EMINENT DOMAIN BILL SIGNED BY GOVERNOR PARSON
Eminent domain legislation, often controversial, worked on and debated for eight years in the state capitol, crossed the finish line when Governor Mike Parson signed a bill on June 11 while attending the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association’s annual steak fry in Sedalia.
Missouri’s General Assembly finalized and passed Senate Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2005, sponsored by Rep. Mike Haffner (R-Pleasant Hill), a bill that will help compensate farmers whose land is sought by energy companies constructing high voltage transmission lines, such as the Grain Belt Express across northern Missouri.
The bill specifies that in eminent domain proceedings, appropriate compensation for agricultural land shall be 150 percent of fair market value, to be determined by the court. In a condemnation proceeding for farmland, a court would appoint three disinterested commissioners to determine fair market value of the land, and at least one of the commissioners must be a farmer who has been farming in the county for at least 10 years.
The bill also requires construction of a transmission line to begin within seven years, or the energy company’s property rights gained by eminent domain would return to the original property owner. Power from the transmission line, proportional to the length of the line through Missouri, must also be made available to residents, according to the bill.
KEY UPCOMING DATES
· June 30, 2022 – Last day for the Governor to Sign or Veto Appropriations Bills
· July 1, 2022 – First day of Fiscal Year 2023
· July 14, 2022 – Last day for the Governor to Sign or Veto Other Bills
GOVERNOR SIGNS 7 OTHER BILLS INTO LAW
On June 7, Governor Mike Parson signed seven bills passed in May by the General Assembly.
House Bill 2149 (Shields, R-St. Joseph) modifies several provisions relating to professional licensing. Among the changes, HB 2149 exempts military employees and contractors participating in the Innovative Readiness Training program from Missouri occupational licensing requirements if they hold licensing in another state. The bill also aligns state laws with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for home health treatment plans and eases delays to home health service care.
Other bills signed by the Governor include:
House Bill 1697 (Baker, R-Neosho) - Cottage Food Production Operations: Allows Missouri cottage food producers to exceed $50,000 in annual revenue and sell products online, if products are sold to purchasers in the state.
House Bill 2365 (Shields, R-St. Joseph) - Early Learning Quality Assurance Program Extension: Extends the sunset expiration on the Early Learning Quality Assurance Program to the end of 2028.
House Bill 2416 (Porter, R-Montgomery City) - Motor Vehicle Dealer Sales Practices: Provides clarification in state laws that motor vehicle dealers in Missouri can conduct certain transactions remotely.
House Bill 1725 (Hudson, R-Cape Fair) - Lodging Establishments: Updates state law to clarify hotel liability for lost guest property if stored in a safe or safe deposit box. Also, it removes the requirement for hotel rates to be published in rooms if the rates are available online.
Senate Bill 987 (Bean, R-Holcomb) - Relating to Gambling Boat Facilities: Allows gambling facilities to be located within 1,000 feet of the main channel of the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers with approval from the Missouri Gaming Commission.
House Bill 1600 (Chipman, R-Steelville) - Employees of the General Assembly: Clarifies that the General Assembly does not need to pass an annual resolution to keep legislative staff employed during the interim period.
