HCS/SB 665 - This act modifies provisions relating to agriculture.QUALIFIED BEEF TAX CREDIT (Section 135.679) - This act re-authorizes the existing Qualified Beef Tax Credit until 2021. This act modifies the definition of "baseline weight" to be based on the average weight of all beef animals sold that are 30 months or younger in the previous 2 years instead of the previous 3 years. This act changes the credit from 10 cents per pound to 10 cents per pound for sale weights under 600 pounds and 25 cents per pound for sale weights over 600 pounds. Under this act, the Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority may waive no more than 25% of the 100 pound weight gain requirement, rather than 25% of the 200 pound weight gain requirement.
This act only allows tax credits under this section up to $15,000 per year per taxpayer and for no more than 3 years. This act also limits the amount of tax credits that may be issued under the Qualified Beef Tax Credit and the Meat Processing Facility Investment Tax Credit to $2 million per calendar year. This act requires the Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the costs and benefits of the Qualified Beef Tax Credit.
This provision is similar to a provision contained in HCS/HB 2632 (2016) and SB 1124 (2016).
MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT (Section 135.686) - This act creates the Meat Processing Facility Investment Tax Credit Act. For all tax years between 2017 and 2021, a taxpayer may claim this tax credit for meat processing modernization or expansion at their processing facility. The tax credit shall be equal to 25% of the amount the taxpayer paid in the tax year for modernization and expansion.
This tax credit is non-refundable but may be carried forward 4 years, and a taxpayer may not claim more than $75,000 per year. If two or more taxpayers own the facility, each may claim a credit in proportion to their ownership interest in the facility, but taken together all tax credits for one facility cannot exceed the $75,000 cap. All tax credits issued under the Qualified Beef Tax Credit and the Meat Processing Facility Investment Tax Credit to $2 million per calendar year.
This provision is identical to similar to a provision contained in HCS/HB 2632 (2016) and SB 1124 (2016).
AGRIMISSOURI TRADEMARK (Section 261.235) - Currently, the AgriMissouri Advisory Commission for Marketing Missouri Agricultural Products may establish a fee structure for sellers electing to use the AgriMissouri trademark associated with Missouri agricultural products with the fee varying depending upon the amount of the seller's gross annual sales. Under this act, the provisions regarding the fee structure varying depending upon the amount of the seller's gross annual sales are repealed, and instead this act allows the AgriMissouri Advisory Commission to adopt a fee structure so long as the fees established and collected do not yield revenue greater than the costs of administering the objectives of the AgriMissouri Advisory Commission and the AgriMissouri trademark to sellers using the trademark in the ensuing year.
This act is similar to SB 361 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 131 (2015), SCS/HCS/HB 882 (2015), and HB 233 (2015).
FARM-TO-TABLE PROGRAM (Sections 262.960, 262.962, & 348.407) - This act changes the "Farm-to-School Act" and program to the "Farm-to-Table Act" and program. Under this act, the program will connect Missouri farmers to institutions in order to provide such institutions with locally grown agricultural products. This act defines "institutions" as facilities including schools, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and military bases. This act also requires the Department of Agriculture to establish guidelines for voluntary participation and parameters for program goals, which shall include the requirement that participating institutions purchase at least 10% of their food products locally by December 31, 2019. Nothing in this act shall require an institution to participate in the Farm-to-Table Program.
Currently, certain state departments are required to make staff available to the program, including the Department of Health and Senior Services, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Office of Administration. This act adds the Department of Corrections to this staff requirement.
Currently, the Farm-to-Table Task Force is composed of certain members. Under this act, one representative will also be added to the Task Force from the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and from a military base in this state. Currently, the Director of the Department of Agriculture and the Director of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may each appoint 2 members to the Task Force. Under this act, each may only appoint 1 member. Further, the Director of the Department of Corrections and the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services shall each appoint 1 member. The Director of the Department of Agriculture shall also appoint 1 member who is a registered dietician. Under this act, the Task Force is required to prepare a report for the Governor, General Assembly, and the Director of each entity represented on the Task Force by December 31 of each year.
Currently, the Farm-to-School Act and Program expired on December 31, 2015. This act repeals this expiration date.
These provisions are identical to SCS/SBs 1010, 958, & 878, SCS/HCS/HB 2121, 1747, & 2244 (2016), HCS/SCS/SB 703 (2016), and are similar to HCS/SCS/SB 38 (2015), and HCS/HB 1184 (2015).
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT UTILIZATION CONTRIBUTOR TAX CREDIT & NEW GENERATION COOPERATIVE INCENTIVE TAX CREDIT (Sections 348.430, 348.432, and 348.436) - Currently, the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit and the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit may be carried back to any of the contributor's 3 prior tax years, and may be carried forward up to 5 years. This act only allows the credits to be carried forward up to 4 years, and removes the carry back provision. This act requires the Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the costs and benefits of the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit and the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit.
Currently, the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit and the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit shall expire on December 31, 2016. This act extends this expiration date to December 31, 2021.
PER BARREL MOTOR FUEL INSPECTION FEE (Section 414.082) - Currently, the fee for the inspection of certain motor fuels shall not be less than 1.5 cents per barrel and shall not exceed 2.5 cents per barrel. Under this act, the per barrel fee shall not exceed 4 cents per barrel from 2017 to 2021, and shall not exceed 5 cents per barrel from 2022 and thereafter.
This provision is identical to the perfected SB 884 (2016), and provisions contained in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 657 (2016), HCS/HB 2632 (2016), and HCS/SCS/SB 703 (2016). This provision is substantially similar to SCS/SB 520 (2015), HCS/SCS/SB 131 (2015), HCS/SB 500 (2015), and SCS/HB 882 (2015).
KAYLA HAHN