Gov. Parson signs first bills into law as governor

Governor Parson signed his first bills as the Governor of Missouri on Friday, according to an official press release.

“Our top objective is to move Missouri forward. Today, by signing these bills into law, we are headed [in] the right direction. The legislature should be proud of the work that was done this year. Many significant bills were passed during this very productive session,” said Governor Parson.

The bills that were signed into law can be seen below:

HB 1831 – Changes the laws regarding the sales tax holiday that occurs in early August by adding an exemption for disposable diapers

HB 2101 – Specifies that guardian ad litem fees shall not be automatically waived in certain civil actions

SB 593 – Enacts provisions relating to financial solvency of insurance companies

SB 594 – Exempts certain types of commercial insurance lines from filing requirements with respect to rates, rate plans, modifications, and manuals

SB 782 – Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Natural Resources

Eric Bohl of the Missouri Farm Bureau said SB 782 will help farmers.

“They don’t want to have to apply for a permit every time they won’t to do something on their land to make their crops grow better and to make the food that they provide for people,” Bohl said.

With the bill’s passing, farmers are exempt from following Missouri’s clean water requirements for their crop’s agricultural run-off.

Bohl said agricultural run-off can occasionally go into streams and rivers.

“Agricultural run-off is just another fancy term for when it rains,” he said.

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment Policy Director Ed Smith said the run-off is damaging because it will cause more pollution to the state’s water.

“That leads to oxygen depletion in rivers and streams and lakes which leads to dead zones,” Smith said.

He said the most famous dead zone is in the Gulf of Mexico and Missouri is one of the largest contributors.