General Column – Week of June 2, 2008
Bills Await Governor's Signature
Measure Encouraging Donations for Breast Cancer Services Signed Into Law
Jefferson City — Now that the 2008 legislative session has concluded, all of the bills passed by the General Assembly have been sent to the governor who has until July 14 to sign them into law. If the governor vetoes a bill, it is returned to the originating chamber where a two-thirds majority vote by the members of both chambers overrides the veto. Of this year’s 138 passed bills, the governor to date has signed 12.
The Missouri Constitution requires that all newly passed laws cannot go into effect until 90 days after the end of session, or Aug. 28, 2008 — unless the legislation was passed by lawmakers with an emergency clause. In that case, the law goes into effect upon the governor’s signing.
This week the governor signed SB 1105, sponsored by Sen. Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis), which creates a check-off on the Missouri individual and corporate income tax forms for contributions to the breast cancer awareness trust fund, encouraging monetary donations for breast cancer services.
One bill awaiting the governor’s signature is an omnibus agriculture act, SB 931, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Purgason (R-Caulfield). Primarily, the measure makes the National Animal Identification System a voluntary program in Missouri.
With summer almost here and boating season well underway, those who operate watercraft on Missouri’s lakes and rivers will be affected by HB 1715 if it is signed into law. The bill changes the legal blood alcohol content level for operating a watercraft to .08 rather than the current .10 and would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
Senate Bill 1181, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Engler (R-Farmington), moves Missouri closer to energy efficiency by increasing the minimum energy efficiency standard and requiring all newly constructed or substantially renovated state buildings over 5,000 square feet to comply with that standard by July 2009. It also creates tax incentives for “going green” through the “Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday.” For 2009 and every following year between April 19 and 25, all sales of Energy Star-certified new appliances will be exempt from state sales tax. Counties and cities may choose to opt in to the program. The governor’s signature enacts SB 1181 into law.
Another passed bill awaiting a signature is HB 2058, which establishes the Entrepreneurial Development Council within the Department of Economic Development, and consists of seven members from Missouri businesses as well as licensed attorneys specializing in intellectual property law. The council will provide benefits to entrepreneurs who register with it, such as offering financial assistance to members defending their patents in court.
This column will be available bi-monthly as of this writing. To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can research legislation, learn more about their Senate district, or watch video or listen to audio highlights of the Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly.
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