The Missouri 2019 Legislative Session kicked off last week in Jefferson City, Missouri. There have been several transportation funding bills already introduced:
- SB 190 – Onder – Requires a portion of sales and use tax revenue to be deposited into the State Road Fund
- SB 201 – Romine – Replaces the current motor vehicle registration fee system with a system based on fuel economy
- HJR 15 – Messenger – Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the highways and transportation commission to construct toll roads and impose and collect tolls on interstates and four-lane roadways
- HJR 17 – Messenger – Proposes a constitutional amendment to direct increased funding from motor vehicle registration fee adjustments for inflation to a farm to market fund, a port development fund, the state road bond fund, and the highway patrol
- HB 500 – Griesheimer – Establishes a miles-per-gallon based motor vehicle registration fee
MPTA will be following these bills and any others as the session continues. During the 2019 legislative session, MPTA will hold multiple legislative meeting days in the Missouri Capitol this year based on geographic areas. Each of these legislative days will have prescheduled visits set with lawmakers in the Capitol. Participants will receive talking points and updates on any bills prior to the meetings. In addition, participants will be asked to visit with their own representatives and senators to express the need for increased transit investment.