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"The Voice of Missouri Business®" Weekly Report January 27-31, 2025

Writer's picture: AIM TeamAIM Team

By Ray McCarty, president/CEO, Associated Industries of Missouri


January 31, 2025 - Here is a quick recap of our activities working for you this week.


Pesticide Labeling (AIM supports)

We told you last week about the hearing on SB 14 (Justin Brown), a bill providing federal pesticide labeling requirements will satisfy any state level warning label requirements. Some other states, including California, have attempted to impose their own labeling requirements. AIM was a party to a lawsuit in which we challenged the California law and won. We would like to stop this before it starts in Missouri. The bill was voted out of committee this week. This week, HB 544 (Diehl), an identical bill, was heard in the House Agriculture Committee.


Pipeline Property Tax Depreciation, Future Test Year, Energy Generation Reliability (AIM supports)

The Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee last week heard testimony on SB 4 and SB 5, both sponsored by the Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Cierpiot. Both bills contain two provisions supported by AIM: standardized pipeline depreciation to avoid a massive tax increase on all gas, water and sewer customers; and future test year allowing more accurate estimates of costs for utility rate cases. Both of those bills were passed by the Senate committee this week. Also this week, SB 6 (Cierpiot) containing language requiring utilities to have reliable energy generation sources in place before retiring generation assets, was heard and passed by the same committee.


Child Care Incentives (AIM supports)

The House Economic Development Committee this week heard HB 269 (Shields), a bill that would provide incentives to encourage more child care options for Missouri parents. Thousands of Missouri families depend on childcare, which has become a very costly expense. This results in many parents choosing to stay at home and care for their children, even when they want to work to provide for their families. This tax credit will provide relief for Missouri families and allow many parents to rejoin the workforce and provide for their families.


Corporation Income Tax Phaseout (AIM supports)

The House Special Committee on Tax Reform this week voted 7-3 to pass HB 425 (Vernetti) that would phase out the corporation income tax. A committee substitute was adopted that fixes a technical issue regarding the interplay between corporation income tax and financial institutions tax, allowing banks to also allow the reduction in tax burden.


Railroad Crossing Safety (AIM supports)

HB 671 (Harbison) requiring drivers to stop for any on-track equipment in addition to trains and enhancing penalties for violations was heard in House Transportation Committee this week.


Tort Reform Bills - Class Action Reform and Statute of Limitations (AIM supports)

Last week, we told you the very first tort reform bill of the session was heard in the Senate General Laws Committee. SB 47 (Trent) aligns Missouri class action rules with federal class action rules regarding certification of a class. The bill was voted out of the committee this week by a vote of 5-2. The House Commerce Committee this week heard HB 68 (Overcast) that would change the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits from Missouri's current 5 years to 2 years. Missouri currently has one of the longest limits on time to file a lawsuit of any state in the nation.


Unemployment Indexing Based on Inflation Rate (AIM supports)

SB 8 (Bernskoetter), reducing the number of weeks of unemployment benefits when the unemployment rate is lower, was heard in committee this week. Provisions of the bill were originally passed by the legislature, vetoed by then-Gov. Jay Nixon, overridden by the legislature and finally voided by the Missouri Supreme Court. The bill would reduce the number of weeks of unemployment benefits from 20 weeks when the unemployment rate is 9% or greater to 8 weeks if the unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%.


Capital Gains Deduction (AIM supports)

SB 46 (Trent), a bill heard last week that would provide a capital gains deduction, was voted out of the Senate General Laws Committee by a vote of 5-2.


We intend to provide these legislative updates to you on a weekly basis on Fridays as we track the progress of these and other bills affecting Missouri businesses.

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© 2025 Associated Industries of Missouri, The Voice of Missouri Business ®

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