Submitted by the Office of Jim Kalberloh
As the end of this legislative session draws near, only 3 weeks remaining, it is a busy time in Jefferson City! We 3rd read and passed our final 4 budget bills and have sent them to the Senate. With still having federal dollars to spend from the pandemic, our budget this year from the house was a little over 45 billion dollars. There is quite a few good things in there that will be of benefit to all Missourians! We also 3rd read and passed a lot of bills and sent to the Senate that I will highlight below. It is an honor to be here and represent the 126th District and our rural values! It is always a pleasure to have district schools come to visit the Capitol. Last week I had the opportunity to visit with Appleton City and Davis Elementary!
Lawmakers Approve Funding for Critical Infrastructure Projects (HB 17, HB 18, HB 19, and HB 20)
House members this week approved four bills that appropriate more than $5 billion in funding for vital infrastructure projects and programs across the state. House members also authorized $100 million in funding for maintenance and repair for the state’s minor and low volume roadways. The additional funding will help provide much-needed upgrades to overlooked roadways in the state’s rural areas.
The bill also works to improve public safety in Missouri by investing more than $30 million in funding for new facilities and training for law enforcement. It also prioritizes improving access to health care by allocating more than $26 million for construction and expansion of vital health care facilities across the state. Additionally, the bill appropriates $10 million to help address the lack of housing for the homeless in Springfield.
HB 183 is meant to promote fairness in competition and opportunity for female student athletes. The bill would prohibit public school districts and charter schools from allowing students grade six to 12 and public and private postsecondary educational institutions from allowing any student to compete in an athletics competition designated for the opposite sex, as determined by the student's official birth certificate.
HBs 45 & 1066 specifies that, any cosmetologist holding a license to practice certain categories of cosmetology, as described in the bill, may register with the State Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners for a personal service registration to provide services to clients who are ill, disabled, or otherwise unable to travel to a cosmetology establishment.
HB 188 establishes the "Immigrant Employment Registration and Taxation Protection Act". As specified in the bill, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) is required to maintain a database or registry of qualified immigrant workers.
HB 1023 authorizes an income tax exemption for: (1) A percentage of capital gains of up to $6 million per year, as set out in the bill, received by a taxpayer who sells all or a portion of his or her farmland to a beginning farmer; (2) Cash rent income of up to $25,000 per year received by a taxpayer who leases all or a portion of his or her farmland to a beginning farmer; and (3) Income of up to $25,000 per year received from crop share arrangements with a beginning farmer on all or a portion of a taxpayers farmland.
HB 836 establishes the "Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge Program". This Program would award medallions, medals, and certificates of appreciation to veterans who honorably served on active duty in the United States military service at any time between October 7, 2011, and August 30, 2021, and who were honorably separated and discharged from military service.
I am honored to serve as your Representative in the Missouri House. If at any time, you have questions, concerns or ideas regarding state government, please feel free to contact me at 573-751-5388 or Jim.Kalberloh@house.mo.gov.
