LEGISLATIVE REPORT by Rep. Lyle Rowland

Some activities around the Capitol were canceled last week due to winter weather around the state. We hope that will be the last of the problems this winter will cause.
Our Appropriations Committee on Education has met to finalize our budget requests to the entire budget.  This meeting went well without any conflicts.  We now will consider HB 2 and HB 3 in the full budget committee with our recommendations added.
Money continues to be very tight. We are hoping to find extra dollars to help both the K-12 budget and higher education. The final budget requests will not be known until the end of March, when the House will finalize the budget and send it to the Senate.
Last week we mistakenly reported that HB 1649, regarding provisions relating to the injuring or killing of law enforcement animals, was passed on to the Senate. It was defeated and will not be back up this year.
Last week the House passed to the Senate the following bills:
HB 1300 requires boat title and registration fees collected annually in excess of $1 million to be deposited in the Water Patrol Division Fund.
HB 1329 modifies provisions of public employee retirement plans.
HB 1355 allows retired police officers to return to work when a disaster or emergency has been proclaimed by the governor or there is a national disaster.
HB 1366 modifies provisions relating to school bus drivers.
HB 1371 requires any district with a state-approved gifted education program to have a process that allows parents or guardians to appeal a determination that their child does not qualify for gifted services.
HB 1375 designates June 27 of each year as “Post Traumatic Stress Awareness Day” in Missouri.
HB 1421 requires each school district to establish a policy on acceleration and districts with gifted education programs to establish appeal procedures.
HB 1455 requires high schools and public institutions of higher education to provide information related to careers and salaries to students.
HB 1572 modifies provisions relating to driver’s licenses for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
HB 1597 authorizes the next-of-kin of a deceased person to delegate control of the final disposition of the remains.
HB 1606 modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education.
HB 1608 specifies that legislative research will compare the actual fiscal note of all bills Truly Agreed and Finally Passed by the General Assembly with the final fiscal note provided prior to passage.
HB 1630 changes the laws regarding marriage licenses.
HB 1650 modifies provisions relating to trust instruments.
HB 1690 modifies provision of the Missouri life and health insurance guarantee act.
HB 1710 changes the law relating to recognizing licenses to practice occupations or professions issued by other states.
HB 1796 establishes the First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Act and authorizes a tax deduction for contributions to a savings account dedicated to buying a first home.
HB 1858 requires the Department of Revenue to feature a map of all special taxing districts on its website.
HB 1887 prohibits a property owners’ association from preventing a property owner from placing political signs on his or her property.
HB 1940 establishes the Cronkite New Voices Act.
HB 1998 creates guidelines for reviewing the comprehensive state energy plan.
HB 2034 modifies provisions relating to industrial hemp.
HB 2044 allows a metropolitan planning organization to be considered a political subdivision for purposes of the Missouri local government employees’ retirement system.
We also passed 11 additional Consent bills.
Complete bill information can be found on the House website at www.house.mo.gov.
Contact me at 417-545-1465 or lyle.rowland@house.mo.gov.
As always, it is a privilege to represent you in state government.

Ozark County Times

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