Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Recent News About Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry
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Missouri Chamber backs tax credits for critical mineral mining
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is supporting a bill that aims to boost economic development and reduce the country's reliance on foreign sources for microchips and energy production. The proposed legislation, known as the Missouri Defense and Energy Independence Act, is sponsored by Sen. Justin Brown (R-Rolla).According to Sen. Brown, "This bill provides the business community and entrepreneurs with a critical tool that will facilitate positive economic change in our state."The bill, designated as SB 1360, would enable companies to receive up to $6...
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Missouri Chamber Supports Legislation to Reduce Recidivism
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is throwing its weight behind legislative efforts aimed at curbing recidivism by streamlining the process of expunging criminal records. A series of Clean Slate bills were presented in Senate and House committees this week, including SB 763 by Sen. Brian Williams, SB 1161 by Sen. Curtis Trent, HB 2108 by Rep. Phil Christofanelli, and HB 2555 by Rep. Justin Hicks. These bills seek to establish an automated expungement process for certain non-violent offenses, moving away from the current petition-based system.Representative...
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Missouri Chamber Continues Fight Against Threat to Businesses’ Intellectual Property
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is taking a stand against a potential threat to businesses' intellectual property in the form of a "right to repair" bill. The bill, known as HB 2475, aims to grant farmers the ability to repair their own farm equipment by providing them access to diagnostic and repair information, as well as the option to purchase repair parts and tools.During a hearing of the House Special Committee on Innovation and Technology, Kara Corches, the Missouri Chamber Vice President of Governmental Affairs, expressed concerns about the...
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Top 6: What to Watch in the Second Half of the Legislative Session
"Lawmakers in Missouri are gearing up for their return to work after the spring break, ready to tackle key issues in the second half of the legislative session. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is leading the charge to advocate for various important matters affecting the state's businesses and residents.The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is calling on employers to actively engage in the legislative process by reaching out to their legislators on important bills. According to the organization, "We need your voice. Please review the issues below and...
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Child care tax credit package moves forward in Senate
The Senate Governmental Accountability Committee has advanced a groundbreaking legislative package aimed at enhancing the capacity of child care providers and facilitating businesses in offering child care benefits to bolster employee retention and recruitment. The bill, HB 1488 sponsored by Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph) and its Senate companion, SB 742 sponsored by Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City), are now awaiting action by the full Senate after gaining committee approval.Kara Corches, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber, emphasized...
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Missouri Chamber supports tax credits for critical mineral mining
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is backing a bill that would help spur economic development and decrease U.S. dependence on foreign microchip and energy production."It’s not only needed, but absolutely vital for the future of the United States," said Rep. Aaron McMullen, sponsor of HB 1834, also known as the Missouri Defense and Energy Independence Act. "There are certain critical materials in the U.S. defense effort that are critical to the U.S. economy that are currently being processed and made by foreign, adversarial governments. If these certain...
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Fast Track modification would help more adults train for high-demand jobs
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is advocating for a significant modification to the state's Fast Track program aimed at enabling more adults to pursue higher education and advanced job training opportunities.Championed by the Missouri Chamber, the Fast Track program was enacted in 2019 to address workforce needs by incentivizing adults to seek certificates, degrees, or apprenticeships in high-demand job fields. The proposed modification, Senate Bill 1056, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Black, seeks to broaden eligibility for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive...
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Missouri Chamber supports improvements to popular tax credit program
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is backing a bill that seeks to enhance the Missouri Works program, a key tax credit initiative in the state. The proposed legislation, SB 1301, sponsored by Sen. Jason Bean, aims to streamline the program by consolidating the limits for withholding taxes and tax credits into a single cap.Under the current system, the Missouri Works program has separate limits for tax credits and withholding taxes, totaling $181 million in benefits per fiscal year. The new bill would remove these separate caps and introduce a unified cap of...
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Missouri Chamber opposes interference in non-compete agreements
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is opposing legislation that would restrict employers’ ability to protect themselves through non-compete agreements.On March 4, the House Special Committee on Small Business heard HB 2787, which would create a new regulatory framework for non-competes and other employment agreements. Missouri employers have long relied upon existing case law and legal precedence when establishing these agreements. In response to this proposed legislation, the Missouri Chamber testified against what they perceive as interference in the free...
