CITY COUNCIL ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 2ND.
The ballot is set for the five city council seats for the April 2nd municipal election. Four of the five wards are contested elections. The final list is as follows:
Ward 1: Jack Deeken (Incumbent) v. Randy Hoselton
Ward 2: Michael Lester (Incumbent)
Ward 3: Amy Brix v. Treaka Young
Ward 4: Randall Wright (Incumbent) v. Chris Lueckel
Ward 5: Mackenzie Job v. Virginia Shetler
HBA OF MISSOURI SET TO MEET IN JEFFERSON CITY
The HBA of Missouri Board and local affiliates are scheduled to meet in Jefferson City on March 28th to further discuss coordination at the state and local levels. The HBA of Missouri has been visiting over the past few months on several legislative initiatives of interest that may lead to state legislation such as a proposal for a statewide building code (St. Louis organization proposing) and potentially ways to lessen the damage of a recently passed energy code in the City of Kansas City. These initiatives on the local level could have a “chilling effect” on the residential housing industry if enacted without key amendments to the International Codes that limit the costs associated with the new requirements. Specifically, the City of Kansas City adopted the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) without any amendments in October and has since seen their housing permits fall to their lowest level in a decade. The HBA of Missouri continues to discuss ways to coordinate and potentially pursue legislation that could ensure these types of local decisions do not continue to harm our industry across the state.
ELIMINATES THE FLAWED RESIDENTIAL LENDING PROGRAM FOR CLEAN ENERGY
The House Local Government Committee convened March 5th to discuss House Bill 2756, sponsored by Representative Michael O’Donnell (R-St. Louis). House Bill 2756 revises the Property Assessment Clean Energy Act by making it inapplicable to residential property. The bill provides guidance for any residential properties approved for the program between January 1, 2022, and August 28, 2024. Testifying in support of the bill were Missouri Clean Energy District, Missouri Bankers Association, Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri, St. Louis County Assessor, Missouri Association of Realtors and Missouri Credit Union Association. No testimony in opposition. The House Committee voted on March 12th to send HB 2756 from committee by an unanimous vote, further HB 2756 was voted out of the House Rules Committee on March 25th and will be eligible for the House Floor Calendar for adoption in the weeks ahead.
In 2021, the Missouri Legislature Passed and Governor Mike Parson (R) signed into law House Bill 697 that made several reforms to the state’s Property Assessment Clean Energy (PACE) program. These reforms were led by the Missouri Commissioner of Finance and many within the housing industry after it was discovered that several out-of-state finance companies were using questionable sales techniques, and the program lacked any regulatory oversight by the state. The reforms from SB 697 required the Division of Finance to conduct examinations of the loans made and for the lenders to provide key disclosure to their customers. Since the passage of HB 697, no more PACE lenders operate in the state of Missouri on residential properties. PACE lending still occurs on commercial projects and this legislation would not impact those arrangements.
REGISTERED STATE INTERIOR DESIGNERS SEEKING STATE SEAL
On March 14th, the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee met and conducted a hearing on SB 1325, sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivette). The bill modifies the licensing of registered interior designers by defining the practice along with establishing a personal seal for such designers. The personal seals shall be prescribed by the Division of Professional Registration. SB 1325 provides that a registered interior designer shall perform interior design services only when he or she is qualified by education, training, and experience in the specific technical areas involved. Also, the bill does not prevent or restrict persons from engaging in professional services limited to kitchen and bathroom design or the specification of products for such rooms in noncommercial settings. Sen. McCreery said she had a very productive meeting on Tuesday with architects and interior designers, and that public health, safety, and health care are why she introduced the bill. Testifying in favor of the bill were two registered interior designers from Missouri, saying they and their colleagues are qualified by education to protect the health of the public, to serve the public, and to provide safe places. The Council for Interior Design Qualification also testified and discussed exam requirements and noted that the governor of Nebraska recently signed similar legislation. Testifying in opposition were four licensed architects, along with the senior plan reviewer for the city of Columbia, the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, and Associated General Contractors of Missouri, regarding questions related to construction supervision with engineering partners and structural engineers and saying the bill should be fully vetted with building code officials. The Missouri Society of Professional Land Surveyors provided information only as testimony.
UPDATE TO STATE SEWAGE REGULATIONS
Senator Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) appeared before the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and the Environment Committee on March 12th to present SB 1283. The bill is the Senate companion to HB 2083, sponsored by Representative Kurtis Gregory (R-Marshall). Currently, a state standard for the location, size of sewage tanks, and length of lateral lines is based partially on the percolation or permeability rate of the soil, as well as other specified factors. This bill modifies this provision to state that the standard is based partially on soil properties and establishes the costs associated with testing. The MO Public Health Excellence supported the bill. A state public advocate opposed the bill.
DEFINING “WATERS OF THE STATE”
The Senate Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources Committee met on March 5th to discuss SB 981, Rusty Black (R-Chillicothe). The bill modifies the definition of “waters of the state” to include various surface and subsurface waters that are adjacent or connected to relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water. The sponsor stated his intent with the legislation is to provide clarity on the definition of waters of the state and simply codify into state law the Sackett v. EPA court decision. During the bill presentation, the sponsor highlighted he is still working with interested parties to provide further clarity on definitions. During committee discussion, Senator Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) expressed concern with the bill and stated the language as drafted removes current ground water protections. The MO Pork Association, MO Cattlemen’s Association, MO Farm Bureau, and the MO Soybean Association supported the bill and advocated the need to provide additional protection for property owners. The Conservation Federation, Jeffery Law Group, Sierra Club, MO Stream Team Coalition, Ike Skelton the Camden County Commissioner, MO Rural Crisis Center, MO Parks Association, and farmers throughout MO opposed the bill stating aligning our laws with the federal government by default could provide the federal government regulatory authority and potentially violate the supremacy clause. This bill is likely to see some modifications as it moves forward through the process.