Senate advances bill to protect DNR's air‑pollution program funding, creating small transfer from utility sales tax

Senators on Thursday moved the measure closer to final form when they declared Senate Bill 953 "perfected" and ordered it printed after extended questions about fiscal impact and fund management.

Senate Bill 953, sponsored on the floor by the Senator from Dunklin, would stop the annual sweep of unused air‑pollution permit fees into the state's general revenue and direct a small, recurring transfer from sales and use taxes estimated to come from the electric power sector into the air pollution permit fee subaccount. "A small transfer of about $3,000,000 combined with existing permit fees and stopping the sweeping of funds will fix a projected shortfall for the air pollution control program," the Senator from Dunklin said during floor explanation.

Supporters said the change is a proactive step to keep Missouri's air permitting program solvent and to avoid federal oversight. "If unaddressed, the federal EPA could take over the air pollution control program," the sponsor warned, arguing that preserving state authority requires predictable funding for permitting, monitoring and enforcement.

Several senators pressed the sponsor on the bill's fiscal tradeoffs. Colleagues framed the measure against a broader budget squeeze and asked whether keeping roughly $3–4 million out of general revenue in future years would be prudent when the governor has proposed significant cuts to other programs. The Senator from Boone walked through fund‑balance mechanics and fiscal‑note figures; the sponsor said the total program cost was about $15.3 million and that the transfer plus fee retention was intended to keep the program viable as emissions decline and fee revenue falls.

Other senators asked for more precision on the revenue source and mechanics. The sponsor described a statutory process for the commissioner of administration and state treasurer to estimate and transfer the 5% figure annually, with the transfer then available to the Department of Natural Resources for permitting, monitoring and enforcement. "We're just asking to leave those funds alone," the sponsor said, summarizing the central change.

After questions and brief colloquy, the sponsor closed and the Senate approved the motion to declare SB 953 perfected and ordered printed by voice vote.

What happens next: The bill was perfected on the Senate floor and will proceed through the legislative process; the measure was also referred for fiscal oversight review consistent with usual legislative practice.

Key facts from the floor

- Sponsor: Senator from Dunklin (floor explanation and sponsor of SB 953). - Purpose: Prevent sweep of DNR air‑pollution fee accounts to general revenue and create a 5% transfer from utility‑related sales/use taxes to the air pollution permit fee subaccount. - Fiscal context: Sponsor described program total ~ $15.3 million and estimated the targeted transfer at about $3,000,000 to address a projected shortfall. - Vote/procedure: SB 953 was declared perfected and ordered printed by the Senate (voice vote).

The Senate record shows sustained concern from appropriators and other members about the cumulative budget impact of protecting departmental funds, but sponsors argued the bill preserves state control of air permitting and prevents a possible EPA takeover.