Representative Lisa Durnell Capitol Report

Dear Constituents,

 

As we enter the month of August, we also enter the back-to-school season. I want to start by wishing our students a very successful year. With the back-to-school season also comes our state’s sales tax holiday! The sales tax holiday will run from 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 1 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 3. More information on qualifying items can be found below.

 

I also want to take a moment to remind our community that there will be several events coming up to support our students. I am planning on attending some of these events. If you are coming to the Mountain View Birch Tree School Kick-off event on August 12, please stop by and say hello to Representative Keith Elliott and me. We will be handing out Italian Ice popsicles to students until we run out.

 

As the summer continues to wind down, my staff and I are preparing for the September veto session that is coming up on September 10th. This will be our opportunity to look at the budget items that Governor Kehoe vetoed and see if we want to attempt to place them back in the budget. I will keep our community updated on any potential veto overrides.

 

I also want to remind you that the Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform is still holding meetings across the state. Just this week, they held a meeting in Lebanon, and I hope some in our community were able to go.

 

If you would still like to attend a meeting of the committee, there are more coming up, although they will be a further drive for our community members. The remaining meetings can be found below.

 

We are still looking toward the next legislative session and getting prepared to file good common-sense legislation. If you have any burdensome regulations or government red tape that you would like to see eliminated, please reach out to me or my office.

 

Missouri State Capitol News

 

Landmark Legislation Advancing Public Safety, Tax Cuts, Economic Growth, and More Signed into Law

 

Governor Mike Kehoe recently signed a broad slate of bills into law, concluded a highly productive legislative session focused on strengthening public safety, cutting taxes, revitalizing the economy, and supporting Missouri families, workers, and communities. Below is a comprehensive look at the key measures signed.

 

Supporting Missouri’s First Responders: Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act

 

At the St. Louis Fire Department headquarters, Governor Kehoe signed Senate Bill (SB) 71, which delivers

 

meaningful support to Missouri’s public safety professionals and their families.

 

“Missouri’s public safety professionals dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, and they deserve more than just our thanks—they deserve real support,” said Governor Kehoe.

 

Highlights of SB 71:

- Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act: Tuition and fee assistance for public safety personnel and their dependent children who meet service and residency requirements.

- Strengthened penalties for burglary and vehicle-related crimes.

- Extended the Line of Duty Compensation Act for families of fallen officers.

- Adjustments to the St. Louis Firefighter’s Retirement Plan.

 

Cutting Taxes and Supporting Missouri Businesses

 

Governor Kehoe signed House Bills (HB) 567 and 594, delivering tax relief and regulatory reform for Missouri families, businesses, and job creators.

 

“Today, we are protecting the people who make Missouri work—families, job creators, and small business owners—by cutting taxes, rolling back overreach, and eliminating costly mandates,” Kehoe said.

Key provisions include:

 

- Maintaining the state minimum wage at $15/hour while repealing automatic CPI increases.

- Eliminating burdensome paid sick leave mandates.

- Authorizing an income tax deduction for all capital gains for individuals beginning in 2025.

- Expanding the Senior Citizens Property Tax Credit and exempting essential hygiene products from sales tax.

 

Governor Kehoe also signed additional pro-growth bills addressing financial institutions, regulatory reform, and local government operations.

 

Investing in Economic Development

 

At ceremonies in St. Louis, Governor Kehoe signed HB 199 and HB 1041, supporting tourism, small business, and Missouri’s proud brewing and wine industries.

 

- HB 199 creates a special entertainment district in downtown St. Louis, expands opportunities for other

counties and cities to establish districts, and supports ports, sports facilities, and local transportation authorities.

- HB 1041 reduces taxes on malt liquor, supports Missouri’s wine industry, and permits extended alcohol

service hours during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

 

Advancing Missouri Agriculture and Rural Communities

 

Recognizing agriculture as the backbone of Missouri, Governor Kehoe signed Senate Bills (SB) 79 and 82, ensuring farmers and rural families have the tools and support they need to thrive.

