Lathrop GPM Consulting LLC
314 East High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101

+1 573.469.4172
Week 17: Senate, House on Fast Pace as End of Session Nears
The Constitutional deadline for approving the new state budget is 6 p.m. Friday, May 6. This week the Senate attacked budget bills with a fervor on the Senate floor to hustle them back to the House of Representatives. The 13 budget bills passed Tuesday total $45.1 billion in spending during Fiscal Year 2023.

Several of the bills caught criticism from the Left for spending too little in state and federal funds and from the Right for spending too much. One member of the Senate conservative caucus roared the budget represents “death of fiscal conservatism.” A Democrat countered it’s the “most progressive budget” ever. The Senate approved an additional $1.2 billion to the House budget bills. Next week, House-Senate conference committees will focus on compromises to finalize the bills, pass them, and deliver them to the Governor’s desk by deadline.

LEGISLATORS BREAK TUESDAY NIGHT FOR BBQ AT GOVERNOR’S MANSION
Missouri Governor Mike Parson hosted a barbecue for legislators and many of their family members on Tuesday evening, a traditional event near the end of the annual legislative session. Another tradition is on the horizon: legislators will play a softball tournament on May 2, previously postponed twice this session due to inclement weather. Third time is the charm?

BILL MOVING TO NAME CAPITAL CITY BRIDGE FOR SENATOR BLUNT
The Senate Transportation Committee voted “do pass” on Senate Bill 1162 (Rowden, R-Columbia) by a vote of 4-0 on Tuesday. The bill would name the Missouri River bridge on Highway 54 at Jefferson City in honor of retiring U.S. Senator Roy D. Blunt.

MISSOURI COACH GARY PINKEL RECEIVES RESOLUTIONS
Being honored on his 70th birthday anniversary, former Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel of the University of Missouri Tigers was presented House and Senate resolutions on Wednesday. Pinkel was introduced in the House by Rep. Kurtis Gregory (R-Marshall), former player under Pinkel, and in the Senate by Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia). Accompanying Pinkel in the capitol were several former players, former Mizzou Head Coach Bob Stull, and former Athletic Director Mike Alden.

FINAL TWO WEEKS OF SESSION
Due to the constant floor activities during the final two weeks, we will not be sending out a weekly report next week. We will contact you directly in regards to any legislation of interest and plan to have a comprehensive "end of session" report upon the conclusion of the 2022 legislative session on May 13th.
Committee Activity
House Bill 2694 (Hudson, R-Cape Fair) specifies that county assessors and the assessor of St. Louis City shall use the trade-in value published in the current or two previous years’ October issue of the National Automobile Dealers' Association Official Used Car Guide, or its successor publication, as the recommended guide of information for determining the lowest true value of motor vehicles described in the publication. On April 26, the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee conducted a hearing on HB 2694. Witnesses in favor of the bill were the Missouri State Tax Commission and the Missouri State Assessors Association. No testimony in opposition was offered. The legislation applies to all motor vehicles, recreational vehicles, and agricultural equipment. The bill allows the assessor to assign any value that the assessor deems to be the true value, provided that such value is not greater than the current October issue of the National Automobile Dealers' Association Official Used Car Guide, or its successor publication, and such value is not less than the lowest value in the current or two previous years of such publication. The bill also requires that personal property tax as assessed and valued, shall not exceed the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The CPI provisions of this subsection shall become effective Jan. 1, 2023. The committee took no action on the bill.
 
House Joint Resolution 79 (Henderson, R-Bonne Terre) was voted “do pass” by the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee by a vote of 4-2 on April 25. HJR 79 would make changes to the initiative petition process. The Senate Committee Substitute changed the title of the bill to “process for amending the law” and clarified the implementation date. HJR 79 is a proposed state Constitutional amendment that if approved by voters would require a two-thirds supermajority vote for passage of an amendment to the state’s Constitution. HJR 79 requires initiative petition signatures to place a measure on the ballot as a Constitutional amendment to be collected in each of Missouri’s eight U.S. Congressional districts using a percentage requirement of 10 percent. Statutes may be placed on the ballot using the current percentage requirement of 5 percent. (Currently, a Constitutional amendment may be placed on the ballot by initiative petitions signed by eight percent of legal voters in six of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts, and the ballot issue currently would take effect if a simple majority of votes cast approves the issue.) The bill would require the Secretary of State to administer public forums in each Congressional district at least 15 days before the measure is voted on a statewide ballot to give members of the public an opportunity to review and comment on the initiative petition. HJR 79 also has an effective date of Jan. 1, 2023, if approved by voters.
Floor Activity
House Bill 1977 (Kelley, R-Lamar) allows grade A retail raw milk or cream produced in Missouri to be sold at grocery stores, restaurants, soda fountains, and similar establishments as long as the milk is clearly labeled with a specified warning label. On April 25, the House of Representatives third read and passed HB 1977 by a vote of 124-11. The bill requires when the milk or cream is sold in a manner that does not allow the final consumer to see the label, it must be clearly presented to the consumer through a written notice. The bill also specifies that no bottler or distributer of grade A retail raw milk can sell, transport, or deliver the milk unless it has been inspected by the State Milk Board at least quarterly. Also, any dairy farm producing grade A retail raw milk must have its herd accredited or certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as tuberculosis-free and brucellosis-free. The bill now moves to the Senate.
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Lathrop GPM Consulting LLC
314 E. High Street
Jefferson City, MO 65101
T: +1 573.469.4172