Last year’s legislative session was highly politicized due to redistricting and mid-term elections, but 2023 is expected to be better for improving the business landscape, according to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Redistricting impacted all other priorities we were working on in 2022 but we have a very significant group of freshman legislators this year,” said Kara Corches, vice president of governmental affairs with the Chamber. “I think it's going to be a more functional and productive general assembly.”
The legislature returned to the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on Jan. 4. The Chamber's priorities include public safety, workforce growth, shortening the statute of limitations, and supporting workplace marijuana policies.
“With the legalization of marijuana being put on the ballot that was approved by voters in the November 2022 election, there are a lot of gray areas for employers,” Corches told the St. Louis Record. “That's why it's important from our perspective to offer resources and guidelines to employers to navigate this new law.”
Workforce growth is the top concern of Missouri employers, with 38 percent citing it as their top concern, according to Chamber data.
As a result, the Chamber supports SB 53, introduced by Sen. Carla Eslinger (R-District 33), which would create a short-term credentialing grant program to reimburse employers who help their employees earn short-term certificates or credentials in technology and health care.
"This legislation helps to upskill existing employees in businesses," Corches said. "If we're not having millions of new people move into the state, we need to grow our own talent, and this bill will help us do that."
In the arena of public safety, House Bill 301, introduced by Rep. Lane Roberts, aims to combat violent crime and reduce recidivism.
“There are numerous provisions in it, one of which is changing some sentencing guidelines to make sure our repeat violent offenders are kept off the streets,” Corches said.
Legal reform proposals include Senate Bill 117, introduced by Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R-Platte), which would reduce the statute of limitations in personal injury litigation from five to two years.
“Currently, 47 states have shorter time limits than Missouri and this does impact our economic competitiveness if we have this unfair legal climate that benefits trial attorneys on the backs of business owners,” Corches added.
The same proposal, Senate Bill 631, introduced by Sen. Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby) last year, failed to pass but the Chamber has informed legislative leadership that SB 117 this year is a top priority for the business community, according to Corches.
“We're putting a lot of effort behind this as well as other groups that know this is important but we certainly know that there will be people who probably will continue to oppose it as the trial attorneys work against us on this one,” she said.