Missouri Senate approves package of bills including jail taxing district, cotton-trailer speed change

The Missouri Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, voted to approve several bills on third reading, including a measure that creates a taxing vehicle for regional jails and an emergency clause to speed reimbursements, a bill that raises the maximum speed for cotton trailers, and measures relating to county officials, local government financial statements and emergency medical services.

The approvals came during a single Senate floor session that moved multiple bills through third reading and final passage. Senators discussed several measures briefly on the floor before holding recorded roll-call votes that produced constitutional-majority passage for the items listed below.

Votes at a glance

- Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 50 (sponsor: Senator from Livingston): Creates or extends a taxing district related to regional jail facilities, adds language carried from multiple other bills, and includes nutrition provisions for pregnant offenders. Passage vote: 30 ayes, 1 no. Emergency-clause vote to speed certain jail reimbursements: 29 ayes, 2 nos. Senator from Livingston said the emergency clause “allows the Department of Corrections to be able to get the money to the counties faster” and asked senators to support the measure.

- Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 28 (sponsor: Senator from Dunklin): Amends agriculture transportation law to increase the maximum speed for certain cotton trailers from 40 miles per hour to 65 miles per hour; repeals a requirement that cotton trailers be used exclusively for transporting cotton; and clarifies that trailers following federal safety rules and not shedding loads are not in violation while traveling between fields or markets. Passage vote: 31 ayes, 0 nos. Senator from Dunklin said the change reflects modern truck safety and operation.

- Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1 (sponsor: Senator from Dallas): Addresses county officials’ matters, including coroner salaries, the role of county salary commissions, county auditor audit authority, exclusion of the Boone County sheriff from a salary schedule and public-administrator pay. Passage vote: 31 ayes, 1 no. Senator from Dallas summarized the bill as containing multiple previously discussed provisions relating to county officials and salaries.

- Senate Bill 2 (sponsor: Senator from Dallas): Allows certain second-, third- and fourth-class counties to file an abbreviated annual financial statement, authorizes a one-time downward adjustment by the Department of Revenue for fines deemed uncollectible, and moves the county financial-statement publication date from March to June 30. Passage vote: 32 ayes, 0 nos. Senator from Dallas described the bill’s changes to reporting and revenue processes.

- Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 7 (sponsor: Senator from Cole): Relates to emergency medical services. Passage vote: 29 ayes, 2 nos.

What senators said and context

Senator from Livingston, explaining Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 50, said the bill "creates a new taxing district or extends something that's in statute now for regional jail facilities" and that it bundles language from several other bills. On the emergency clause he said it would simplify reimbursement procedures so counties receive funds more quickly.

Senator from Dunklin told colleagues that the cotton-trailer bill "increases the speed limit from 40 miles an hour to 65 miles an hour" for those trailers, removes the exclusive-use requirement, and aligns trailer operation with federal safety regulations.

Senator from Dallas summarized Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1 as a package affecting county officials including coroner and public-administrator pay and said Senate Bill 2 "allows second, third and fourth class counties to file an abbreviated annual financial statement" while making other technical changes to fine adjustments and reporting deadlines.

Procedure and next steps

Floor action followed committee reports and routine introductions earlier in the session. After completing the second-reading referrals and floor business, the body adjourned to reconvene Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at 4 p.m., according to the presiding senator.

The measures that passed will proceed as required by legislative process; where the Senate approved emergency clauses, those provisions take effect immediately upon enactment according to the legislative rules referenced on the floor.