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Missouri lawmakers move forward on ag tax credit bill

Missouri lawmakers have moved closer to finalizing Governor Mike Parson’s proposed ag tax credit legislation in the current special session.

On Wednesday, the Missouri House and Senate each passed their own versions of a bill that would authorize agriculture tax credits. Republican State Representative Don Rone of Portageville argued in favor of the bill, saying it provides necessary incentives for farmers.

“In this bill, everybody has something in it,” Rone said. “Urban farms, we have wood, we have soybeans, we have corn. Even the survey. That’s been five years in the making.”

Democratic State Representative Peter Merideth of St. Louis City opposes the legislation, saying he questions its fast-tracking through the chamber.

“Frankly, I’m not in ag. I don’t know who this benefits and who it doesn’t,” Merideth said. “But when I see it move through the process the way that it did, I’ve got to wonder if they are right.”

An emergency clause in the House version, which would have allowed the governor to sign the bill into law effective immediately, failed to reach the necessary two-thirds vote from lawmakers. It’s now up to either the House or Senate to take up and pass the other chamber’s version.

In an email to Brownfield, Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins said they “look forward to continuing to work with the legislature and the Governor to pass this important legislation that supports Missouri agriculture and the rural way of life.”