Missouri REALTORS®,
I’ll lead with good news. Last week, Senator Bernskoetter agreed to add language from SB 435 (LLC) and SB 473 (Advertising) to HB 476 (military reciprocity). The last is out of the Senate Committee on Professional Registration so as soon as the House and Senate begin cooperating again, it should go on the calendar. Yes, occasionally groups within both houses become irritated with the other body. Things get slowed down which generally begins after Easter because it’s more dramatic due to only a few weeks left of session and so on. This conflict is nothing new and has been happening as long as I’ve been there. Things generally work out, so no need to get worried just yet. That’s what I’m here for.
There may be some possibility of movement on HB 275 (MONA). Last Thursday, I was asked to discuss the issue with some committee members to see if they would agree to a hearing. More to come next week.
I’ve also received text and emails about HB 248, highlighting the amendment added to the bill that would cut all current assessed value of residential property by 20%. This move could devastate school districts, especially those with little to no commercial or industrial tax base. It also contains language about disclosing sales prices but not making it public. No matter the fact, that’s a job for the Senate to handle but the bill is likely dead. The issue we are having with the sales price disclosure is nearly one-half of the House members are from jurisdictions with sales price disclosure or jurisdictions that want sales price disclosure and don’t think it is a problem.
More to come later this week.
Sam Licklider
Chief Lobbyist, Missouri REALTORS®