Legislative Update - March 2010

With just seven weeks left in the 2010 General Assembly, things are getting busy in Jefferson City.  The House of Representatives spent the last couple of weeks in marathon sessions working on the state budget, which they have passed and sent over to the Senate.  Money is very tight this year, but fortunately most of our agenda is focused on policy issues without budget impacts. Both houses have acted on several bike/ped-related bills.

Complete Streets Resolution - HCR 67
Part of our agreement with MoDOT about Complete Streets was to keep moving forward with MoDOT's improvements to its internal policies and to implement the Missouri High Priority Bike/Ped/ADA Projects plan (see below).

Another part is that MoDOT agreed to support a Complete Streets Resolution, HCR 67, in the Missouri General Assembly. The resolution has been introduced by Rep. Mike Sutherland and will soon have a hearing in the House Transportation Committee.

Safe Passing Law - House Bill 1250
This bill would refine the current definition of safe passing to include a minimum of three feet. HB 1250 had a hearing in the House Transportation Committee on February 23rd where Missouri Bicycling & Pedestrian Federation Executive Director Brent Hugh testified in support.  You can ask members of the House Transportation Committee to act on HB 1250 and send it to the full House for a vote.

Texting While Driving Ban - Senate Bill 701
In 2009 the General Assembly banned teenagers from sending text messages while driving.  This bill would extend the ban to everyone.  The Transportation Committee has approved this bill and sent it to the full Senate for a vote in the near future.

Bicycle Sales Tax Holiday - Senate Bill 937
Extending the annual back-to-school sales tax holiday to include bicycles, so that students have another safe and healthy way to get to school. The bill had a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on March 17th.  You can ask committee members to act on SB 937 and forward it onto the full Senate for a vote.

Bike/Ped State Holidays - House Bill 1691
Bike to Work Day/Week/Month in May and Bike/Walk to School Month/Day in October will be added to the permanent state calendar and the Governor will issue annual proclamations for those events. HB 1691 passed the House by a vote of 142-1 last week.  It is now in the Senate Progress & Development Committee waiting for a hear. You can contact committee members and ask them to act on HB 1691.

Tour of Missouri
The House included $1 million for the Tour of Missouri in the budge that it passed this month.  While this is a big cut last year's $1.5 million, Tour officials say it's enough money to keep corporate sponsors on board and keep the Tour going for 2010. The House budge is now being considered by the Senate, so you can contact your Senator and the Senate Appropriations Committee to express support for state funding of the Tour.

Missouri High Priority Bike/Ped/ADA projects - mobikefed.org/highpriority

We had overwhelming response to our call for suggestions for specific improvements on MoDOT routes.  Local selection committees of MBPF board members and volunteers are reviewing the suggestions to decide which will be forwarded on to MoDOT.  The next step will be for MoDOT to review the list with local cities and counties before including projects on their next five year construction plan.

How you can help:

1. Contact members of the committees mentioned above.

2. Join MBPF or make an additional donation today. Your financial support enables our work in Jefferson City, including paying for a lobbyist to keep our agenda on the radar of elected officials.

3. Contact your own legislators to let them know you support better bicycling and walking policies.