LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Last Thursday, Governor Parson acted on the remaining bills passed by the Missouri General Assembly this session. He signed 31 bills into law and vetoed one, SB 189. Unless an emergency clause was approved, these bills go into effect August 28, 2023. Bills signed into law include:

SB 94 (Hoskins, Dist. 21, Warrensburg) establishes the Show MO Act and Entertainment Industry Jobs Act

·       The Show MO Act reauthorizes a tax credit for certain expenses related to the production of qualified motion media production products in the state, beginning January 1, 2023. It will sunset December 31, 2029, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.

·       The Entertainment Industry Jobs Act authorizes tax credits for rehearsal and tour expenses, beginning January 1, 2024. This act will sunset December 31, 2030, unless reauthorized.

SB 398 (Schroer, Dist. 2, St. Charles County) relates to motor vehicles.

·       Motor vehicle dealers will collect sales tax due on all motor vehicle sales, following development of the Department of Revenue’s modernized system.



·       Prohibiting the use of electronic devices while driving unless it is voice-operated or hands-free enabled. You may not physically hold or support with any part of the body an electronic communication device. The “Siddens Bening Hands Free Law” preempts local regulation. Prior to January 1, 2025, law enforcement shall only issue a warning. No person shall be stopped, inspected or detained solely for a violation of these provisions.

·       Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Verification and Enforcement Fund

·       Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act

·       Motor Vehicle Financial Protection Products

SB 190 (Luetkemeyer, Dist. 34, Parkville) modifies provisions relating to the taxation of seniors

·       Property tax credit – Authorizes counties to grant credit to eligible taxpayers, provided the county has adopted an ordinance authorizing such credit, or a petition in support of such credit is delivered to the governing body of the county and is submitted to and approved by voters.

·       Beginning January 1, 2024, social security benefits will be exempt from state income tax. The legislation removes the income cap of $85,000 (single) and $100,000 (married couple).

HB 115 (Shields, Dist. 11, St. Joseph) relates to healthcare professionals.

·       APRN

·       Assistant Physicians

·       Physical Therapists

·       Professional Counselors

·       Administration of Medications by Pharmacists

HB417 (Henderson, Dist. 117, Bonne Terre) Creates incentives to encourage certain individuals to obtain employment-related skills

·       Intern and Apprentice Recruitment Act

·       Adult High Schools

·       Student-Athlete Compensation

·       Medical Residency Grant Program

·       Nursing Education Incentives

·       Large Animal Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program



Governor Parson vetoed SB 189 (Luetkemeyer, Dist. 34, Parkville), which contains a number of provisions regarding public safety. In the press release issued July 6, Governor Parson said there were many public safety measures in the bill he supported and would like to sign into law, but unintended consequences outweigh the good. See full press release here:

RSVP FOR JULY BREW CREW

Start your day off with networking and new connections. Brew Crews are free events that provide an opportunity for our members and the community to gather in a neutral location free from agendas. This month's brew is sponsored by Elevate Coffee. Click the link below to RSVP for this event.

Friday, July 28 | 8:30 AM

Branson Chamber & CVB

4100 Gretna Road

Branson, MO 65616

EXPLORE BRANSON WELCOMES BACK BABE RUTH LEAGUE'S CAL RIPKEN MAJOR/70 WORLD SERIES

Babe Ruth League, Inc. International is returning to the All-American city of Branson, Missouri, to host the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series August 3-12. Babe Ruth League, Inc., Branson CVB, and Ballparks of America have once again teamed up to host a big-league experience for the best 12-year-old baseball players in the world.

The Babe Ruth League tournament will test the commitment and determination of every team in the Cal Ripken Major/70 division. Hundreds of young, talented baseball teams from around the world started the 2023 season sharing one goal, but only 36 of the teams will advance to the Cal Ripken Major/70 World Series.

August 3-12

Ballparks of America

1000 Pat Nash Drive

Branson, MO 65616

EXPLORE BRANSON WELCOMES AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION (AJGA)

The American Junior Golf Association is conducting a national junior golf tournament at Buffalo Ridge Golf Course in Branson, Mo. This event will consist of 54 holes of championship golf, will host 78 of the world's top junior golfers ages 12-19 years old and will take place July 31-August 3, 2023. The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships though competitive junior golf. The AJGA provides valuable exposure for college golf scholarships and has an annual junior membership (boys and girls, ages 12-19) of more than 8,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 60 foreign countries.

July 31-August 3

1001 Buffalo Ridge Boulevard

Hollister, MO 65672

FREE ICE CREAM FOR KIDS WHO

RECITE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Nettie Marie College Creamery, located in The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks, is proud to support the “I Pledge Project,” a campaign that rewards children with an ice cream cone for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance from memory. They will give one complimentary scoop of homemade ice cream to children 12 and under in exchange for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance by memory from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. July 13, July 20, and July 27.

"I Pledge is a program that The Keeter Center has been dedicated to participating in for many years,” said Mollie Crawford, director of sales and marketing at The Keeter Center. “We value patriotic education at College of the Ozarks, and this is one way we like to show appreciation to young children for learning the Pledge of Allegiance and reciting it by memory. Our students at The Keeter Center enjoy interacting with children and serving them a scoop of complimentary ice cream which is made fresh from milk from our campus dairy. We are honored to see little ones show their appreciation for our country, and to have the opportunity to serve our community in this way." Click the link below to learn more about the "I Pledge Project."

TRENDING TRAVEL HABITS

 FROM H2R MARKET RESEARCH 

Americans are busy traveling this year. Research from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) reveals that 47% of survey respondents ranked a vacation as their biggest spending this year. Home improvement (23%) and a new computer (10%) followed in second and third, respectively. Six in ten respondents have travel plans before the end of the year. Since late 2022, the number of Americans who intend to spend on travel has increased 17 percent. Around six in ten respondents have set travel plans for the remainder of the year.