JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) – The Missouri Legislature ended its session on Friday 2021 with the passage of law giving businesses and healthcare providers legal protection from COVID-19 liability claims. Here's a look at these and other bills that passed during the 2021 session.
ALCOHOL SALE
Allows restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages to take away and extends alcoholic beverages opening hours on Sundays to match other days of the week. SB 126
BUDGET
A $ 35 billion budget for the next fiscal year will increase funding for public schools, universities, hospitals, and nursing homes, among others. However, it does not include money to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income adults, as voted for by voters last year. HB 1 – HB 13
PERSONNEL SCHOOLS
Requires unlicensed childcare centers to report the state of their existence and conduct background checks on staff, contractors and volunteers. HB 557
CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS
Prohibits local health contracts approved in an emergency from imposing restrictions on businesses, churches, schools and congregations for more than 30 days unless extended by the local board of directors. Prohibits cities and counties from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations to use transportation systems or public accommodation. SB 271 calls on cities and districts to grant property tax breaks to companies affected by restrictive orders, and creates sales tax breaks for cinemas and concert halls. SB 226
CORAN VIRUS LIABILITY
Protects businesses, healthcare providers, and churches from liability lawsuits for COVID-19 exposure, unless the plaintiffs may prove to be reckless or willful misconduct. SB 51
DRUG DATABASE
Authorizes a nationwide database to provide doctors and pharmacists with a patient's prescription history for controlled substances such as opioid pain relievers and some anti-anxiety drugs. SB 63
GAS TAX
Gradually increases the state's 17-cents-per-gallon gas tax to 29.5 cents over a five-year period, starting with a 2.5 cents hike on Oct. 1. Allows drivers to submit gas receipts for a tax refund. SB 262
GUNS
Prohibits enforcement of federal gun laws by local police. Police departments that knowingly enforce federal gun laws could be sued and fined. HB 85
HIGHER EDUCATION
Allows college athletes to make money off of autographs, sponsorships, and other uses of their name, likeness, and image. Remove a limit on annual tuition fee increases and allow universities and colleges to charge different tuition fees for different types of courses. HB 297
LOTTERY WINNER
Keeps the identity of lottery winners secret unless they request their names be published. HB 402
POLICE
Limits when police can use chokeholds and requires more force reporting to police. Allows prosecutors to file lawsuits to overturn previous convictions if they believe the person was innocent or wrongly convicted. SB 53 Enables lawsuits against cities where the funding of the policy has been cut by more than 12% compared to other departments over a period of five years. Prohibits parole or probation for anyone who commits dangerous crimes against the police, fire brigade, or emergency medical services. SB 26
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Excludes public access to government records, including the email addresses and phone numbers of people who receive electronic newsletters or periodic reports. HB 362
TAX CHANGES
Calls on non-governmental retailers to apply taxes on sales to people in Missouri starting in 2023. Creates a state tax credit for low-income families starting in 2023 and lowers the state individual income tax rate by a tenth of a percentage point in 2024. SB 153
SCHOOL CHOICE
Creates a government tax credit for donors to nonprofits that provide scholarships that can be used for teaching at private K-12 schools and other school-related expenses. Applies only to students in some of Missouri's largest counties or cities with populations greater than 30,000. HB 349 Limits the program to 10 nonprofits, capping it at $ 25 million in the first year and $ 50 million when fully implemented. SB 86
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