 

“Agriculture and rural communities are the backbone of Missouri,” Kehoe said. “By expanding health care access and protecting our water resources, these bills ensure the families who feed, fuel, and clothe this state can keep doing what they do best.”

- SB 79: Improves rural health care access by expanding telehealth, mandating MO HealthNet coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants, modernizing prenatal care protocols, and allowing membership-based health benefit contracts.

- SB 82: Protects Missouri’s water resources by creating a framework to monitor and regulate water exports, safeguarding water for agricultural, municipal, and commercial use.

 

Concluding the Session: Ten More Bills Signed into Law

 

Governor Kehoe wrapped up by signing ten additional bills addressing invasive species, youth entrepreneurship, veterans’ care, emergency services, privacy, public safety, property rights, and more.

 

- SB 105: Combats the spread of invasive plant species by prohibiting the sale and propagation of specified nonnative plants.

- SB 133: Updates Missouri’s 811 underground facility notification system to modern standards, improves accountability, and enhances safety.

- SB 145: Promotes youth entrepreneurship by exempting businessowners under 19 from certain municipal licensing fees.

- SB 271: Protects farm structures from unnecessary fire ordinances, updates EMS standards, and strengthens Good Samaritan protections.

- HB 145: Expands Judicial Privacy Act protections, strengthens Sunshine Law exemptions, and modernizes public records procedures.

- HB 147: Supports sheriffs’ retirement funding, bans public pension investments in U.S.-sanctioned entities, and prohibits ESG-based investment decisions.

- HB 225: Increases line of duty death compensation to $100,000, modifies police vehicle rules for surveillance, and creates an offense for interfering with first responders.

- HB 262: Establishes the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Act, supporting alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.

- HB 595 & HB 596: Protect property rights, limit local interference in rental decisions, and require clear written agreements in real estate transactions.

 

For more information on these and other legislative actions, visit house.mo.gov.

 

Looking Ahead: Missouri Talks Nuclear Energy and the Future of Power

 

More than 550 people from across Missouri recently came together in Columbia for the state’s first-ever Nuclear Summit. It was a chance for energy experts, scientists, lawmakers, local leaders, citizens and stakeholders to talk about what the future of energy could look like here at home.

 

The focus of this event was to look at how nuclear energy could help us keep electricity reliable and affordable, while also boosting jobs and protecting the environment. Attendees got to hear about the technologies already in use, as well as exciting new ones on the way.

 

There was a lot of discussion about the economic benefits nuclear energy could bring to Missouri—major investments and job opportunities in industries like manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and data centers. At the same time, people were honest about the challenges too, like the cost of large projects, the need for updated infrastructure, and the time it takes to get projects approved.

 

State leaders are committed to continuing the conversation and working with industry partners to ensure Missouri remains competitive in the rapidly changing energy landscape. Expanding nuclear energy production could be a major step toward achieving clean, reliable and resilient energy for decades to come.

 

Reminder: Property Tax Reform Committee Hitting the Road for Hearings

 

Just a quick reminder – the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform will be holding a series of hearings around the state, and you’re invited to come out. These meetings are a chance to share your thoughts and experiences with Missouri’s property tax system as the committee works on ways to make it fairer and more transparent.

 

Hearing Schedule:

- August 13—Kansas City at 5:30 p.m.—Board Room at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO

- August 20—St. Louis at5:30 p.m.—Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Ave, Clayton, MO

- August 27—Macon at 5:30 p.m.—Macon Comfort Inn, 1821 N Missouri, Macon, MO

- September 3—Jefferson City at 11:00 a.m.-State Capitol, House Hearing Room 3

 

For updates and more information about the committee’s work, visit house.mo.gov

 

As always, it is a pleasure to serve you in the Missouri House of Representatives. Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of service to you.