Parson signs several bills into law Tuesday
By NewsPress Now
Several Missouri bills became laws Tuesday after receiving approval from Gov. Mike Parson at a signing at the State Capitol in Jefferson City.
Last year, a law was put into place that approves a property tax credit for seniors who are eligible for Social Security. Senate Bill 756 specifies the definition of “eligible credit amount” and adds clarification for “initial credit year,” as well as setting an age for the eligible taxpayer at 62. Previously, the “eligible taxpayer” title applied to anyone eligible for Social Security retirement benefits.
Parson approved Senate Bill 754, a public safety bill that establishes Max’s Law, Blair’s Law and Valentine’s Law. It also ensures the same punishment for drug trafficking of crack cocaine and powder cocaine and creates harsher penalties for armed criminal action, repeat offenders, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful firearm possession.
Max’s Law has been a yearslong effort following the death of a St. Joseph police K-9 in the line of duty in 2020. It creates stricter punishments for those who harm or kill law enforcement K-9s. Blair’s Law tightens penalties for recklessly discharging a firearm, stemming from an incident where an 11-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet from celebratory gunfire in 2011. Valentine’s Law, named in honor of a Missouri detective who died during a police pursuit, makes it a felony offense to flee from a law enforcement officer.
House Bill 2057 adjusts the definition of “video service” for municipal franchise fees relating to video service providers to now include streaming content.
Senate Bill 894 establishes several acts relating to business development that could impact business owners in the state. These include the Right to Start Act, Office of Entrepreneurship, Regulatory Sandbox Act and the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Bond.
Later in the day, Parson signed five more bills into law.
House Bill 1912 modifies provisions around non-Missouri income tax credit, as well as clarifies processes of the SALT Parity Act.
Senate Bill 872 changes provisions relating to the taxation of utility infrastructure by extending a sunset date of the Uniform Small Wireless Deployment Act from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2029. It also provides a tax deduction for federal, state and local grants for broadband internet access.
House Bill 2134/1956 corrects loopholes in current law surrounding industrial waste byproducts on agriculture by clarifying definitions, expanding regulations on waste storage and requiring yearly sampling.
House Bill 2062 strengthens rights of property owners against squatters, prohibits local governments from requiring nonprofits to install electric vehicle charging stations, among other things.
Senate Bill 895 impacts landlord/tenant processes, stating that no municipality will enforce a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless authorized by higher law.
