TO:  MTC Members

FROM:  Dale Amick - MTC Legislative Consultant

[ CLICK HERE to view the February 16, 2006 Legislative Status Report ]

The House Appropriations Committee for Economic Development is close to finalizing a new state budget for the Department of Economic Development, including the Division of Tourism.

At the time of this writing, the committee has made no changes in Gov. Matt Blunt’s recommendation for full funding of the Division at 17.8 million dollars. This is the same level at recommended by the legislature last year. The Missouri Travel Council has actively lobbied lawmakers to keep the funding level at 17.8 million dollars.

Once approved by the committee, the proposed budget then goes to the House Budget Committee for further review before going to the full House of Representatives.

The Senate Appropriations Committee has made a preliminary overview of the governor’s proposed budget for the Division and offered no changes at that time.

Look for changes in the state’s school opening law to be a topic of discussion soon in the legislature. Efforts are underway to propose changes in this law to benefit the tourism industry. Those changes would mean more revenue for state and local governments in the future.