Gov. Parson signs pro-business bills into law

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry applauds Gov. Mike Parson for signing several pro-business bills that the Missouri General Assembly sent to his desk during the 2024 legislative session.

Among the bills the governor signed was SB 754, sponsored by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Parkville) and handled by Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin). This legislation helps address Missouri’s multi-faceted and complex issue of rising crime.

Crime is a statewide issue that hinders economic growth. Missouri ranked sixth highest in America in violent crimes in 2020. In property crimes, Missouri had the ninth highest rate per capita in 2020.

Many of the provisions in SB 754 are recommendations from a report issued by the Missouri Chamber called Safer Missouri, Stronger Missouri, such as:

• Increasing sentencing standards for persistent violent offenders;
• Establishing minimum prison terms for armed criminal action;
• Enacting Blair’s Law to increase penalties for reckless celebratory gunfire; and
• Easing the process to have records expunged for minor, non-violent offenses.

Not only does crime negatively impact businesses and the economy, but it devastates and destroys people’s lives. This bill will serve as another tool in the toolbox to address this growing problem.

Other pro-business bills signed into law include:

• HB 1912 (McGirl) & (Koenig) – Helping reduce the complexity of Missouri’s tax laws, making it easier and less expensive to operate a business in our state;
• SB 748 (Hough) – Renewing a critical funding mechanism for sustaining essential health care services;
• SB 802 (Trent) & (Gregory) – Incentivizing investors to finance small businesses in rural areas;
• SB 872 (Eslinger) & (Baker) – Expanding broadband capacity in Missouri and making our energy grid stronger; and
• SB 894 (Fitzwater) & (Riley) – Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in our state.

In addition to championing pro-business bills during the legislative session, the Missouri Chamber also defeated a litany of new proposed mandates on businesses.

Learn more about SB 754 by watching the video below.