Business underway under the Capital dome

Action in Missouri’s General Assembly seemed really normal this past week; really normal in that we saw lots of bill consideration on the House Floor, as well as continued committee hearings for other bills. Couple that with opinions and involvement from many of our constituents, additional information from agency staff, lobbyists, etc., and we have governmental activity that is really normal.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been like that very much this year and it was a very good feeling and observation – I hope it continues.
A few items of interest which were third read and passed included: House Committee Substitute (HCS) HB 1380 which authorizes MoDOT to form a public-private partnership to allow private investment to build a new bridge crossing the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The foreign investors would get rights to set and collect the tolls. This concept may well be the way of our future.
At this time, I understand the state of Illinois has their cost share capability and wants no part of a toll facility. In addition, I am very concerned about the reality of foreign investments controlling such an important structure of our highway system (the bridge would convey I-70 traffic).
House Bill 1302 increases fees for registering boats as follows: boats less than 16 feet in length will increase from $10 to $25; 16 to 26 feet from $20 to $55; 26 to 40 feet from $30 to $100 and over 40 feet increases from $40 to $150.
HCS HB 1030 et al is the House bill which includes numerous sections relating to “local government”. During debate, there were over 30 amendments to the bill and several uncounted amendments to amendments. Some of the sections which I think are of local interest are provisions that addresses the salary schedule for public administrators who choose to be paid by salary and who are considered to be full-time county officials; another removes the county assessor from a county board of equalization. County commissioners would appoint replacement members with relative experience to the board. There are over 50 pages in the bill which includes numerous issues, but most are not as significant to our immediate area.
I was able to third read and pass HCS HB 977 which authorizes fourth-class cities with 1000 or fewer inhabitants, to develop an ordinance which would dissolve existing “ward” boundaries and elect aldermen “at large.” A few cities in our area, as well as several others statewide, had requested this legislation.
Issues which will likely be coming to the floor soon saw continued action in committees related to eminent domain, ethanol mandate, moving “impeachment authority” from the Judicial branch to the Missouri Senate, and others.
Several visitors observed our actions this week, highlighted by groups of FFA students and sponsors participating in Missouri Farm Bureau’s youth leadership program. Over 360 students were involved statewide; local schools which I had a chance to meet included: South Harrison Co. R-II, North Harrison R-III, Trenton R-IX and Grundy Co. R-V.
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