Committee Work Continues

As we approach the end of the 2023 legislative session the work of hearing bills in committee and debating legislation in the chamber continues. This week I presented several bills to Senate committees. With just three weeks remaining before we adjourn, I’ll be looking for opportunities to amend these bills onto other legislation brought before the Senate.

This week, I presented Senate Bill 639 to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment. This bill would create a paint recycling program, providing a means for homeowners to dispose of leftover house paint. Modeled after similar programs in 11 other states, Missourians could drop off old paint at retailers who volunteer to become collection sites. The actual recycling would be paid for by paint manufacturers. This is an idea that originated with the paint industry and the manufacturers would reimburse the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for any cost incurred in administrating the program.

The Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee held a hearing on my Senate Bill 403. This act repeals older provisions relating to land surveys and adopts the "Missouri State Plane Coordinate System." The change would align our state’s survey practices with the current system established by the National Geodetic Survey.

As chairman of the Senate General Laws Committee, I held hearings on six bills this week, three of which I sponsored. One of the bills the committee heard would ask voters to approve a cap on personal property taxes. House Joint Resolution 33 would limit the growth of residential real estate assessments to no more than 2% in any year, or the rate of inflation. The measure also freezes real property taxes on the primary residence of Missourians once they reach age 65. The resolution would have to be approved by voters before taking effect. The committee also heard from a number of witnesses regarding House Bill 442, which would require health insurers to credit payments made through co-pay assistance programs when calculating an enrollee’s out-of-pocket contributions. Senate Bill 570 delays implementation of new training and certification standards for pesticide applicators, to allow the industry and regulators more time to come into compliance. Senate Bill 630 authorizes public governmental bodies to close certain records when disclosure has the potential to endanger the health or safety of an individual or the general public. Senate Bill 688 and Senate Bill 706 both address fire protection services in previously unincorporated areas of St. Louis County.

The remaining three weeks of the 2023 legislative session will likely be hectic and intense. We still have to pass Missouri’s Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget, and there a dozens of major pieces of legislation nearing the finish line. You can listen to committee hearings and floor debate on the Senate website. Otherwise, watch for future updates and I’ll let you know what happens in the Missouri General Assembly.

As always, it is an honor to serve the 6th Senatorial District. If my office can be service to you, please feel free to contact us at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.