Legislative Update From Jefferson City

2018 Legislative Session

Session Begins Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Last Day To File Bills is March 1, 2018

 

HB 1444 — VEHICLE LICENSING – SPONSOR: Eggleston (WE OPPPOSE THIS BILL)

Referred To House Transportation Committee: This bill repeals the inspection requirement for non-commercial motor vehicles which is currently required in order to renew a motor vehicle license. The air quality and emission inspection requirements for St. Louis and some specified areas which are mandated by federal law are not modified. 1.17.18 Bill was scheduled for hearing. Bill not heard.

 

HB1444 Would Repeal Missouri State Safety Inspection Program

HB 1444 — VEHICLE LICENSING – SPONSOR: Eggleston (WE OPPPOSE THIS BILL)

UPDATE – 1.4.2018 Referred to House Transportation Committee

NOW is the time to continue contacting your Missouri State Representative and the House Transportation Committee.

So keep sending those emails to the House Transportation Committee and your Representative as well. Include the bill number HB1444, Your address and your experiences with the program. Below is the testimony I prepared for today. Please copy me with what you send and the response when you receive one.

 

Copy paste this link to find your State and Federal Legislators names and contact information:

http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default.aspx

 

EMAIL Transportation Committee: Rep. Bill Reiboldt is Chairman for the House Transportation Committee.

Copy Paste into your email.

Bill.Reiboldt@house.mo.gov , Becky.Ruth@house.mo.gov , Bob.Burns@house.mo.gov , Kevin.Corlew@house.mo.gov , Robert.Cornejo@house.mo.gov , Tom.Hurst@house.mo.gov , Glen.Kolkmeyer@house.mo.gov , Bart.Korman@house.mo.gov , Karla.May@house.mo.gov , Joe.Runions@house.mo.gov , Nate.Tate@house.mo.gov

Why Do They Want To Repeal The Missouri State Safety Inspection Program?

• Is it because safety inspections don’t make a difference in the safety of the vehicles on Missouri roads? States that do not have Safety Inspection Programs have twice as many fatalities due to mechanical failures than Missouri does. 50% of Missouri’s fleet is 10 years old or older.
• Is it because the cost is too much? The Safety Inspection fee is $12 every two years, this is the greatest value available. It’s like buying a cheese burger for a nickel. The cost for this should be in the $55 dollar range based on average shop labor rates and the time it takes to properly perform the safety inspection. This is the cheapest insurance program available. Isn’t it worth $12 every two years for a little piece of mind and to know your family is in a safe vehicle?
• Is it because the program is unfair? There are checks and balances if your vehicle fails inspection you have the right to get it repaired any place you would like or even do it yourself. If your vehicle fails the Missouri State Safety Inspection and you disagree with the failure, the MSHP will inspect it at no charge to you.
• Is it because the program has no value? Other than the most important value of saving lives the program also provides consumer protection to buyers of used vehicles. All vehicles must pass a Missouri State Safety Inspection upon sale and title transfer.
• Is it because the agricultural community feels it is too much trouble to inspect their harvest vehicles because of limited use.  In my opinion that is all the more reason for them to be inspected. Vehicles that are not operated in a consistent manor tend to deteriorate faster than vehicles used on a regular basis. Things such as steel brake lines rusting or damage from mice to name a few. We should never put the safety of the motoring public aside to make it easier for a particular group of citizens.
• In just the last five years there have been five bills introduced in Missouri, of them three were for Farm vehicle exemptions and two for repeal. None of them progressed to a vote. How many times are we going to waste state resources on this.

2018 HB1444 – Repeal Safety Inspections

2016 HB1768  – Exempt Farm Vehicles

2015 HB1326  – Exempt Farm vehicles & HB455 – Repeals Safety Inspections

2014 HB 2046 – Exempt Farm Vehicles

Instead of repealing the program we suggest that it be updated and improved. The first thing we should do is apply the electronic system used in the non-attainment area (St. Louis, St. Charles and Franklin Counties) to the entire state, eliminating the handwritten inspections. Removing the handwritten inspections would greatly reduce the fraud that is in the program. Every vehicle is required to have a picture of the VIN and license plate of the vehicle being inspected. This means the vehicle has to be physically present.

