Parents’ Bill of Rights Act – The Act, which would modify provisions regarding transparency in public schools was passed out the Senate this week. SB 4, sponsored by Senator Koenig (Dist. 4, Manchester), has been First and Second Read in the House.

Sales Tax on Motor Vehicles – SB 23 sponsored by Senator Hough (Dist. 30, Springfield) would require motor vehicle dealers to collect and remit sales tax on vehicles they sell. This bill will be heard in the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee February 21.

Entertainment Industry Jobs Act – HBs 133 (Hudson, Dist. 138, Cape Fair) and 583 (O’Donnell, Dist. 95, St. Louis) were heard in the House Economic Development Committee this week. This bill would allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit for rehearsal expenses and tour expenses, as defined the bill, for live entertainment tours and associated rehearsals in the State of Missouri.

Workforce – HB 417, sponsored by Representative Henderson (Dist. 117, Bonne Terre), passed unanimously out of the House Special Committee on Small Business and is expected to be brought up on the House floor soon. The bill establishes the “Upskill Credential Training Fund”. It would allow the Department of Economic Development to issue grants to qualifying employers for employees or potential employees who obtain upskill credentials. No more than $30,000 in a fiscal year for qualifying employers. No more than $6 million will be appropriated by the General Assembly each fiscal year.

Initiative Petitions – House Joint Resolution 43 (Henderson, Dist. 117, Bonne Terre) would require any proposed Constitutional amendment to receive approval from 60% of voters to pass. Currently, a simple majority of votes cast is required to pass such measures. HJR 43 passed out the House and has been referred to the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations – The House passed HB 184 (Murphy, Dist. 94, St. Louis) this morning. If a political subdivision requires the installation of EV charging stations at certain businesses, the subdivision would be responsible for the costs associated with installation, maintenance and operation.



Today, Governor Mike Parson announced that new grant funding is available through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood for eligible child care providers and businesses and/or community partners who want to work together to expand child care in their local community. The Innovation Start-up Grant application is now open on the Child Care Relief Funds website and must be submitted by May 31, 2023. To read more from this press release, click the link below.

TAKE RENTAL PROPERTY SURVEY

Do you own, manage or rent residential property in TANEY COUNTY?

We need your help and less than 5 minutes of your time. If you are a residential landlord, or manager, in Taney County, please take this survey via the link or the QR code below.

Taney County stakeholders are working on ways to expand and preserve obtainable housing for all residents by updating the 2018 Taney County comprehensive housing study. Locally sourced data is critical and will provide information for the planning team to better understand the current state of the market, which will be used as the foundation for recommendations that are appropriate for our region.

Your responses are very important and will remain confidential. Thank you for your time and help!

VOLUNTEER FOR MONASP TOURNAMENT

Volunteers are critical to the success of the Missouri National Archery in the Schools Program (MoNASP) State Tournament. All volunteers will receive a MoNASP 2023 t-shirt and lunch before or after their shift. Chairs will be provided at all volunteer stations. Volunteers must be 16 or older; volunteers younger than 16 should be accompanied by an adult. Additional information will be sent to volunteers prior to the event. Please use the comments field on the online registration form to list any special requests that you may have.

March 17-19

MoNASP State Archery Tournament

Branson Convention Center

AMERICAN TRAVEL SENTIMENT STUDY

According to the latest Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, only 12% of them said that coronavirus would greatly impact their decision to travel in the next six months, the lowest level since the pandemic first appeared three years ago. Concerns about travelers’ personal financial situation greatly influencing their travel plans was cited by nearly twice as many respondents, at 23%, but that was down 7% from a month earlier.

The American Travel Sentiment Survey, supported by Miles Partnership, was fielded February 1, 2023 using a national sample randomly drawn from a consumer panel of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and over. Quotas were used to match Census targets for age, gender, and region to make the survey representative of the U.S. population.

GRANT WRITING TRAINING IN BRANSON, MO

The Taney County Health Department and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Branson, Mo. — March 6-7. This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Attend this class and you'll learn how to find the funding sources and write winning grant proposals. Click the link below for event details.