biodiesel incentive fund.
Other proposed budget increases include: $547,000 for a new state large animal veterinary student loan program; $280,000 to assist with dairy parlor renovations; and a $192,000 increase in the animal health program;
The governor also proposed creation of a Farm Legacy Exchange Program to assist agriculture producers who may be thinking of retirement with succession planning.
Because the average producer in
The governor’s program would match interested farmers and provide services, including estate planning, legal contracts and access to all the financial incentive programs administered by the state. The governor’s proposed budget includes $50,000 in start-up funding for the program.
The Senate and House Appropriation Committees already have begun work on drafting a new state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
The Missouri Legislature has approved and sent to the governor a 51-million-dollar economic development bill in the current special legislative session called by Governor Matt Blunt.
The economic development bill includes a beef cattle tax credit that will encourage Missouri cattlemen to background feeder calves in the state. The bill will provide a ten cent per pound tax credit for producers who keep feeder calves on the farm and add two hundred pounds to their frame before selling them. The program will go into effect next year.
Currently, over 1.2 million Missouri feeder calves leave the state after weaning each year. By backgrounding more feeder calves in the state, the University of Missouri estimates major economic benefits for small town businesses and state and local governments.
The bill also increases the state’s Quality Jobs Program from a limit of 12 million dollars to 40 million dollars. The program provides tax credits for larger businesses that add jobs with salaries above the county average and provide at least half the cost of health insurance.
The most controversial aspect of the bill is ten million dollars in tax credits to developers who buy at least 50 acres for projects covering at least 75 acres in low-income areas.
The Missouri House of Representatives has approved a 51-million-dollar economic development bill in the current special legislative session called by Governor Matt Blunt.
The bill now goes to the State Senate for further consideration. It is expected the legislature will complete the special session in the coming week.
The economic development bill includes a beef cattle tax credit that will encourage Missouri cattlemen to background feeder calves in the state. The bill will provide a ten cent per pound tax credit for producers who keep feeder calves on the farm and add two hundred pounds to their frame before selling them.
Currently, over 1.2 million Missouri feeder calves leave the state after weaning each year. By backgrounding more feeder calves in the state, the University of Missouri estimates major economic benefits for small town businesses and state and local governments.
The bill also increases the state’s Quality Jobs Program from a limit of 12 million dollars to 40 million dollars. The program provides tax credits for larger businesses that add jobs with salaries above the county average and provide at least half the cost of health insurance.
The most controversial aspect of the bill is ten million dollars in tax credits to developers who buy at least 50 acres for projects covering at least 75 acres in low-income areas.
The 2007 Missouri legislative session came to an end May 18 with some major accomplishments, but also some clear failures.
A major economic development bill cleared the legislature in the closing days of the session. The legislation will expand the highly popular Quality Jobs Program that rewards employers for hiring new employees at higher than average salaries and who provide health care insurance benefits.
In addition, the economic development initiative includes a tax credit program to encourage cattlemen to keep feeder calves in the state after weaning. The aim is to encourage more backgrounding and development of feedlots for Missouri feeder calves normally shipped out of state after weaning.
Supporters say the program could do more to spur the cattle industry in Missouri than anything else that has occurred in decades.
The entire economic development bill has something for everyone, from tax credits to encourage film production in Missouri and renovating urban inner-city property. The price tag of the bill, an estimated 100 million dollars annually, may cause the governor to consider vetoing the bill.
The legislature also passed full funding of ethanol and biodiesel incentive programs that could continue the increase in development of plants in Missouri to produce these products.
The legislature failed to correct potential flaws in the minimum wage initiative passed last fall by voters. Legislation to correct problems in the new law dealing with part-time and commission employees failed to clear the House in the final days of the 2007 session.
In addition, legislation to grant retailers limited immunity from civil liability for selling flawed products they did not manufacture or produce failed to go anywhere in the General Assembly this year, in part due to strong opposition from trial attorneys.
The legislature did pass a new Medicaid program that emphasizes more illness prevention and pays doctors higher fees for treating Medicaid patients.
The Missouri Legislature heads into the final days of its 2007 session with a number of major issues already resolved.
A $21.6-billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 was approved this past week that includes an increase in incentive programs for ethanol and bio-diesel plants located in Missouri that are primarily farmer-owned.
A major economic development bill also was passed and sent to the governor that includes a $10-million tax credit program for Missouri farmers to keep feeder calves in the state and feed them here. Also included in the bill are tax credits for Missourians that use E-85 gasoline and purchase E-85 vehicles.
The economic development legislation expands the highly popular Quality Jobs Program that allows employers to keep a portion of withholding taxes if they pay new employees a wage higher than the local average and provide health care benefits.
