missouri legislature

A bill for home brewers one of seven bills signed by Nixon

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:55:20 +0000

Governor Jay Nixon (D) Wednesday signed eight bills into law that were passed this year by Missouri lawmakers.

One of them will be of special interest to beer lovers: Senate Bill 121 includes language allowing beer created by home brewers to be sampled and served free of charge at beer festivals. That provision also includes an emergency clause, meaning it takes effect immediately, just in time for the annual St.

Mo. House to study its own operations

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:43:34 +0000

The Missouri House is creating a committee to study itself.

House Speaker Tim Jones says he has formed a new committee to examine the operations of the House of Representatives and recommend potential changes to the way it conducts business.

The panel will have a long name. It’s called the Interim House Committee on Legislative Institutional Infrastructure and Process. It will be led by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, a Republican from St. Louis County.

Nixon weighs gun legislation

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:30:13 +0000

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is deciding whether to sign recently passed legislation that would bolster gun rights.

The legislature approved measures that would tackle federal gun laws, allow certain trained school personnel to carry a concealed weapon and change the process for issuing concealed gun permits.

Nixon has until mid-July to sign the bills, veto them or allow them to take effect without his signature.

Various Mo. state fees may increase

Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:26:48 +0000

Missouri's Republican-led Legislature put a priority on cutting taxes this year. But the same lawmakers who passed a $700 million income tax cut also approved numerous little-known fee increases.

One of those measures could increase fees on driver's licenses and vehicle registrations, costing Missourians almost $22 million annually. Another bill would impose fees on mailed-in speeding traffic tickets, affecting an estimated 170,000 cases annually.

Mo. lawmakers to continue work during interim session

Marshall Griffin — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:39:25 +0000

Missouri lawmakers will continue working on several issues after last month’s end of the 2013 regular session. House Speaker Tim Jones has announced the formation of an interim committee to examine the state’s election laws. It’s being chaired by fellow Republican Sue Entlicher, who formerly served as Clerk of Polk County:

How the income-tax issue is about more than Missouri and its governor

Maria Altman and Maria Altman — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:07:27 +0000

Governor Jay Nixon vetoed legislation Wednesday that would have cut Missouri’s income tax rates for the first time in 90 years.

The Republican-led General Assembly passed the bill in large part pointing to neighboring Kansas which already has slashed its personal and corporate income taxes.

But as St.

Gov. Nixon vetoes income tax bill, Republicans consider override

Associated Press and Marshall Griffin — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 21:49:48 +0000

Some Republican lawmakers are vowing to try to override Gov. Jay Nixon's veto of a bill that reduced income taxes. Shortly after the Democratic governor rejected the bill today, the leading sponsors of the legislation said they would attempt to get the two-thirds vote needed to override his veto when the Legislature convenes in September.

Republicans hold enough seats in the House in Senate to override Nixon’s veto without any Democratic support. They would have to hold all of the GOP members together in the House and could afford to have only one Republican defect in the Senate.

Bill could give relief to public defenders - if Gov. Nixon signs

Associated Press — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:29:04 +0000

Legislation that could ease the caseload of Missouri public defenders is being considered by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The measure would allow the public defender system to ask the presiding judge of a judicial circuit for a conference to discuss caseload issues. The judge could decide whether to grant relief in a particular case.

Nixon: Tax cut bill causes an accidental medicine tax

Chris McDaniel — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:17:45 +0000

Updated 5:02 p.m. May 31

Newly released emails show that Gov. Jay Nixon's administration and legislative bill drafters each had a role in crafting an apparently inadvertent tax increase on prescription medications.

The prescription tax hike is included in a bill passed by the Legislature that cuts the state's income tax.

Mo. legislature institutes interim committee on Medicaid reform

Teddy Nykiel — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:10:56 +0000