JEFFERSON CITY — Last week, I highlighted the first three bills I filed in preparation for the 2015 legislative session. Each was the result of hearings by the Senate Interim Committee on Tax Administration Practices. The committee was formed, in part, because of complaints we heard from small business owners about how sales taxes were being administered. TJ Rehak, who owns Extreme Gymnastics in Lee’s Summit, has been a prominent voice in that area for the last two years. Not only did he reach out to our office, he came down to Jefferson City to testify and watch the bills he inspired go through the process. TJ deserves a lot of credit for letting his legislators know where government was an obstacle to his business’s success, and then following through by staying involved.

While we can’t act on every suggestion, we do look carefully at every idea brought to us by district residents, and occasionally others from around the state. When you send a suggested legislative change, our first step is to make sure the law does what you think it does. Next, we reach out to other legislators to gauge interest in making a change. If we think there is support, we work with the Senate legal research staff to find the best way to fix the problem. Oftentimes, we look to other states to see if a better model already exists. Most often, if there is enough support, I will file the bill and see what changes my colleagues would like to make. While not every such idea will pass, and those that do often take years, we have implemented some good changes through this process.

The group of bills I filed last week contains similar stories. Some were filed because a constituent reached out to our office with a complaint. I truly appreciate their input.

Senate Bill 104 creates a deadline for court cases involving challenges to ballot language. This year, county clerks and election authorities were forced to spend over $700,000 to reprint ballots because of a late court decision on ballot language. SB 104 would end any decision 56 days (eight weeks) prior to the election date, allowing for ballots to be fixed with plenty of time to issue absentee and military overseas ballots.

Senate Bill 105 is a minor fix for the military and overseas ballot language I sponsored in 2013. As often occurs when we implement a new law, we find ways we could have done it better. In this case we need to fix another section of statutes to allow deployed military and others to receive a full ballot, including state races. Currently, they only receive a ballot with federal races. Tammy Brown of the Jackson County Election Board alerted my office to the need for this change, and I appreciate her input.

Senate Bill 106 is similar to a bill I first filed in 2013 to exempt new business fees and to streamline the business license process for new businesses. Increasing government regulation and fees have stifled new business startups. SB 106 will help alleviate some of those issues. The idea was first brought to me by a constituent.

Senate Bill 114 would reform the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) rules to allow school districts and libraries to receive more of the tax dollars designated for their use. I have worked with both local superintendents and local library officials after they brought this idea to my attention. SB 114 is a revised version of a bill I first filed in 2013.

Senate Bill 115 corrects an issue with being able to receive tax refunds. The bill was filed last year by a state representative and brought to my attention by a concerned Missouri resident. Currently, if the Department of Revenue opens an old tax case, the state can receive any taxes due; however, if a refund is due, it is then past a statutory deadline and cannot be issued. Fairness demands that if the state opens a case, any refund should be paid.

Senate Bill 116 is based on a call our office received from a constituent just last month. Currently, statutes waive residency requirements if a military member is deployed so that their children can go to school where the guardian (often a grandparent) lives. SB 116 extends that right to military members stationed anywhere out of the state.

As session nears, I will continue to look for legislative ideas that help the average citizen. Your input is always welcome. While I can’t file legislation on every idea I receive, I will try to reach out to the appropriate committee members to see if there is any interest in moving the idea forward.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions, and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at (573) 751-1464, or e-mail at will.kraus@senate.mo.gov.