[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6321234,"mediaKeyId","2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad","parentId",2351274,"title","Committee hears \"Railroad Modernization\" tax-credit bill aimed at short-line rail investment","audioSeconds",1237,"startMs",2043000,"endMs",3280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad&start=2043&end=3280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad/thumbnail_2043000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6321234/Missouri/Committee-hears-Railroad-Modernization-tax-credit-bill-aimed-at-short-line-rail-investment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321234-d04f761a634c0e7a9ab4e279975e9a5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774944914&Signature=D0zj-PDj5wAUCm-txl58iuVuy0ro-CE~XGRk5ACgfL5qA1puGlZnOu2EuGHLyRQImWcvICv8c0X5RGVhI1kwopR805PhMjG2YogpmW3GjtI6aWuC6lP9f4ux01I1tiJoDEisCK8wNKoxUQa07VV4AKiihpHL6ue-A9-BNP6y22djdFbO4iDmRJoXSC-6p93BqNWdaf6Jby22pUnC44BDj-6qyYjaTWTAPosUsjfjHDEiLr5QK5O~SHsD423a2bT6QNoEemhDKU2S0nTjfBRphSjfX5F3Logk9U7PnugAU5px8IMkXKo2BMCGjFcVN5BFY3B-BtgNHSpZureaD5NUlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missouri State Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Economic Development heard testimony on House Bill 669 — described in testimony as the \"Missouri Short Line Railroad and Railroad Modernization Act\" — which would create a state tax credit to help short-line railroads rebuild track and support new rail-served customers.

Representative Travis Wilson (presenting for a cosponsor) told the committee that beginning Jan. 1, 2026, eligible taxpayers could claim a nonrefundable tax credit equal to 50% for qualified railroad track expenditures or new qualified railroad track expenditures, subject to statutory caps included in the bill language. Wilson said one component limits annual per-mile credits and that an industrial-development component could be limited to $1 million per new rail-served customer. \"There is over $548,000,000 in rail funding needs,\" Wilson said in prepared remarks, and he told members the measure would help remove trucks from highways and create annual savings by improving freight logistics.

Joe Arbona, representing the Missouri and Northern Arkansas Short Line Railroad, described his railroad as a roughly 490-mile system with about 360 miles in Missouri that carries agricultural and industrial customers and said the short-line industry moves freight that otherwise would use highway trucks. \"The short line industry makes up about 30% of the nation's rail network but earns about 6% of the revenue to invest in that network,\" Arbona testified, arguing the tax credit would speed needed improvements.

Ryan Petey of Mickelson and Company, who works on financing for short lines, told members that building new customer spurs can cost roughly $3 million per mile and that maintaining track can run about $20,000 per mile per year; he emphasized the bill's design requires private investment first, with the state credit reimbursing after investment is made. Multiple economic-development and industry witnesses — including the Missouri Railroad Association, Port KC and the Missouri Economic Development Council — testified in favor of the bill, describing it as a tool to attract industry and improve safety and logistics.

Members asked about financing margins, union labor and local economic development roles; witnesses said short lines often operate with tight margins and that credits would enable projects short lines could not finance from cash flow alone. The hearing concluded with sponsor comments and no recorded committee vote in the provided transcript segment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Economic Development (HR1) February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Travis Wilson presented a bill to create a tax credit to incentivize short-line railroad track investment and new industrial rail spurs; supporters said the credit would help maintain infrastructure, reduce truck traffic and spur economic development in Missouri communities.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MO, Missouri","taxId",77693,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321239,"Committee hears bill to extend Secretary of State technology trust fund sunset to 2030",299,1470000,1769000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad&start=1470&end=1769","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad/thumbnail_1470000.jpg","/articles/6321239/Missouri/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-Secretary-of-State-technology-trust-fund-sunset-to-2030","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321239-ac00b27c61ce0ee96a472c1da41ea94f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774944914&Signature=akBSc7nk0fxS93umKKQBmJnCcdWoZmb5VKCQ~Atc9rSgqDEIeJ6nvWG1VJT~7fjLOsgdU2eCRlV9M1ZFb0yEo4UjuP46yRHf9m8f625w8qXk6QCzZeyXZgcvCp0WUZ0~tq~xhZr13Cs4W2DNZK0gNnFM6ZrSKu3YEddUgvH0xshrK9IZPdauxOQ1rfp8l5TlXrkraFjDLKzoS3JB0YC5sFs~8DjZdqV6hRGIErF9E6htse0KbgeIUyLTk7tSIpMh8ELt40XC8nr-od2ob4JS0A~sftpIdzxZxYJhjBsBMdBdf8amoBvN6S5QrTCt5YzabIGJKS8982wXmqRs5B7Xyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development heard testimony on House Bill 770, which would extend the sunset date for the Secretary of State's Technology Trust Fund by four years to 2030.