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Missouri Chamber supports effort to recruit doctors to rural counties
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce is throwing its weight behind a legislative effort to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural Missouri. Rep. Herman Morse (R-Dexter) highlighted the drastic decrease in physicians in southeast Missouri, stating, “Dexter, a town of now about 8,000, had at least 11 or 12 doctors that lived in town and practiced in town. Now they have none.”Morse's proposed legislation, HB 1925, aims to incentivize healthcare professionals to practice in rural areas by creating a grant program administered by the Department of Health and...
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Missouri Chamber of Commerce Opposes Mandate Requiring Gold and Silver Payments
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has taken a firm stance against a proposed mandate that would expand the acceptable forms of payment for products and services in the state. The organization expressed its opposition during a recent hearing on the matter.During the hearing, Phillip Arnzen, the director of legislative affairs for the Missouri Chamber, highlighted the organization's concerns. Arnzen acknowledged the bill's sponsor for considering business community concerns but emphasized that the requirement for private entities to accept gold and silver...
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New Health & Wellness Summit to address key workplace issues
A new Health & Wellness Summit is set to be held in Missouri on April 18, 2024, aimed at addressing key workplace issues and promoting a healthier and more productive workforce. The summit will take place at the Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Brentwood and will feature essential strategies to help companies achieve their objectives.Among the topics to be discussed at the summit are creating a culture of wellness, addressing mental health and substance use struggles, mindfulness in the workplace, and innovative wellness strategies from leading employers in Missouri. The...
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Missouri Chamber opposes costly anti-DEI legislation
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has taken a stand against proposed legislation in the state that aims to penalize private businesses for implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The organization's opposition comes in response to SB 980, which was discussed in the Senate Government Accountability Committee this week.During the hearing, Phillip Arnzen, director of legislative affairs for the Missouri Chamber, expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the bill. Arnzen stated, "The DEI-related prohibitions in this legislation...
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House Passes Public Safety Bill with Bipartisan Support
The Missouri House has passed a comprehensive public safety bill, HB 1659, which is now set for consideration in the Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin), the bill has garnered support from various entities, including the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Kara Corches, vice president of government affairs for the Missouri Chamber, highlighted some key provisions of the bill, stating, “There are a number of important provisions in this bill. These include enacting ‘Blair’s Law,’ which addresses the issue of celebratory gunfire, and strengthening...
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<topic> Missouri Chamber supports effort to drive new business creation </topic> Missouri Chamber Backs Bill to Encourage Startup Investment
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is throwing its weight behind a new bill aimed at boosting investment in startup businesses statewide. The proposed legislation, known as the “Missouri Angel Investment Incentive Act,” has garnered support from Rep. Travis Smith (R-Dora), who sponsored the bill.During a hearing before the House Financial Institutions Committee, Rep. Travis Smith emphasized the importance of creating an environment where new and small businesses can flourish, stating, “My goal is to make our state the place where new and small businesses can...
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Missouri Chamber seeks clarity through Supreme Court brief
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in an effort to bring more certainty to the litigation process.The amicus brief, filed in the case of Wullschleger v. Royal Canin et al., highlights the concerns of businesses in the Eighth Circuit following a ruling that allows lawsuits to be remanded back to state court even after removal to the federal level. The brief emphasized the impact of this ruling on businesses, particularly small businesses in Missouri, stating, “That destabilizing effect will be felt...
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Missouri Chamber Advocates for Legislative Priorities Amidst Senate Stalemate
A resolution to alter the initiative petition process was passed this week by the Senate after a weeks-long stalemate. SJR 74, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold), would modify how many votes a proposed constitutional amendment would need to pass.In the midst of legislative challenges, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry governmental affairs team has been actively pushing forward key priorities. Kara Corches, vice president of governmental affairs for the Missouri Chamber, emphasized the importance of collaboration among lawmakers for the state's...