House Bill 2510 (Simmons, R-Washington) The bill expands the current definition of telemedicine to include health care providers and physicians licensed in another state, a territory of U.S., or the District of Columbia. During committee discussion in an executive session of the House Health Committee on April 4, substitute language was adopted to establish measures to hold practitioners accountable for patient care. Once modified, the committee passed the bill by an 8-2 vote.
House Joint Resolution 83 (Dogan, R-Ballwin). Upon voter approval, this proposed Constitutional amendment legalizes marijuana use for persons 21 years old or older, subject to state regulation, taxation, and local ordinances. On April 5, the House Special Committee on Criminal Justice conducted a hearing on the legislation. According to the resolution, the legal adult use of marijuana should be regulated so that only legitimate businesses conduct sales of marijuana; marijuana sold in this state shall be subject to testing, labeling, and regulation; employers would retain their rights to maintain drug-free and alcohol-free places of employment; selling, transferring, or providing marijuana to individuals under 21 years old would remain illegal; and driving, flying, or boating while impaired by cannabis would remain illegal. The resolution establishes the "Smarter and Safer Missouri Act" which requires marijuana to be removed from the state's list of controlled substances, no longer be listed among the state's drug schedules, and no longer be considered a controlled substance or drug. HJR 83 repeals the current Constitutional language relating to medical marijuana. The retail sale of marijuana would be taxed at 12 percent for personal use and four percent for medical use. These provisions and others of the resolution would take effect on Jan. 31, 2024. Testimony in favor of the bill was provided by Cannabis Solutions of Kansas City and by a man who served 22 years in prison for a marijuana crime. No testimony in opposition to the bill was offered. Information only testimony was presented by the MOST Policy Initiative. Rep. Dogan said with six weeks remaining in the legislative session, it is unlikely HJR 83 will make the statewide ballot this fall. The committee took no action on the bill.
Senate Bill 1058 (Brown, R-Rolla) The bill is the Senate companion to House Bill 1586 (Murphy, R-St. Louis) and specifies that the General Assembly preempts any political subdivision from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any order, ordinance, rule, regulation, policy, or other similar measure that prohibits, restricts, limits, regulates, controls, directs, or interferes with the practice of veterinary medicine. The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee held an executive session on April 4 where SB 1058 was voted “do pass” by a vote of 7-1.
On Thursday, the House Committee on Rural Community Development met in an executive session to consider passage of HB 1586. The bill is the House companion to SB 1058, highlighted above. After no discussion, the committee passed the bill by an 8-2 vote.
Senate Bill 1152 (Eslinger, R-Wasola) The bill modifies a sales tax exemption for certain farm machinery and equipment by providing that the term "farm machinery and equipment" shall include utility vehicles that are used for any agricultural purposes. On April 4, Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee voted SB 1152 “do pass” by a vote of 8-0.
Senate Bill 1200 (Gannon, R-DeSoto) The bill designates the second full week of March every year as Pet Breeders Week in Missouri. Hearing held April 4 in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Missouri Pet Breeders Association supported the bill. No opposing testimony was presented.
