May 10, 2024 - With only one week to go in the 2024 Legislative Session, the Missouri General Assembly has passed less than a handful of bills impacting Missouri employers.
Progress of most legislation was hampered in the Missouri Senate all session by the Freedom Caucus, a group of Republicans that regularly filibustered bills. The true goals of the group were unclear as they appeared to be demanding the regular Republican caucus pass legislation that was already supported by the Republican caucus. In reality, the Freedom Caucus efforts actually delayed all legislation, including the legislation they claimed to support. They also complained the Republican leadership was not adhering to the Republican party platform while they filibustered the simplest of tort reform bills that would bring Missouri's statute of limitations in line with nearly all other states. Tort reform is included in the Republican party platform.
Freedom Caucus members took to the floor during debate on the budget yesterday and complained about delays in the legislative process - delays they had caused! Despite the dysfunction foisted upon the Senate by this small group, the Senate, relying in nearly all cases on support from Senate Democrats, finally passed all the budget bills yesterday. The House is passing the budget today and appears ready to meet the deadline of 6:00 p.m. today.
Because of the slow pace of the Missouri Senate, very few bills have passed so far this session that impact Missouri businesses:
HB 1803 - The MOBUCK$ linked deposit loan program provides low interest loans to Missouri small businesses. This bill increases the funding limits and allows greater flexibility within the program. The bill was passed and signed by Governor Parson on May 9, 2024;
HB 1912 - The pass-through entity (PTE) income tax fix was passed May 9, 2024, by unanimous vote in the House and Senate;
HB 2134 & 1956 - A bill to stop a particular business from using a loophole in Missouri environmental law to spread waste from slaughter houses on agricultural land was passed May 9, 2024; and,
HB 2057 - This bill exempts streaming services from local franchise fees, unless the video services are provided by cable television providers. The bill was passed May 7, 2024.
The 2024 Missouri Legislative Session will end at 6:00 p.m. next Friday, May 17, 2024.