Representative Brad Bannerman, sponsor, told the committee the fund — established in the mid-1990s with a sunset provision — allows the Secretary of State's Office to pay for technology upgrades without using general revenue, supported by filing fees such as business-service filings, UCC and notary filings. \"This is an income stream for this particular fund that is outside the general revenue,\" Bannerman said.

Daniel Wilhelm, director for Missouri Secretary of State Business Services, told the committee the fee structure \"has not been adjusted since 1994\" and that the fund has been sufficient to cover the office's technology needs. Wilhelm said the fund has been used to refresh election infrastructure and purchase storage devices, and that it supports IT staff, software updates, election equipment, scanners, archives and other systems.

Committee members asked whether fees had changed and about sufficiency of revenues; Wilhelm said he would provide further detail if requested but testified that, based on current needs, he did not see a need to increase fees. No opposition testimony was recorded in the provided transcript segment.","Representative Brad Bannerman and Secretary of State staff told the House Committee on Economic Development that House Bill 770 would extend the sunset for the Secretary of State's Technology Trust Fund to 2030 and that existing filing fees have sufficed since the fund's 1994 start.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321243,"Committee hears bill to give powersports dealers ability to sever franchise agreements",652,350000,1002000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad&start=350&end=1002","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad/thumbnail_350000.jpg","/articles/6321243/Missouri/Committee-hears-bill-to-give-powersports-dealers-ability-to-sever-franchise-agreements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321243-a196f197f2bb0832ca2e5cfe9df36b03/orig.mp4?Expires=1774944914&Signature=DGlnU0j-e1JMkq5K89~UCTt6w0gJoi0gmAoe74yA6ly3EseHV8T6GXNn1nAjktDrpVIce-WCVMIAtz4cFoscFpFL9llusu7vpcHfb4cqUu5UT7c34gPoJA86UKlNbpBybrEAqJUDIe3mQz~gKamizYt2mF~B9Ay9wbzTjM7JO3aq2mL5VesUcQvBYJf93rf9NpG9fk4Cw7b5eHmVDgXihs~TSKSOmldkzCjgpR6uF54p3upSOl6zW4tlKUmMoHlJ265A~-hDqpYr55obJwZhe1XNkT268f~FdpKcHjEssKeunRR0XgCZAo-2XliX4lBYBOqejY3i452jAe15hFqoFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development heard testimony on House Bill 969, sponsored by Representative Knight, which supporters said would allow powersports dealers to sever franchise agreements in limited circumstances and obtain protections similar to other vehicle dealers.

Doug Smith, president and CEO of the Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, told the committee the bill would \"allow a franchisee to sever ties with a franchise that they feel is not living up to their potential,\" pointing to examples such as manufacturer insolvency or failures of support. \"We're very supportive of this bill,\" Smith said. Smith described the current situation as one in which manufacturers — not dealers — hold most leverage in franchise relationships.

Sam Mclater, who said he represents the powersports section of the Missouri Auto Dealers Association, described historical changes to franchise protections and told the committee the issue ‘‘needs to be fixed’’ for smaller powersports dealers whose investments can represent their life savings. Committee members asked questions about standard contract terms, repurchase obligations for inventory when a contract is terminated for cause, and whether powersports dealers operate under exclusivity rules; witnesses said contract lengths and territorial protections vary by manufacturer and that many powersports dealers may also sell multiple brands from one location.

