Senator Mike Bernskoetter Announces Senate Bill 196 Signed by Governor
JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, is pleased to announce that the governor signed one of his sponsored bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2019 legislative session.
Senate Bill 196 creates the Rock Island Trail State Park Endowment Fund, which will help provide a funding stream for a “rails-to-trail” project looking to connect the Rock Island Trail to the Katy Trail. With the help of private donations and grants available through the endowment fund, the Rock Island Trail will stretch over 200 miles, from Windsor in the west to Beaufort in the east, and form a 450 mile loop with the Katy Trail.
“This is a great opportunity to create a world class trail system right here in Missouri,” said Sen. Bernskoetter. “With the signing of SB 196, the Rock Island Trail project can start to receive the resources it needs to move toward completion. When all is said and done, I believe this will be an exciting opportunity for both Missourians and visitors to our state to enjoy the great outdoors and help invigorate local economies through tourism.”
Senate Bill 196 also contains a provision authorizing the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to award grants to preserve and maintain historic county courthouses across the state.
“Just as we celebrate the creation of something new, we must also celebrate our past,” said Sen. Bernskoetter. “Senate Bill 196 will ensure that counties across the state will have the resources they need to maintain these historically significant buildings for years to come.”
For more information on Sen. Bernskoetter’s legislation, visit his official Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/bernskoetter.
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