Change to property tax freeze for Missouri seniors among 9 bills signed into law

(The Center Square) – A bill changing a requirement for property tax relief for seniors was one of nine signed into law by Missouri Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday.

Last year, Parson signed Senate Bill 190 into law to freeze property taxes for those eligible for Social Security retirement benefits. However, it soon became apparent the law excluded those who aren’t eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, such as teachers who opt out of the federal benefit for a pension plan.

This year, the legislature changed the requirement so eligible taxpayers 62 years of age or older can qualify. Senate Bill 756 , sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, was one of four bills Parson signed during a morning session.

Parson highlighted Senate Bill 754 , a 69-page omnibus public safety bill also sponsored by Luetkemeyer. The bill contains “Blair’s Law,” named after a child in Kansas City who was killed by celebratory gunfire. It states the unlawful discharge or reckless discharge of a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality is guilty of a misdemeanor for the first offense and felonies for the second and third offense. The regulation was part of an omnibus crime bill Parson vetoed last year due to technical problems with other parts of the bill.

"We are especially proud to finally get Blair's Law across the finish line once and for all,” Parson said in a statement. “Unrelated provisions forced our hand in preventing passage last year, but this year, we celebrate a yearslong effort by Blair's family and friends to help ensure such a tragedy doesn't happen again."

Other bills signed into law were:

House Bill 2057: Streaming providers, like Netflix, are exempt from paying separate local use fees in addition to those already levied to video services.

Senate Bill 894: Develops business promotion through a series of acts.

House Bill 1912: Clarifies income tax credits for s-corporations.

Senate Bill 872: Changes the taxation of utility infrastructure, including an income tax deduction for federal broadband grants.

House Bill 2134/1956 : Closes loopholes in state law regarding industrial waste byproducts on agricultural land.

House Bill 2062: The omnibus bill on real property includes restricting homeowners associations from prohibiting backyard chicken flocks and prohibiting local governments from requiring churches and nonprofit organizations to install electric vehicle charging stations. It also strengthens the rights of personal property owners against squatters.

Senate Bill 895: Prohibits any county, municipality or political subdivision from imposing or enforcing a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless specifically authorized by federal or state law.

“Together, these bills represent our efforts to ensure a cleaner environment, a more simple and fair tax code, and, above all, our commitment to standing with Missourians in safeguarding their personal property rights against squatters and those whose aim to take what others have worked hard to achieve,” Parson said.