Jefferson City — The fourth week of session was marked by the Senate passing three supplemental budget bills that now move on to the governor’s desk for signing into law. Each session the legislature considers funding needs that arise during the middle of the budget year and makes adjustments accordingly through supplemental budget bills.
House Bill 2015 provides $6.4 million in additional funding to Missouri’s Utilicare program, which was established in 1979 to help low-income families with their utility costs. In recent history, Utilicare has been funded solely by the federal government, but in 2006 the state began to once again supplement the program with state dollars so more Missourians could receive assistance. Specifically, the additional funding will be added to the Utilicare Stabilization Fund for the purpose of aiding the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP ensures that approximately 22,000 Missouri families who would likely otherwise have their service terminated because of nonpayment have heat through the winter.
The Department of Conservation will also receive financial assistance through House Bill 2021. This legislation gives the department spending authorization for $10 million from the Conservation Commission Fund in order to complete a variety of slated projects. HB 2021 will cover funding for projects the Conservation Commission has committed to complete through June 30, 2008, such as a nature center that will promote conservation and natural history education in Northwest Missouri. The center, currently under construction in St. Joseph, requires $500,000 in additional funding. HB 2021 will provide the amount needed to complete the project.
House Bill 2022 allocates additional funding to the special anti-methamphetamine task force, the Missouri Sheriff’s Methamphetamine Relief Team, or MoSMART. The program employs 40 narcotics officers specifically trained to investigate meth activity in Missouri, which annually ranks at or near the top in meth production among the states. MoSMART had previously been federally funded but Congress failed to approve the money to reauthorize the program. MoSMART will receive $1.9 million in additional funds through HB 2022.
The hearing for Senate Bill 711, a measure sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood), was conducted in the Ways and Means Committee on Monday (1/28). The bill requires taxing entities, such as cities and school districts, to roll back levy rates when reassessments boost revenue beyond inflation rates — regardless of whether the entity was levying the tax at its tax rate ceiling. The bill expands communication with the taxpayer by requiring assessors to notify taxpayers of assessment increases. If the committee passes the bill, it will move on to the Senate calendar for potential debate later in the session.
Sen. Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis) introduced Senate Bill 1069, which would create a state income tax exemption for federal tax rebates related to the federal economic stimulus plan moving through Congress. Currently, Missouri taxpayers are able to deduct their federal taxes on their state income tax returns, so a refund of federal taxes would be considered income and consequently, subject to state tax.
To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation as it passes through the General Assembly, learn more about their Senate district, or listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens.
The Missouri Senate will reconvene at 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4. The Second Regular Session of the 94th Missouri General Assembly will run through Friday, May 16.
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