Here’s a look at the issues up for “do-overs” in the upcoming legislative session.
What Should Missouri Small Business Owners Expect in 2017?
With the election over, Missouri
lawmakers are now turning their attention toward the 2017 legislative session,
which will begin in January. NFIB/Missouri State Director Brad Jones appeared
on Missouri Viewpoints recently to discuss what
legislators can do to improve the small business environment in the Show-Me
State.
Among the issues that small
business owners would like to see addressed—and passed—are tort reform, unemployment
reform, and tax reform, Jones said. On a few of those points, there will be an
opportunity for “do-overs.” Here are the issues expected to come up again in
2017:
Expert witness qualifications: A
bill, SB591, dealing with this was vetoed by Gov. Jay Nixon and not overturned
during veto session. NFIB/MO supported the bill and the overall effort to adopt
the Daubert standard for vetting expert witnesses in the Missouri judicial
system so that only expert testimony that is deemed relevant, reliable, and
provided by qualified individuals will be admitted.
Collateral source rule: SB847 was
also vetoed by Nixon and not overturned during veto session. This bill would
have prevented plaintiffs from recovering medical expenses that they never paid
or owed. NFIB/MO supported this bill.
Unemployment reform: HB150 would
have tied the amount of unemployment income people receive to the current
unemployment rate to bring financial stability to the insolvent system, protect
small businesses from excessive taxes and fees, and still provide unemployment
benefits. Nixon vetoed the bill, and though the Legislature overturned it, the
Senate did not complete their override motion before the regular session ended
and instead took it up during veto session. Because of this timing, the
Missouri Supreme Court ruled the bill invalid.
Right to work legislation is also likely to be
on the docket.
Another piece of good news for
Missouri small businesses and consumers: The Taxpayer Protection Amendment
(Amendment 4) passed with 57 percent of the vote. NFIB/MO was part of the
Missourians for Fair Taxation coalition supporting this amendment, which
constitutionally blocks sales taxes from being applied to services.
“This is a victory for Missouri’s
hard-working taxpayers and their families,” said Scott Charton, spokesman for Missourians
for Fair Taxation, in a statement. “Passage of Missouri’s Amendment
4 is a first-in-the-nation, pre-emptive strike against new sales taxes on
everyday services. The threat of a new sales tax on services has been stopped,
thanks to the bipartisan support of common-sense Missourians.”
