HJR 113 proposes a constitutional amendment to grant Missouri veterans with service-connected disabilities partial or full property tax exemptions proportional to their disability rating. It directly affects veterans who are Missouri residents and have a disability rating determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption reduces real and personal property taxes by a percentage equal to the veteran’s disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% tax reduction), with 100% disability providing full exemption. This change would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
HJR 117 proposes adding a new constitutional section to Missouri's Constitution that would generally prevent the state from passing laws interfering with private parties setting prices or compensation in markets. It specifically exempts existing state-regulated industries and laws protecting communities' use of shared natural resources. The amendment also ensures existing contracts remain valid under current terms until their natural expiration or renewal, without affecting pending legal actions. This is a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval in 2026, not an immediate law. It directly affects how future state legislation could regulate pricing in commerce.
HB 2416 modifies Missouri's property tax assessment rules, directly affecting property owners and county assessors statewide. It sets specific tax rates (e.g., 19% for residential property, 5% for solar equipment and historic vehicles) and requires assessors to annually value real property at 33.3% of its current market value, with new assessments applied every odd-numbered year. Key changes include deducting private construction costs from airport-adjacent property valuations and adding requirements for computer-assisted valuations, where assessors must prove accuracy using comparable sales data. The bill also establishes a two-year assessment maintenance plan process for counties seeking state tax funds.
HB 2424 modifies how regulated public utilities pay for oversight by the Public Service Commission. It requires utilities (including electricity, gas, water, sewer, and telecom companies) to pay annual fees based on their state-based revenue, with caps of 0.45% for most utilities and 0.25% for telecommunications providers. The bill establishes a special fund to cover the Commission’s regulatory costs, ensuring payments are reinvested into oversight rather than general state funds. Utilities must report annual revenue to the Commission by March 31, with penalties for late filings. This directly affects all public utilities under the Commission’s jurisdiction, changing how regulatory costs are allocated and paid.
HB 2434 establishes eligibility criteria for local governments to implement a transient guest tax (like a hotel tax) for tourism funding. It specifies detailed population and county classification requirements (e.g., cities with 2,500-3,000 residents in certain counties) that must be met for a jurisdiction to adopt such a tax. The bill does not create the tax itself but authorizes qualifying cities or counties meeting these specific demographic thresholds to impose it. It directly affects eligible local governments in Virginia, not individual residents or businesses. The tax would fund tourism-related initiatives within those qualifying jurisdictions.
HB 2430, the "End Hospital Institutionalization Act," requires hospitals to immediately notify courts or mental health authorities when medically stable patients - especially children or those with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders - are unnecessarily kept in hospitals ("boarded") without community care arrangements. It mandates juvenile courts to place affected children in appropriate settings within 24 hours of notification, and the mental health department to provide timely case management and treatment in the least restrictive environment for adults. The state must reimburse hospitals for boarding costs after intervention begins, covering either actual costs or MO HealthNet rates, whichever is higher. This bill directly affects hospitals, juvenile courts, and mental health departments by creating a structured process to end prolonged, unjustified hospital stays. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading).
HB 2413 modifies regulations for assisted living facilities and residential care facilities. It allows facilities licensed as "Residential Care Facility II" as of 2006 to transition to "Assisted Living Facility" status without immediate compliance with new standards, but they must meet full requirements when Medicaid reimbursement for residents reaches $41 per day. The bill requires facilities to create individualized care plans, maintain 24-hour staffing, develop disaster evacuation plans, and prohibit admission of residents needing skilled nursing care, physical or chemical restraints, or who cannot safely evacuate without significant assistance. Facilities must also disclose services, costs, and discharge conditions to prospective residents and conduct medical screenings upon admission. These changes directly affect assisted living facilities and their residents, particularly those with disabilities requiring specialized care.
HB 2433 would allow qualifying cities and counties in Kentucky to impose a transient guest tax (a tax on short-term lodging like hotels) to fund tourism initiatives. It specifies detailed population and classification requirements for jurisdictions to qualify, including Lexington if it meets the listed criteria (such as population size and county classification). The tax would directly affect visitors staying in participating areas and local governments managing tourism revenue. The bill is currently in early stages (prefiled and read for first time), so no tax would be implemented until enacted. This is a procedural framework bill, not a specific tax for Lexington alone.
HB 2432 allows eligible cities meeting specific population and county criteria (e.g., cities with 3,000-3,300 residents in certain counties) to impose a 0.5% sales tax on retail purchases, but only after voter approval in a general or special election. All revenue from this tax must be used exclusively for public safety services, including police, fire, and emergency medical equipment, salaries, and facilities, and must be deposited in a special trust fund. The tax is in addition to existing sales taxes and requires a majority "yes" vote to take effect, with no re-submission allowed for 12 months if rejected. Cities must meet one of 21 defined population thresholds to qualify for this tax authority.
HB 2419 requires physicians prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to be physically present during all doses and perform an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy stage before administration. It mandates that doctors inform patients about "abortion reversal" options and provide contact information for the H3HELPLINE counseling resource. The bill also requires physicians to have a complication plan approved by health authorities for certain drugs with known high surgical intervention rates, unless the patient is in a hospital emergency. These provisions directly affect medical providers who prescribe medication abortion and patients seeking such care in the state.
HB 1737 makes it illegal to secretly install or place an electronic tracking device on a motor vehicle without the consent of all vehicle owners, specifically to monitor or follow occupants. This directly affects individuals who might secretly track vehicles (e.g., in stalking, unauthorized monitoring, or without owner permission), with penalties including a class A misdemeanor for a first offense or a class E felony for repeat violations. Key exceptions include law enforcement using trackers during investigations, parents monitoring minor children in their vehicle, tracking stolen vehicles or goods, and certain rental companies or insurance programs. The law explicitly excludes vehicle manufacturers and covers specific scenarios like vulnerable adult care or lienholder repossession.
HB 1738 would allow registered voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a specific reason (such as illness, travel, or religious observance) for a three-week period before an election. This change removes the current requirement that voters list a qualifying justification to access absentee voting. The bill applies to absentee ballots requested by mail or other non-in-person methods, while maintaining standard requirements like photo ID verification. It aims to simplify the absentee voting process by expanding access during a fixed pre-election window.
