Gov. Kehoe signs several bills into law following special session
Nia Hinson
COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe put pen to paper Saturday, signing several bills into law aimed at providing disaster relief, property tax relief, economic development and business retention.
The governor signed Senate Bills 1, 3, and 4, according to a Saturday afternoon press release. Senate Bill 1 provides $50 million in funding for the University of Missouri’s Research Reactor. It also provides money to the Department of Economic Development for the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
The bill will also now provide non-general revenue funding for the following projects across the state:
$55 million to the Department of Agriculture (MDA) for new stalling barns at the Missouri State Fair;
$13.25 million to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for State Parks capital improvements;
$20.6 million to the Department of Conservation (MDC) for conservation projects across the state;
$800,000 to DPS for Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Troop A headquarters improvements;
$12.7 million to the Office of Administration (OA) for a new Troop E crime lab;
$35 million to OA for national guard facilities;
$48.1 million to the Department of Mental Health (DMH) for the new Kansas City region 200-bed mental health hospital;
$2.1 million to OA for Supreme Court building improvements.
Senate Bill 3 aims to try and incentivize Kansas City sports teams to stay in the state. It includes the Show Me Sports Investment Act, which would give the state’s professional sports teams access to state funding for stadium projects.
However, certain requirements have to be met.
Senate Bill 4 speeds up the Missouri housing trust fund for emergency aid.
According to Saturday’s release, Kehoe believes the bills show Missouri is “committed to taking care of our own” and staying competitive.
“Without action, thousands of Missourians would have been left without much-needed support, and the state would risk losing jobs and economic development opportunities that are key drivers for growth—not just for Kansas City, but for our entire state,” Kehoe said.