The legislature also has sent to the governor a partial end to state income tax on Social Security income. Eventually the legislation will eliminate all income taxes on Social Security income.
Still awaiting final action is an omnibus agriculture bill that contains controversial provisions on the voluntary animal identification program in effect in Missouri.
Two weeks remain in the 2007 Missouri legislative session and still unresolved is a new state budget, a massive economic development bill and a tax cut package.
Embroiled in a dispute between the Senate and House is a massive, omnibus economic development bill that provides incentives for small employers to hire new workers. Also included in the bill are incentives to purchase E-85 gasoline and vehicles that burn the fuel, as well as tax credits for farmers that keep feeder calves on the farm above 450 pounds.
The intent of the feeder calf tax credit program is to encourage backgrounding and feedlot development in Missouri for feeder calves. Currently, 90 per cent of the state’s feeder calves leave the state within two days after being sold at a livestock auction barn.
Various sales tax exemptions are included in an omnibus agriculture bill scheduled for debate this coming week. And elimination of the state income tax on Social Security benefits remains the focal point of a tax cut package pending in the Missouri Senate.
Numerous changes in motor vehicle laws, including changes in titling and registration of utility vehicles, are included in a massive transportation bill pending in the legislature.
The 2007 session ends May 18.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
Three weeks remain in the 2007 Missouri legislative session and still pending is a proposed new state budget, a tax cut package and an omnibus agriculture bill.
A joint Senate-House conference committee is working on differences between the two chambers on a new budget. The deadline for budget passage is May 11.
Both chambers have considered different tax cut packages. What is expected to emerge is an elimination of state income tax on Social Security income. Also look for an effort to reduce or eliminate the corporate franchise tax before the session ends on May 18.
An omnibus agriculture bill awaits action on the House debate calendar in the final weeks of the 2007 session. The bill (SB 156) includes state sales tax exemptions for fencing materials and trailers manufactured in Missouri.
Another bill (SB 30), at this time, includes a state sales tax exemption for purchases of equipment, supplies and materials for facilities that rent tools.
Other issues that may be considered in the closing weeks of the session include:
? Changes in utility vehicle titling and licensing
? Changes in the state minimum wage law dealing with commissioned employees
? Changes in certain business tax credit programs for employers who increase job positions.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
The Missouri Legislature heads into the final four weeks of its 2007 regular session with most major issues, including a new state budget, still unresolved.
The Missouri Senate is expected to take up a 21-billion-dollar budget blueprint next week. The House already has approved its version.
A prohibition on local health ordinances involving agricultural facilities and changes in CAFO regulation are in trouble. Legislation to implement these reforms was shelved by the Senate this week in favor of establishing an interim committee to study the issue this summer. Most agricultural organizations are pushing the reforms as a means to spur agricultural development and expansion in the state. The reforms may be resurrected in the House.
A program to fund schooling costs for veterinary students who make a commitment to engage in a large animal practice in rural Missouri is poised to pass the legislature. Currently, Missouri has an acute shortage of large animal veterinarians in most rural areas.
An omnibus agricultural bill is being developed in the Missouri House and may include a variety of agricultural initiatives now floating around the legislature. More later on this evolving legislation.
A bio-diesel requirement for fuel sold in Missouri after January 1, 2009, has passed the Senate and is awaiting action in the House. It is similar to ethanol legislation passed last year.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
The Missouri House is ready to debate an omnibus agriculture bill that includes tax credits to keep feeder cattle in the state and exempt fencing from the state sales tax.
On Thursday, the House Agricultural Policy Committee voted the bill to the full House. Debate on the bill could occur as early as next week. There has been no omnibus agricultural bill in the Missouri Legislature for several years.
The feeder cattle tax credit is an idea by Rep. Charlie Schlottach of Owensville. Most feeder calves leave the state as soon as they are sold at livestock barns or at private treaty, most at or near the 450-pound level. Farmers would be rewarded with state tax credits for keeping feeder calves on the farm past the 450-pound mark. The aim is to improve the state’s backgrounding and cattle feeding potential.
The Missouri Senate is poised to pass a wide-ranging economic development bill aimed at increasing jobs in rural and urban parts of the state.
The Senate this past week passed a wholesale change in the state’s Medicaid program. The current program is set to expire next year. The program costs the state well over 1.5 billion dollars annually and is the state’s largest program. Changes in the program adopted by the Senate emphasize wellness initiatives and quick diagnostic treatment.
The Senate next week is expected to debate the proposed version of the state budget for the next fiscal year adopted by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The House already has passed its version of the 21-billion-dollar budget.
The 2007 session ends May 18.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
Legislation to change overtime wage standards is moving through the Missouri legislative process with six weeks remaining in the 2007 legislative session.
