Missouri REALTORS®,
With the 2nd Regular Session of the 101st General Assembly underway, I am excited to share our first Missouri REALTOR® Party Capitol Update of the year. These updates are developed to keep you informed on what is taking place in the General Assembly.
Before I highlight our 2022 legislative priorities, I would like to discuss several topics stemming from our recent Winter Business Conference and issues currently being discussed at the Capitol. Likely the most significant issue to arise from the Winter Business Conference, in a legislative sense, was the decision to oppose changes to the Initiative Petition process, commonly referred to at the Capitol as IP Reform. In reviewing the legislation filed, it is evident the word “reform” is taken as a synonym for “significantly limit.”
Last week, I had my first opportunity to testify before the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee on this issue. My testimony was reasonably concise; all House Join Resolution bills make it significantly more challenging to place an issue on the ballot. They also make it much more difficult once an issue is on the ballot to achieve sufficient votes to pass the subject. Generally, the narrative has been that it’s too easy to change the Missouri Constitution, which we know is inaccurate. Missouri REALTORS® has led two recent Constitutional changes. It is a demanding and challenging process that requires a committed and well-run organization with ample finances. The proposed modifications would likely make it impossible to pass the prohibition on sales taxes on services that the association spearheaded in 2016.
Regarding real estate assessments, in mid-January, Jason Zamkus and I had lunch with a Missouri State Tax Commission member and staff member. The commission is becoming concerned about the potential of uneven real estate assessments in the state and problems that it could create in future years. They asked if there was any room for compromise in our opposition to state-wide sales price disclosure.
The Commission member outlined several proposals, ranging from the possibility of a constitutional amendment allowing the information to be viewed only by the assessor, to a statute covering sales price disclosures, to a wide-open sales price disclosure available to anyone. The concern with statutory sales price disclosure, even one that attempts to limit the information to only a county official, is the potential of a court challenge and the data being made available to everyone. Putting the issue in the constitution limits the concern but only by a little.
An additional topic that is keeping everyone on their heels is conversation related to congressional redistricting. The House and Senate are under a lot of stress due to their need to complete congressional redistricting in time for the February 22 filing deadline. A proposed redistricting map, produced in the House, indicates districts that are likely to end up as six republicans and two democrats. This means it is unlikely there will be problems as opposed to if it were a 7-1 (republicans to democrats) set of maps. The Senate is currently having earnest discussions about the map.
In way of education, significant federal dollars are available for education, but they must be appropriated before February 24 or revert to the Feds. Due to work-related resignations, the Republican Caucus in the House is below the 109 member thresholds for a veto-proof majority, which has some people upset. Note, it’s not nearly as significant when the Governor is the same party as the Majority Caucus. Still, I expect it’s the principle of the issue at hand. There is considerable tension between the conservative caucus and the leadership in the Senate, which will likely be worked out. However, time will tell.
Onto our 2022 legislative priorities. This year, Missouri REALTORS® is focusing on four main topics: Eviction Moratoriums, LIHTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credits), removing Restrictive Covenants, and MONA (Missouri Non-Discrimination Act). As the session begins to heat up, I will share updates on each. Until that time, you can learn more about each of these priorities by visiting our REALTOR® Days & Legislative Resources page.
And lastly, REALTOR® Days. REALTOR® Days are small group visits to the Capitol every Tuesday and Wednesday during the state legislative session. These visits begin this week and take place through April. It’s an opportunity for REALTORS® and association leaders, along with their local leadership academies and governmental affairs committees, to come together and communicate with elected officials. Legislators hear directly from you, their constituents, about issues important to the real estate industry and how legislation will impact their district.
Be sure to check with your Local Board/Association or Regional Advocacy Coordinator to schedule or join your REALTOR® Day’s event. We encourage you to attend. Your voice matters!
Sincerely,
Sam Licklider
Chief Lobbyist, Missouri REALTORS®