The Missouri Legislature this week began in earnest considering bills in various committees as action picked up at the Capitol. 

The various House Appropriation Committees have begun work on drafting a state budget blueprint for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. Most of the committees heard testimony from department directors, who outlined the governor’s recommendations for the various state agencies. 

The House Appropriations Committee for Economic Development began work on the budget for the Department of Economic Development. They were given a brief overview of the proposed budget for the Division of Tourism offered by the governor. That proposed budget is the same as the current year’s division budget, meaning the division is one of the few state agencies not receiving a funding cut by the governor in his budget proposal.  

Legislation (SB 981) offered by Sen. Carl Vogel of Jefferson City that would  have allowed those organizations exempt from state sales tax also to be exempt from paying  hotel and guest taxes appears dead for this session. In discussions with Sen. Vogel, the Missouri Travel Council outlined the harm that could be done by this legislation and the high cost to the tourism and travel industry. Sen. Vogel indicated his intent was not to do that and the result seems to be that the legislation will not  be pursued further in its original form. 

A public hearing on legislation (SB 735) to clarify state regulation of historic markers was held before the Senate Agriculture Committee this week.

CLICK HERE to download the Tourism Legislative Status Report

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