When voters passed the new state minimum wage law last November, the proposition included changes in overtime requirements that could adversely limit the work time of firefighters and commissioned employees.
Business groups and those who proposed the wage change on the ballot agree that the unintended purpose of requiring overtime restrictions on certain groups of workers should be changed. And that is what is proposed by SB 255, which passed the Senate and is now pending in the House Special Committee on General Laws.
Under the new state law passed in November, anyone working more than 40 hours per week must be paid one and one-half times his/her wage rate. The only exceptions were recreation workers.
The legislation awaiting House action reinstates the federal overtime standard in place before the passage of Proposition B in November 2006, including exemptions for firefighters, commissioned employees and flex-time rate
Legislation to ban most local health ordinances in Missouri affecting large agricultural operations was debated for hours in the Senate this week without resolution. The bill (SB 364) would implement statewide regulations for new and expanding animal confinement feeding operations in Missouri. The legislation is supported by most agricultural organizations.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
The Missouri Legislature heads into the final seven weeks of its 2007 session with few accomplishments - not unusual for a legislative session. Most accomplishments are usually garnered in the final days of any legislative session.
The agricultural community has joined forces to attempt to curtail local health ordinances enacted across Missouri by individual counties intended to crimp production agriculture. The agricultural coalition is working with the Missouri Association of Counties to arrive at legislation that will balance the needs of future agriculture expansion in Missouri with concerns about potential environmental problems of larger farming operations. Look for debate on this issue next week in the State Senate.
The goal of the agricultural coalition is to have one set of rules for permitting large farming operations in Missouri, rather than different rules in each county, which is what is happening now.
The legislation (SB 364) faces stiff opposition in the Missouri Senate and its chance of final passage before the session ends on May 18 is unclear.
The only tax change that stands a good chance of passage this year would end state taxation on Social Security income. That legislation has passed the House and is pending in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Bills to enact a variety of state sales tax exemptions appear not to have a good chance of passage this year.
Legislation to change how the state titles and licenses utility vehicles has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House.
Legislation to implement liability immunity to retailers who sell products that are not manufactured, assembled, installed or modified by the retailer was introduced in the 2007 legislative session at the urging of the Association and other business groups but will not pass this year. It is opposed by defense attorneys, among others.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
The Missouri General Assembly’s budget committees have begun deliberations on a proposed new state budget for the coming fiscal year. House and Senate budget committees this week will be reviewing the proposed spending plans for the Department of Agricultures, among others.
The Senate Small Business Committee this past week held a public hearing on SB 255, which makes changes in the minimum wage proposal adopted by voters last November.
Among the changes would be an easing of overtime stipulations for emergency personnel and employees working on commission, which could have an impact on dealers throughout Missouri. More on this issue at a later date.
Already, over 900 bills have been filed for consideration in the 2007 legislative session. Among those are bills to toughen penalties for ATV equipment and registration violations and to add motorcycles to provisions of the state’s Lemon Law.
Tax reform is a major topic of discussion, too. The governor and legislative leaders want to end state taxation on Social Security benefits. A number of bills to add to the list of state sales tax exemptions also are in the legislative hopper, including one to exempt fencing supplies from sales tax.
Also awaiting consideration in the Senate is legislation to allow employers to pay sales tax on behalf of customers.
Look for heated legislative discussion on bills to disallow local governments from enacting local health ordinances to limit new or expanded large farming operations.
The governor has endorsed limiting health ordinance control of these operations to state government.
Business legislation awaiting action would clarify employee rights in the workplace and amend workers’ compensation benefits.
TO: SOUTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS – MISSOURI
FROM: DALE AMICK
RE: Missouri Legislative Report
The Missouri General Assembly opened its 2007 legislative session January 3rd with the usual pomp and pageantry.
Governor Matt Blunt will not deliver his legislative and budget address until January 24th. In the meantime, legislative committees will begin deliberations on the more than 500 bills already filed for the session.
An expected 300-500 million dollars in new tax revenue may be available to the legislature to dole out to state agencies and programs. It is expected public education and social services will receive the lion’s share of the new money.
The governor and legislative leaders want to pass a tax cut, especially to end state taxation of Social Security income.
Some lawmakers want to amend the new state minimum wage law passed by voters last fall to remove the automatic annual increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. It seems doubtful that the legislature will change the new law so soon after its effective date.
The Republican Party maintains a strong hold on both chambers with a 92-71 majority in the House and a 23-11 majority in the Senate. The same legislative leaders will run both chambers in 2007, House Speaker Rod Jetton and Senate President Michael Gibbons.
For more information, contact Dale Amick at 573/634-3637 or email at damick @socket.net
For more information about the SouthWestern Association's lobbying activities, contact Jeff Flora.
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