Capitol Report

District 155
Greetings and salutations. I hope you had a great start to the New Year. We are back in session at Jefferson City and hit the ground running. 
 
Missouri House Looks to move quickly in the first days of session
 
The Missouri House is setting the tone for the 2024 legislative session by quickly referring a substantial number of bills to committees to jumpstart the legislative process. In the opening days of the legislative session, the Speaker referred more than 100 bills to committee, which allowed members of the House to get to work on the legislation as quickly as possible.
 
“From the very beginning, it has been our commitment to push forward legislation to speed up the process and ensure that the issues which are vital to Missourians are set in motion and given the time and consideration they deserve,” the House Speaker said. “Our goal has, and always will be, to serve the people of this state to the fullest of our abilities, and to pass legislation that is crucial to their safety, prosperity, and overall well-being. The Missouri House is committed to fulfilling the people's mandate without any delays."
 
Inclement weather, however, had some different plans, causing at least three House committees to cancel their scheduled hearings, and forcing delays for others. Nineteen House committees met in the first full week of the legislative session to hear testimony and debate on dozens of bills. 
 
Here are a few of those bills: 
 
From my constituents with children we are contacted that there is a great shortage of childcare in our area. In fact, this rings true throughout Missouri. There are a couple of items that we are looking at to help with those needs. 
 
House Committee Debates Tax Credit Package to Boost Childcare
The Missouri House is moving quickly on a tax credit package aimed at addressing the state's childcare crisis. The Missouri House Workforce and Infrastructure Development Committee discussed a plan that would provide tax credits to childcare providers, donors to daycare centers, and businesses who help to cover the childcare costs of their employees as a solution to the ongoing crisis while also serving as an economic development tool for the state.
 
Missouri legislators have been grappling with the issue of the state’s growing workforce crisis, and one piece to the puzzle is fixing the lack of access to childcare. Testifying before the committee, the bill sponsor emphasized the severity of the issue, stating that there's only one available childcare slot for every three children under the age of five in Missouri.  With 94 percent of Missouri counties labeled as childcare deserts, many businesses struggle to find workers due to childcare challenges. A U.S. Chamber report estimates that Missouri loses more than $1.3 billion annually as a result of childcare shortages.
 
House Bill 1488 asks the state legislature to approve a tax credit package that is intended to boost access to childcare options statewide. That package is broken out into three parts:
 
1. Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act (Effective from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2030):
- Taxpayers can claim a 75% tax credit against state liability for verified contributions to a childcare provider.
- The credit must be between $100 and $200,000 per tax year.
- Eligible donations must directly support childcare for children aged 12 or younger, be distributed within two years if made through an intermediary, and not involve a direct financial interest for the taxpayer.
- Non-refundable tax credits, capped at $20 million annually, with a 15% increase for contributions to childcare providers in "childcare deserts."
 
2. Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act (Effective from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2030):
- Taxpayers with two or more employees can claim a 30% tax credit for qualified childcare expenditures, with a maximum credit of $200,000 per taxpayer per year.
- Applicable to corporations, certain charitable organizations, and individuals or partnerships subject to state income tax.
- Non-refundable tax credits, capped at $20 million annually, with a 15% increase for contributions to childcare providers in "childcare deserts."
 
3. Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act (Effective from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2030):
- Childcare providers with three or more employees can claim a tax credit equal to their eligible employer withholding tax and up to 30% of capital expenditures.
- No credit for capital expenditures under $1,000.
- Maximum tax credit is $200,000 per childcare provider per tax year.
- Non-refundable tax credits, with excess credits carried back or forward up to five tax years.
- Capped at $20 million annually, with a 15% increase for contributions to childcare providers in "childcare deserts."
 
The tax credits, estimated to cost up to $70 million, are justified by the potential economic growth and tax revenue they could generate. The bill would be valid for six years, allowing lawmakers to assess its impact. 
 
Preventing Veteran Suicide 
The Missouri House Veterans Committee heard testimony on a proposed bill that would task the Missouri Veterans Commission with expanding its work to prevent veteran suicide.
Under HB 1495, the commission would be required to team up with the Missouri Department of Mental Health to provide recommendations and implement measures, programs, treatment options, additional aid, or any necessary assistance to prevent veteran suicide, contingent on available funding. 
 