No opponents registered in the transcript excerpt. The committee concluded the hearing after questions from members and testimony from industry representatives. The transcript shows no committee vote on HB 969 in the provided span.","House Bill 969 would allow powersports dealers (motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs) to seek to sever franchise agreements in certain circumstances, aligning their rights with those already available to automobile, RV and marine dealers, supporters told the House Committee on Economic Development.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321248,"Committee adopts House Bill 755 do-pass recommendation, 10–1",42,274000,316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad&start=274&end=316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad/thumbnail_274000.jpg","/articles/6321248/Missouri/Committee-adopts-House-Bill-755-do-pass-recommendation-101","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321248-51dc943b95ef35a5194f8c92a77ce394/orig.mp4?Expires=1774944914&Signature=QjBVJB4cCdOSJfyU9wWJ3P3rTboNrOiA4NIQf-nO3osCUbR0IP91dBg~JiU1ugDxVnPlH3ciQhNb4yCrsuSHQDOfLTkBmQnFclaIcFrulMHNMY86k6Ikd04hO9bTeb9gZIbrtKeQIUOC9y51D-G94bNuYcYp06sXL0HPd1D93LI9HnMAzwKZ8sOmnTrgqwMerO9S-n3XEUDo3vttDtA~I3ckk9slF4ztBd9exzrjTz7oweTZ7xo3i06nW0DktsbKxt6cF6Vz3ZAq~~zepphyWl~vh57e244Ux6HOGHfIHr4o6QCqebg-h9D506logbe2hZpoCjTa2z-T5EwVH-h9Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","In executive session, the Committee on Economic Development voted to adopt House Bill 755 with a recorded roll-call result of 10 yes and 1 no.

The chair moved that House Bill 755 be voted do pass. Committee members conducted a roll call following no discussion; the chair announced, \"By your votes of 10 yes and 1 no, we have adopted House Bill 755 do pass.\" The transcript records Representative Titus as the one \"No\" vote during the roll call. No amendments or additional debate on the bill were recorded in the provided transcript segment.

Committee members concluded the executive session and proceeded to open public hearings and the public session after the vote.","The Missouri House Committee on Economic Development adopted House Bill 755 with 10 yes votes and one no during executive session; the transcript records a roll call including a lone dissent from Representative Titus.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6321254,"Committee advances combined committee substitute for HB 513 by unanimous votes",0,2326000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad&start=2326&end=2326","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2351274-492de1288e8653204d14a40172c7d1ad/thumbnail_2326000.jpg","/articles/6321254/Missouri/Committee-advances-combined-committee-substitute-for-HB-513-by-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6321254-57d11dfd58ccb31316634e4047936be2/orig.mp4?Expires=1774944914&Signature=UR2U8u~3RT0xiU5JZlJTE19rrpfBq9IdQaU1uXdvDel6ctXPmL8cGk2Wg5jKHCx-NTgpQfXBaNnf0RzhmZxoW46XDwp72RC1R8oCEYhmYy-bh6f3xQUNuHYYWvPAoOZgucSWBBYp1bm~8joopu8xUXi2~3M~UAYGijjEwk1l-8kDq54c3ka7YJebxXOuTsdb3ihiQIuLAJfi3OSBLGt1eia14G4Gq54TdxgG7kUGh8Lo0z1brD9VA6sxeRfe-t4cttPMd3H9vENWlmQ6JZsdOrekHMqERM3bb2BP3C8QJnRkLQ3v8V1i9RjVKZC2sTPYYMoZOLjFkEj1TeNoJ19ZMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Economic Development voted in executive session to give a committee substitute for House Bill 513 a do-pass recommendation, then advanced the substitute as a consent item without opposition.

The committee chair moved to vote the committee substitute for House Bill 513 — which the chair described as incorporating House Bill 413 and House Bill 536 — as do pass. Committee members conducted a voice vote in executive session and then completed a roll call where the committee reported the committee substitute \"passes 9 to 0.\" The chair later presented the same committee substitute for consideration as a consent bill and the committee recorded a 11 to 0 consent vote to advance the measure.

Committee members did not request further floor debate during either vote. The committee identified the committee substitute as noncontroversial and stated it \"does not result in increased state cost or reduced revenue\" before the consent roll call.

No public testimony or amendment action on this substitute was recorded in the transcript during the executive-session portion shown.","The Missouri House Committee on Economic Development voted to give a committee substitute for House Bill 513 a do-pass recommendation in executive session and later advanced it as a consent item without opposition.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears "Railroad Modernization" tax-credit bill aimed at short-line rail investment

Committee hears bill to extend Secretary of State technology trust fund sunset to 2030

Committee hears bill to give powersports dealers ability to sever franchise agreements

Committee adopts House Bill 755 do-pass recommendation, 10–1

Committee advances combined committee substitute for HB 513 by unanimous votes