Committee advances bill to let two counties authorize sales tax for proposed lake; omnibus amendments added

A House committee approved House Bill 149 with a house committee substitute that includes language to renew statutory authority for a joint or separate county sales-tax election to fund a proposed lake and recreation project that could affect both Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties.

The bill sponsor (identified in committee as the representative for District 146 of Cape Girardeau County) said the language revives an authorization that had been in state statute more than 25 years ago and was requested by county commissioners. “This bill that we're trying to renew here, House Bill 149… was already in state statute 25 plus years ago. And, I've been asked by the county commissioners of both counties to renew this language with a couple modifications,” the sponsor said.

The sponsor explained why the joint measure may be necessary: if the proposed reservoir site floods into neighboring Bollinger County, both counties would need authority to hold a tax election to fund the project. The sponsor described a possible sales tax rate for the project and said the measure would leave the ultimate decision to voters. “This project is targeting possibly a 1% sales tax,” the sponsor said, and the sponsor also acknowledged uncertainty in the bill text as presented: “It says 1%. It can't go over that and I think I I don't have in front of me. It could be up to 1% or it may be 1%. I don't know.”

Members asked how the state’s role affects a county ballot measure; the sponsor said current statute requires state approval for certain local sales taxes and that the bill keeps that approval path in place. Representative Taylor asked, “Why does the state need to approve a county measure for sales tax?” The sponsor replied that state approval is required when the local authority to tax exceeds statutory limits and that the bill tracks existing statute.

During debate the committee adopted House Committee Amendment 1, which the chairman explained combined three previously heard bills into the substitute: House Bill 48 (exempting bingo-card sales from a 2% tax), House Bill 493 (sales-tax treatment for auctions), and House Bill 653 (medical-device sales-tax exemptions). Members expressed concern about omnibus amendments that combine unrelated provisions. Representative Taylor said he tends “not to like these omnibus bills,” and Representative Matheson said he objects to mixing unrelated items into one vehicle.

The committee adopted the house committee substitute and then voted the substitute do pass. The committee record reflects some confusion during the roll call but the final announcement on the floor recorded the outcome as a do-pass recommendation for the house committee substitute for House Bill 149 by a vote of 5 to 3.

The sponsor and supporters said the substitute is intended to make the statutory language available should the counties decide to pursue a joint sales-tax election; the transcript shows county commissioners requested the renewal. The bill’s text and any fiscal estimates were not included in the record excerpt provided to the committee during the explanation.

Votes at a glance (from committee record): House Committee substitute for House Bill 149 — do pass recommendation; final announcement: 5 yes, 3 no (tally announced by the chair).