With five weeks left in the legislative session, several Missouri REALTORS® priority bills are in favorable position:
CAPITAL GAINS: House Bill 594 to repeal the state capital gains tax, sponsored by Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green, has passed the Senate and awaits House consideration. Both chambers have now approved the basic matter of repealing the capital gains tax, and now the question is whether the House will accept amendments added by the Senate, or ask the Senate for a conference committee to discuss the changes. Your Missouri REALTORS® lobbying team is pressing to move the capital gains tax cut toward the governor’s desk.
BROKER AGREEMENTS: House Bill 596, which protects consumers by requiring a signed written contract with a buyer’s agent before real estate activities are performed on behalf of a client, has been assigned to the Senate Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee. A hearing is set for Tuesday for this House-passed legislation, sponsored by Rep. Chris Brown, R-Kansas City.
SECTION 8: The Senate started working on House bills on the floor last week. House Bill 595, prohibiting local governments from requiring that landlords and property owners accept Section 8 rental vouchers, is near the top of the Senate calendar of House Bills for third reading, and in good position to be taken up by this week by Sen. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles County, the Senate handler. HB595 is sponsored by Rep. Chris Brown.
MEASURES OPPOSED BY REALTORS: Legislation that would repeal the current constitutional ban on sales taxes on services and measures to weaken the citizens’ initiative petition process have made no recent meaningful progress. Missouri REALTORS® lobbyists continue to oppose these bad ideas.