Many Things Still in Play in the Final Hours of the Session

My House Bills Truly Agreed and Finally Passed as Part of Senate Bills

HB155 - Establishes provisions relating to workplace retirement savings plans.

Show-Me MyRetirement Savings Program, which is a multiple-employer retirement savings plan that would allow small employers to offer their employers an affordable 401(k) option to help more working Missourians take the personal responsibility to take charge of their retirement finances. The language for the bill was passed as part of two retirement savings omnibus bills, Senate Bill 75 and Senate Bill 20. Senate Bill 75 (SB 75) was passed on Tuesday and Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) passed on Friday. Both are now going to the Governor’s desk.

My House Bill 583 (HB583), Establishes the Entertainment Industry Jobs Act was included in Senate Bill 94 (SB 94) and it was passed on Monday and is going to the Governor’s Desk. This bill provides tax credits to music entertainers who spend money in Missouri during their pre-tour rehearsal session and perform at least two shows in Missouri. Our geographic location will give us a huge advantage in drawing these high paying jobs and revenue generating events to our state.

My House Bill 156 (HB156), Modifies provisions relating to the income tax exemption for Social Security benefits was included in Senate Bill 190 (SB 190) and is going to the Governor’s Desk. This tax should have never been put in place. We now join 39 other states who do not tax Social Security benefits at all.

Finally, my House Bill 415 (HB415) was passed on Thursday evening as part of Senate Bill 398 (SB398). This law will require auto dealers to collect and remit sales tax proceeds at the time of sale. This process will be put in place over time but the end goal is the elimination of the temp tag abuse that is rampant in our area.

Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed bills link, https://www.house.mo.gov/LegislationSP.aspx?focusedID=Bill%20List

Senate Bill 75 Going to the Governor’s Desk

As mentioned above my HB 155 was included in SB 75 but there were several additional pieces included in the bill. Here’s a list of them:

HCS/SS/SB 75 - This act modifies provisions relating to retirement systems.

MPERS: TERMS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (SECTION 104.160)

This act provides that the terms of those active employee members serving on the Board of Trustees of the Missouri Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol Employees' Retirement System on August 28, 2026, shall continue until June 30, 2028. The terms of the active employee members shall be four years after June 30, 2028.

This provision is identical to SB 20 (2023), in the perfected HCS/HB 155 (2023), in HCS/HB 222 (2023), in HCS/HB 257 (2023), in HCS/HB 496 (2023), HB 923 (2023), in the perfected HCS/HB 934 (2023), SB 1053 (2022), HCS/HB 1984 (2022), and in HCS/HB 2799 (2022) and is substantially similar to a provision in SB 618 (2021), HCB 1 (2021), HB 1418 (2021), and HB 2165 (2020).

MOSERS: WORKING AFTER RETIREMENT AS LEGISLATOR OR ELECTED OFFICIAL (SECTIONS 104.380 AND 104.1039)

Currently, if a retired member of the Missouri State Employees Retirement System ("MOSERS") is elected or appointed to any state office or is employed by a department in a benefit-eligible position, the member shall not receive an annuity nor accrue annual benefit increases or cost-of-living adjustments for any month or part of a month for which the member serves as an officer or employee. This act excludes members of the General Assembly and an elected state official holding an elective state office from such provisions.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 155 (2023), in HCS/HB 222 (2023), in the perfected HCS/HB 934 (2023), and HB 2684 (2022).

PSRS: RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE MULTIPLIER (SECTION 169.070)

Current law provides that between July 1, 2001, and July 1, 2014, a member of Public School Retirement System of Missouri ("PSRS") with thirty-one years or more of service, regardless of age, be provided a retirement allowance with a multiplier of 2.55% of the member's final average salary for each year of the membership service. This act modifies this provision by removing the expiration date and by providing that a member with thirty-two years or more of service may receive such retirement allowance.

This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected HCS/HB 155 (2023), in the perfected SB 247 (2023), in HCS/HB 257 (2023), in HB 495 (2023), in HCS/HB 496 (2023), in HCS/HB 497 (2023), HB 905 (2023), in the perfected HCS/HB 934 (2023), HCS/HB 2161 (2022), HB 2430 (2022), in HCS/HB 2799 (2022), HCS/HB 811 (2021), and HCS/HB 828 (2021), and is similar to HB 1298 (2020), HB 69 (2019), HB 2633 (2018), HCS/HBs 1780 & 1420 (2016), SB 219 (2015), HCS/HB 478 (2015), and a provision in HCS/SCS/SB 172 (2015).

PSRS/PEERS: WORKING AFTER RETIREMENT (SECTIONS 169.560 & 169.596)

Currently, any teacher retired from Public School Retirement System of Missouri ("PSRS") can be employed in a position covered under the Public Education Employee Retirement System of Missouri ("PEERS") without stopping their retirement benefit. Such teachers may earn up to 60% of the minimum teacher's salary as set forth in law, but will not contribute to either retirement system nor earn creditable service. Beginning on August 28, 2023, and ending on June 30, 2028, this act allows such teachers to earn up to 133% of the annual earnings limit applicable to a Social Security recipient before the calendar year of attainment of full retirement age under federal regulations. After June 30, 2028, such teachers may earn up to the annual earnings limit applicable to a Social Security recipient before the calendar year of attainment of full retirement age. Additionally, this act shall not apply to retired members currently receiving benefits who are employed as a full-time teacher of certain state agencies and institutions.