A U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs report shows that across the U.S., 6,392 veterans died by a suicide in 2021, marking an increase of more than 100 lives from the previous year. In Missouri, 185 Missouri military veterans died by suicide that year, and the 2023 federal report says Missouri’s veteran suicide rate is significantly higher than the national veteran suicide rate. 
 
“We have a lot more veterans committing suicide than the general public,” the bill sponsor said while presenting his bill to the committee. “Every Missourian can make a difference. It does not really matter what the number is. Just one is too many.”
 
MOBUCK$ bill primed to move forward. Wendell Bailey started this program almost forty years ago and it’s still a great tool for businesses and local lending institutions to this day. 
The Missouri House Committee on Financial Institutions is reviewing legislation advocating for increased funding for the highly valuable MOBUCK$ program, designed to assist local lenders in reducing interest rates for eligible buyers in the state. Through MOBUCK$, lenders can lower interest rates by 2-3 percent, with over 140 lenders in the state participating, enabling qualified borrowers to enjoy these savings.
 
House Bill 1803 proposes increasing the program's annual budget from the current $800 million to $1.2 billion, responding to the overwhelming popularity of the program. The program, which reopened on January 2 after a pause in May of the previous year, garnered significant attention. State Treasurer Vivek Malek reported receiving 142 applications totaling more than $119 million within six hours of reopening.
 
The bill sponsor highlighted that borrowers, initially facing a 10 percent interest rate, could see their loan rates reduced to as much as 6.5 or 7 percent by utilizing this program. 
 
“When I was in banking, I contacted individuals because this was a terrific opportunity for them,” the bill sponsor said. “The MOBUCK$ is a proven program that helps farmers and small businesses save on their bottom lines by providing a break on loan interest, and I have not had an individual come in who did not want to participate in this program.”
 
As a huge believer in 2nd Amendment Rights I was happy to see Concealed Carry One of the First Issues Up for Debate In House General Laws Committee
 
The Missouri House General Laws committee considered two gun bills on Tuesday that would modify rules related to concealed carry in the Show-Me State.
 
HB 2291 would exempt state and local sales taxes on firearms and ammunition sold in Missouri, while HB 1708 proposes a series of significant amendments to current firearms legislation, including permitting concealed firearms on public transportation, reducing the age for concealed carry permits, and repealing restrictions on carrying firearms in places of worship. The Missouri House has given approval to such proposals in previous sessions, though the legislation has failed to advance in the Senate.
 
The bill sponsor told the committee that while the legislation looks to protect Second Amendment rights, it is also about crime prevention in our communities.
 
“This is not a partisan issue. Crime and violence don’t discriminate,” the bill sponsor said.
 
I was proud to be made a member of this committee as we are working to provide much needed relief for seniors and the rising cost of property tax. 
 
The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform aims to examine the impact of property tax increases on residents, especially seniors and those with fixed incomes. The committee's goals include ensuring certainty, stability, transparency, and efficiency in the property tax assessment process. 
 
Technology continues to grow, spurring the state’s economy
Missouri's technology sector has experienced robust growth, surpassing the national average in job expansion over the past decade. The state's manufacturing segment, notably in Tech Manufacturing, ranks among the top 10 in job growth, with positive projections for the future. The Technology2030 report from the Missouri Chamber Foundation underscores the tech sector's increasing impact on the state's economy, emphasizing its evolution from a historical manufacturing foundation.
 
Key statistics from the 2022 report highlight the significance of Missouri's tech industry, employing nearly 159,000 individuals and generating almost $19 billion in income. With 16,710 tech establishments contributing to 10% of the state's total earnings, an additional 205,720 tech occupation jobs have been created in non-tech companies. The report also reveals growth trends, such as a 2.5% increase in tech industry jobs from 2021 to 2022 and substantial growth over the last five years. While celebrating achievements, the report identifies areas for improvement, including broadband access and reversing the decline in STEM program completions. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry emphasizes ongoing analysis and a supportive business climate to sustain tech industry growth.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read our Capitol Report. Please know my office takes great pride in addressing the needs, concerns and general welfare of our constituents. If you need to reach out to me please call 573-751-2042 and we will do everything within our ability to help out any way I can. God bless and Happy New Year.
 
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