UPDATE 12 JULY: Transportation-related bills from the 2012 legislative session passed and signed or vetoed by Gov Nixon

[UPDATE 12 JULY 2012: Bills signed or approved by Governor Nixon are indicated. Most new laws will go into effect August 28th, 2012, though some which have adopted the 'Emergency Clause' may go into effect earlier.]

A number of transportation related bills passed the Missouri General Assembly this year and have now been signed or vetoed by Governor Nixon.

Recently we gave a summary of the bicycle and pedestrian related bills and issues that came up during this year's legislative session.  Now an even larger list--all of the significant transportation-related bills, whether or not they include bicycle or pedestrian provisions.

Missouri Capitol and bicyclists

Almost all of the bills are 'omnibus' bills containing somewhere between a few and many different provisions.  To see the full list of provisions, click through to the bill's page. The list below points out only those provisions of special interest for bicycling, walking, or trails:

• SB 470 [signed by governor 12 July 2012] - Optional 3rd license plate for use when bike rack or other obstruction obscures the rear license plate (Ryan's law)
• SB 568 [signed by governor 12 July 2012] - Cities are allowed to levy a transportation tax under 74.700 to 74.755 RSMO.  The tax can be used for mass transit, roads, streets, bridges, airports, and planning. SB 568 adds "sidewalks, trails, and community-owned parking" to the list of allowed items for the tax.
• SB 607 [vetoed by governor 12 July 2012] - Allows billboards to be moved or removed under special rules when a stretch of highway undergoes construction. 
• SB 611 [signed by governor 9 July 2012] - temporary permit tags; yellow light duration; move over law
• SB 665 [signed by governor 10 July 2012] - conveys certain real estate to MoDOT
• SB 719 [signed by governor 12 July 2012] - motorcycle training course exemption; use of state park roads by commercial entities (ie, bike rental, canoe rental)
• HB 1402 [signed by governor 10 July 2012] - Optional 3rd license plate for use when bike rack or other obstruction obscures the rear license plate (Ryan's law); "moderate" billboard legislation requiring MoDOT to create regulations government digital signs; includes many other provisions
• HB 1504 [signed by governor 10 July 2012] - authorizing additional funding for Great Rivers Greenway District for trails, greenways, parks, and improvement of the Arch district in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County; authorizing creation of a Trails and Greenway District in Jackson County and creation of a sales tax to fund trails and greenways.  This is state enabling legislation--all taxes must be approved by voters in the respective counties before they become effective.
• HB 1807 [signed by governor 6 July 2012] - Designates the bike/ped path on the Heart of America Bridge in Kansas City as the "Bob Watts Memorial Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge".  Bob was a pioneering bicycle and pedestrian advocate in Missouri and former MoBikeFed Chair.  
• HB 2004 and HB 2005 [signed by governor 22 June 2012 with one minor line-item veto in HB 2004] - Appropriating funding for MoDOT.
• SCR 26 [doesn't require governor's signature] - Establishes the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Needs to study the transportation infrastructure needs of Missouri

You'll note that some provisions, such as Ryan's Law, are included as part of two or more bills.  This is a common legislative tactic--each bill the language is included in raises the odds of that language passing at least once--and helps the provision survive a veto if one or more of the large omnibus transportation bills is vetoed.  So if a certain provision passes twice or more, it can only help and doesn't hurt anything.

Contact Governor Nixon to urge him to sign bicycle, pedestrian, and trails related bills

The governor has until July 14th to sign most of these bills.  

If you would like to contact the governor's office to urge Governor Nixon to sign (or veto!) any of these bills, that is very important--and a good opportunity to let the governor know there is a large and vocal bicycle and pedestrian community in Missouri.

Our suggested message to Governor Nixon:

Governor Nixon,

I strongly urge you to support bicycling, walking, and trails in Missouri and work towards Complete Streets policies in Missouri that will help every community become safer and more inviting for walking and bicycling.  Bicycling, walking, and trails are important for our health, for the livability of our communities, and for the economic vitality of our state as it competes on a national and international level.

Please support and sign the following bills, which include provisions very important for bicycling, walking, and/or trails:

• SB 470 - Creates a new, optional 3rd license plate for use when bike rack or other obstruction obscures the rear license plate.  This solves a problem in current Missouri law where certain bike racks are illegal for use because they partially or completely obscure the rear license plate, but our current system allows no solution or remedy to this problem.
• SB 568 - Allows cities levying a transportation tax under 74.700 to 74.755 RSMO to use the tax for "sidewalks, trails, and community-owned parking" as well as current uses.
• HB 1402 - Optional 3rd license plate for use when bike rack or other obstruction obscures the rear license plate (see above).
• HB 1504 - authorizing additional funding for Great Rivers Greenway District for trails, greenways, parks, and improvement of the Arch district in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County; authorizing creation of a Trails and Greenway District in Jackson County and creation of a sales tax to fund trails and greenways.  This funding is vital for improving the walkability, bikability, and livability or our largest metro areas.  The tax increases will go to a vote of the people before they are approved.
• HB 1807 - Designates the bike/ped path on the Heart of America Bridge in Kansas City as the "Bob Watts Memorial Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge".  Bob was a pioneering bicycle and pedestrian advocate in Missouri and former MoBikeFed Chair.  

Sincerely yours,