Weekly Legislative Update
This week’s highlights:
Top News - The House Workforce and Infrastructure Committee heard HB 1488 this week. This bill creates three tax credit programs totaling $60 million that childcare providers and employers can use to incentivize contributions and offset the cost of care. This legislation was a top priority of Governor Mike Parson last year but was one of the casualties of a warring Senate.
Missouri Update - The House Committee on Government Efficiency and Downsizing heard HB1648, sponsored by Rep. John Black (R-Webster Co.), which allows state agencies and political subdivisions to provide yearly pre-approved pay incentives of up to 20% of the base salary for the purpose of retaining employees, and codifies the differentiated pay scale in public schools to allow school district boards to approve salaries outside of the regular scale for hard to staff or hard to fill positions on an annual basis.
Kansas Update - Governor Laura Kelly delivered the annual State of the State address, where she outlined key items in her FY25 budget, demonstrated her commitment to rural Kansas, and identified two pieces of legislation that would be a "hard pass" if they came to her desk.
Additional Highlights - The Wall Street Journal editors think Kansas City deserves to be on your "to-go" list for 2024.