Instead of putting the motoring public at risk by repealing the program lets give the MSHP some tools they can use to remove shops from the program that do not provide proper inspections. The vehicles are changing at a rapid pace with new technology that is not reflected in the current program IE; ABS (Anti-Locking Brake System),TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) both will illuminate a warning light on the dash.

HB 1566 — MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION – SPONSOR: Christofanelli

HCS Reported Do Pass & referred to oversight: SB706 This bill requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, within the Department of Revenue, to offer a three year registration option for new specified vehicles. This bill is similar to HCS HB 26 (2017).

 

SB 706 – LEAD ACID BATTERY FEE EXTENDED – Sponsor Riddle

Referred to Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment Committee: Currently, a person selling lead-acid batteries at retail shall collect at the time of sale a fee of 50 cents for each lead acid battery sold, with such fee being credited to the Hazardous Waste Fund. This requirement to collect such fee is set to expire on December 31, 2018. This act extends this fee expiration to December 31, 2023.

 

HB 1262 — PERSONAL PROPERTY RELEASE TO OWNER OF ABANDONED VEHICLE

Referred House General Laws Committee: SPONSOR: Schroer

This bill requires towing companies lawfully in possession of abandoned vehicles to release all personal property from such vehicles to the true owner upon request. Documentation of such

release and an itemized list of the property should be made, and the towing company will remain liable for safe return of such property to the owner.

 

HB 1519 — SEAT BELT LAW – SPONSOR: Reiboldt

Read Second Time: This bill allows primary enforcement of the seat belt requirements under Section 307.178, RSMo. A person may be stopped or inspected if there is a reasonable belief that the stop is necessary to determine if an individual is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened seatbelt.

 

HB 2080 – Temporary License Plates – Sponsor: Baringer

Hearing Scheduled House Transportation Committee: Requires temporary license permits to be returned to the department of revenue upon issue of permanent registration plates.

 

Federal Income Tax Changes

In light of the recent passage of the federal in-come tax overhaul, I thought it would be beneficial to provide you with a brief summary of the major changes. The net effect of most of these changes is that corporations will see a significant decline in their tax rate, individual tax payers are being encouraged to take the standard deduction instead of itemizing, and the income tax brackets for filers are generally adjusted down. Below is a brief list of the changes.

 

Changing from existing federal tax law:

• The corporate income tax rate is reduced from 35% to 21%
• Changes to the income tax brackets (10% up to 37%)
• The Affordable Care Act individual man-date is removed
• The standard deduction is increased:

From $6,350 to $12,000 for single filers

From $12,700 to $24,000 for married filing jointly

• 529 education savings accounts are now eligible for K-12 spending
• Allows for expenditures up to $10,000 to private institutions

The Child Tax Credit is increased from $1,000 to $2,000: Is now refundable up to $1,400

• For single filers making up to $200,000
• For married filing jointly making up to $400,000
• Creates a $500 credit for non-child dependents (includes parents and adults with disabilities)
• Pass thru entities get up to a 20% earnings deduction that begins to phase out at $315,000
• The estate (death) tax threshold is doubled
• The $4,050 personal exemption is removed
• The tax preparation deduction is removed
• The moving expenses deduction is removed
• Alimony is no longer deductible
• Increases limits on the alternative minimum tax
• Eliminates the $4,050 personal exemption
• The state and local tax (SALT) deduction is now capped at $10,000
• Not changing from existing federal tax law:
• No changes to classroom supplies deduction
• If a teacher uses personal money to purchase supplies
• Home owners’ profit off of sale is still at the capital gains rate
• Tuition waivers for graduate students re-main tax free