Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed 19 bills into law at a bill-signing ceremony Thursday. Six of the bills were related to public safety, including one that will levy harsher punishments against intoxicated drivers. He also signed six economic development bills and six agriculture and rural community-related bills, according to a news release from Kehoe's office.
Kehoe also signed a bill establishing an oversight commission for appeals in high school athletics. The bill gives the new commission a say in appeals of Missouri High School Activities Association decisions.
Additional bill signings are scheduled to take place through Tuesday, according to Kehoe's office.
Public safety
Driving while intoxicated
House Bill 1740 establishes Bentley and Mason's Law, which makes it so intoxicated drivers who cause the death of a child's parent or guardian will take on long-term financial responsibility.
The bill also modifies provisions relating to DWI offenses, enhancing certain penalties for those with DWIs to align with sentencing standards and clarifying rules surrounding probation and parole for DWI offenders who caused a death. For some fatal DWI convictions, the bill also requires first-time offenders to serve at least five years in prison and repeat offenders to serve at least 10 years without probation or parole.
Age verification on adult websites
House Bill 1839 requires age verification on adult websites that contain sexual material that is harmful to minors, according to the news release.
Under the bill, the state Attorney General can enforce the new requirements by imposing civil penalties on websites that do not comply.
Military affairs
House Bill 2593 alters certain provisions about the rulemaking process and eligibility requirements to receive grants from the Missouri Military Relief Fund.
The bill establishes counterdrug and homeland response force ribbons, as well as medallions to recognize the armed forces.
Also included in the bill is the Cybersecurity Mission Act, which allows the Missouri National Guard to be part of certain agreements and render cybersecurity aid by request of the Department of Public Safety director.
Other public safety bills
Senate Bill 1421 directs the Missouri Division of Fire Safety to update and standardize its policies for state-inspected facilities, including childcare facilities.
The bill also modifies requirements relating to drug trafficking charges.
Senate Bill 975 updates certain provisions pertaining to ambulance districts, and Senate Bill 1572 modifies provisions about the public employee retirement system.
"The legislation I signed today strengthens the laws that protect our families, supports the men and women who serve our country and communities, and gives our state stronger tools to keep dangerous criminals off our streets," Kehoe said in the news release. "Public safety will always be this administration’s top priority."
Economic development
Senate Bill 903 expands the offense of purposely damaging or tampering with critical telecommunications infrastructure. The bill is designed to protect against copper and fiber being stolen from construction sites, according to the news release.
Senate Bill 1576 establishes the Missouri Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Economic Development. The commission's purpose is to boost trade, investment, educational and cultural partnerships between Missouri and Ireland, according to the release.
House Bill 2636 modifies provisions relating to transactions involving real estate, and Senate Bill 834 creates provisions about mortgage modifications.
Senate Bill 959 establishes the Missouri Geospatial Advisory Council.
Senate Bill 1000 makes updates to the tourism and supplemental revenue fund.
"The legislation signed today reflects our commitment to creating new opportunities for Missouri families, businesses, and communities," Kehoe said in a news release. "From strengthening critical infrastructure and supporting key industries to expanding international partnerships and investing in economic growth, these bills will help keep Missouri moving forward. I appreciate the General Assembly for working with us to deliver results for Missourians."
Agriculture and rural communities
Tax credits
Senate Bill 913 extends and creates various tax credits that pertain to energy, infrastructure and agriculture.
Land surveys
Senate Bill 938 modifies land survey recording fees to match the cost of upkeeping Missouri's land survey program while also increasing allocation to the Missouri Land Survey Fund. The bill also updates the county recorder fee.
Under the bill, the Missouri Department of Agriculture is granted rulemaking ability relating to reproduction and sales fees for maps, plats, reports and records within the state.
Air quality regulation
Senate Bill 1033 creates an exemption from vehicle emission inspections for motor vehicles over 10 years old that are registered as local, commercial farm vehicles or are otherwise recognized as a farm vehicle under federal law.
The bill also updates state permitting regulations for cotton gins.
Other agriculture and rural area bills
Senate Bill 953 provides clarification to existing Missouri Clean Water Law requirements relating to agricultural nonpoint source exemptions.
House Bill 2397 updates provisions to Missouri Department of Natural Resources programs.
Senate Bill 1629 modifies provisions about underground facilities.
“Easing the regulatory burden on our agriculture community and farm families is not only the right thing to do, it’s critical to ensuring Missouri’s agriculture industry continues to thrive,” Kehoe said in the news release. “Our administration will continue to work with the General Assembly to support Missouri's farmers in doing what they do best – feeding, fueling, and clothing the world.”
High school athletics oversight commission
Senate Bill 863 creates the Interscholastic Athletic Oversight Commission within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It will have a five-member board, which will be appointed by Kehoe.
The commission will be responsible for hearing appeals relating to contest procedures and student transfer eligibility and making final, binding decisions.
“As I said in my State of the State address, unelected bureaucrats cannot act like kings, and the decisions of the Missouri State High School Activities Association should be held to a higher standard of oversight," Kehoe said in a news release. "This Commission will allow for a more transparent appeals process and ensure the taxpayers who fund MSHSAA have a say in the decisions affecting students and their futures."