2023 Missouri Legislative Outlook: Agriculture, Elections, and Infrastructure
By: Dr. Tomotaroh Granzier-Nakajima
Agriculture
The ownership of agricultural land by foreign entities will continue to be an issue for the upcoming session. Several bills have been introduced to restrict foreign ownership (SB 9 | SB 55 | SB 76 | SB 144 | SB 332). Other bills next session seek to lessen restrictions surrounding industrial hemp (HB 202 | SB 194 | SB 209).
Elections
In the 2022 legislative session there were many bills related to initiative petitions that did not make it past both chambers. Similarly, this year several bills modify how initiative petitions are run in the state (HJR 2 | HJR 6 | HJR 13 | HJR 18 | HJR 22 | SB 102 | SJR 2 | SJR 5 | SJR 10 | SJR 12 | SJR 17). Many of these bills increase the signature requirement to place an initiative petition on the ballot or increase the voter threshold for an initiative petition to pass. Several bills also increase the voter requirements for constitutional amendments to pass or add additional requirements such as bills requiring that a majority of votes in more than half of the state senate districts must also approve an amendment (HJR 6 | HJR 19 | HJR 24 | HJR 25 | HJR 26 | SJR 5 | SJR 28).
SB 149 and SB 210 would allow voters who submitted absentee ballots with missing information the opportunity to supply the missing information. One bill in the house and senate each (HB 31 | SB 240) would require closed primaries in Missouri.
Related Science Notes: Ballot Initiatives and Referendums; Ballot Signature Verification & Curing; Absentee Voting
Transportation
Last year, HB 1584, relating to electric vehicle charging stations made it through the House and got voted out of committee in the Senate. This year, HB 184 has been introduced and would require any political subdivision that requires a business to install an electric vehicle charging station to pay for the installation, maintenance, and operation of that station. Other bills are looking to limit the use of electronic wireless communications devices while operating a motor vehicle (HB 228 | HB 304 | SB 56 | SB 61). Two bills seek to remove portions of the tax on motor fuel (SB 242 | SB 260).
Related Science Notes: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Utilities
There are several broadband related bills that have been pre-filed for 2023 (HB 98 | HB 309 |SB 219 | SB 71). These bills would allow electrical corporations to provide certain broadband services, expand the Department of Transporation and the Department of Economic Development’s ability to engage in broadband deployment, and allow political subdivisions to form broadband improvement districts.
Related Science Notes: Broadband Infrastructure Utility-Leasing; Broadband Improvement Districts; Vertical Asset Management, Public-Private Partnerships, and Funding Benchmarks for Broadband Deployment
HB 220 would require retail electric suppliers to implement a community solar pilot program for two years. Another bill (HB 225), the “Missouri Nuclear Clean Power Act”, would allow for electrical corporations to charge ratepayers for certain construction projects before they are completed.
Related Science Notes: Community Solar; Community Solar Policy Memo; Nuclear Energy
Questions? Contact Dr. Tomotaroh Granzier-Nakajima, Elections, Environment and Infrastructure Policy Fellow, tomotaroh@mostpolicyinitiative.org.