Additionally, current law provides that a retired teacher or a retired non-certificated employee who is receiving a retirement benefit from PSRS/PEERS is allowed to work full-time for up to two years for a PSRS/PEERS-covered school district if there is a shortage of certified teachers or non-certificated employees. This act allows such employees to work full-time up to four years for such districts. Furthermore, the number of retired teachers that currently may teach in a school district with a critical shortage shall not exceed, at any one time, the lesser of 10% of the teacher staff for that school district, or five teachers. This act provides that the total number of retired teachers shall not exceed, at any one time, the greater of 1% of the total of teacher and non-certified staff for that school district, or five teachers.

These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 75 (2023) and in the perfected SB 247 (2023), is substantially similar to provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 155 (2023), in HCS/HB 257 (2023), in HCS/HB 496 (2023), in HCS/HB 497 (2023), and in the perfected HCS/HB 934 (2023), and is similar to provisions in HB 495 (2023), in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 681 & 662 (2022), in HCS/SS#2/SB 997 (2022), HCS/HB 1753 (2022), in HB 1881 (2022), HB 2114 (2022), SCS/HCS/HB 2304 (2022), HB 2787 (2022), in HCS/HB 2799 (2022), in HCS/HB 811 (2021), in HB 812 (2021), in HB 2291 (2020), and in HB 2460 (2020).

PSRS/PEERS: SAME-SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP POP-UP PROVISIONS (SECTIONS 169.141 & 169.715)

Under current law, a member of PSRS or PEERS with twenty-five or more years of creditable service, or who is at least age fifty-five with five or more years of creditable service, may elect in an application for retirement to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in reduced monthly payments for life during retirement.

This act provides that a member who elected to receive reduced monthly payments on or before September 1, 2015, with his or her same-sex domestic partner as the nominated beneficiary may have the retirement allowance increased to the amount he or she would have received if he or she had not elected to receive reduced payments. The member shall execute an affidavit, along with any supporting information and documentation required by the Board of Trustees, attesting to the existence of the domestic partnership at the time of the nomination and that the partnership has since ended. The nominated beneficiary is required to consent to the removal and disclaim all rights to future benefits in writing, or the parties must obtain a court order or judgment after September 1, 2023, removing the nominated beneficiary. If the member and beneficiary were legally married at the time of retirement or thereafter, the marriage is required to be dissolved, and the dissolution decree shall provide for the sole retention of the allowance by the member.

A member who elected to receive reduced monthly payments on or before September 1, 2015, with his or her same-sex domestic partner as the nominated beneficiary may nominate a successor beneficiary. If the former nominated partner precedes the member in death, the member shall execute an affidavit attesting to the existence of the partnership at the time of the former nomination. Otherwise, the member shall execute an affidavit, along with any supporting information and documentation required by the Board of Trustees, attesting to the existence of the domestic partnership at the time of the nomination and that the partnership has since ended, and the nominated beneficiary is required to consent to the removal and disclaim all rights to future benefits in writing or the parties must obtain a court order or judgment after September 1, 2023, removing the nominated beneficiary. If the member and beneficiary were legally married at the time of retirement or thereafter, the marriage is required to be dissolved, and the dissolution decree shall provide for the sole retention of the allowance by the member. Any nomination of a successor beneficiary shall occur within one year of September 1, 2023, or within one year of marriage, whichever is later.

These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected SB 247 (2023), SB 339 (2023), and SB 712 (2022), and are substantially similar to SB 608 (2021).

Nonprofit Grant Program Final Guidelines Now Available

The Department of Economic Development (DED) has posted final guidelines for its Nonprofit Grant Program. The program is funded via the State of Missouri’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This program will invest $7.5 million to support 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) nonprofits serving disadvantaged, vulnerable, or at-risk populations that have experienced negative economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applications are expected to open May 31 at 10 a.m. CST. Complete information is also available on?DED's ARPA Business and Community Development webpage

Landmarks Downtown St. Louis Walking Tours:??History, Culture, Architecture and Exercise: What could be better on a Saturday morning?

Explore the fascinating history, culture and architectural legacy of Downtown St. Louis from the City’s founding through its current development. Two tours on Saturdays, 9:00 to 11:30 am, April 1 through October 28.

Tours are limited to 15 people and cover about two miles at a leisurely pace. Tickets are $15 (children under 12 are free). Purchase tickets at?LandmarksTours-STL.org

EAST TOUR:?Explore the architectural legacy of the heart of the city. From the bustling riverfront of the French American entrepreneurs to the skyscrapers of the 20th century, you’ll find famous architectural and engineering marvels, including these highlights: Old Courthouse | Old Cathedral | Eads Bridge | Gateway Arch | Old Post Office | Wainwright Building

WEST TOUR:?St. Louis’ grandest public buildings are a testament to the City’s ambitions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore their history, architectural significance and how they changed the area from blighted to monumental, including these highlights: Union Station | Stifel Theatre | Central Library | City Hall | Campbell House | Soldiers Memorial

As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at [email protected], 573-751-3762 or my office is located on the 4th floor of the Capitol in room 411A.

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