SB 864 creates two new tax credit programs for Missouri businesses. First, it provides a $5 per ton tax credit for wood energy producers using Missouri forest residue to make processed wood products, valid for five years with a $6 million annual cap and expiring after 2028. Second, it establishes a 25% tax credit (up to $75,000 annually per facility) for small meat processing facilities (employing fewer than 500 people total) to cover modernization or expansion costs like equipment, building upgrades, or waste management systems, with a $2 million annual statewide cap. Both credits reduce state tax liability but are non-refundable and require applications to the state authority. The bill replaces prior tax credit provisions and sets specific expiration dates for all new credits.
SB 1460 - This act modifies provisions relating to towing. TOWING LIABILITY POLICY Current law requires motor vehicle liability policies to meet certain criteria. This act provides that any motor vehicle liability policy for a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle rating of more than 26,000 pounds shall provide coverage for towing, winching, vehicle recovery, and emergency roadside labor in an amount of at least $100,000. (Section 303.190) RECOVERY OF TOWING COSTS Current law provides a mechanism for the owner of abandoned property that has been towed to file a petition in associate circuit court to determine if the abandoned property was wrongfully taken or withheld from its owner. This act applies such provision only to property for which the costs charged by the towing company do not exceed $15,000. For towed abandoned property with a gross vehicle rating of more than 26,000 pounds and with costs charged by the towing company exceeding $15,000, the owner of such property may, within seven days after the receipt of notification from the towing company pursuant to current law, file a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the abandoned property is stored if there is a dispute arising over costs charged by the towing company. The petition shall name the towing company among the defendants. Upon filing the petition, the property owner shall pay to the towing company fifty percent of all costs charged by the towing company as of the date of filing, and the remaining fifty percent of all costs shall be deposited with the court. If the court finds in favor of the towing company, the property owner shall pay the remainder of the costs to the towing company along with interest accrued from the date of filing. Within five business days of depositing fifty percent of the costs charged by the towing company with the court, the property owner shall remove the truck, trailer, cargo, and any debris associated with such items from the premises of the towing company. Failure to remove such property shall result in the property owner forfeiting the moneys deposited with the court to the towing company. (Section 304.156) This act is identical to HB 3447 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON
HB 3350 prohibits railroads from operating trains longer than 8,500 feet on any main rail line or branch line within the jurisdiction of this law. The bill directly affects railroad operators who currently run longer trains on these routes. The Department of Transportation is authorized to create rules for measuring train lengths, granting route-specific exemptions, and imposing penalties for violations. These rules must comply with existing state administrative procedures. The law sets a clear, measurable restriction on train size without specifying safety or economic impacts.
SB 1685 extends Missouri's sales tax exemption for aviation jet fuel used by interstate airlines, allowing carriers to avoid paying state sales tax on qualifying fuel purchases up to $1.5 million annually. This exemption directly affects commercial airlines transporting passengers and cargo across state lines, with tax revenues from the exemption directed to the aviation trust fund (capped at $10 million yearly). The bill updates the expiration date of this existing policy from 2033 to December 31, 2043, maintaining the same annual tax cap and refund mechanisms for overpayments. The change provides continued tax relief for the aviation industry without altering the exemption's core structure.
HB 3349 requires railroad trains or light engines moving freight to operate with at least two qualified crew members, excluding helper services (assisting trains), hostler services (yard locomotive movements), or slow-speed loading/unloading (under 10 mph). Violations incur escalating fines: $1,500 for a first offense, up to $10,000 for third or subsequent offenses. The Missouri Department of Transportation enforces the rule, but the law only becomes effective after Missouri's attorney general confirms federal courts have validated the Federal Railroad Administration's two-person crew standard.
HB 3462 requires railroad carriers operating freight trains or light engines to use a minimum of two qualified crew members during movement. This directly affects railroads transporting freight, with exceptions for helper services (assisting trains with mechanical issues), hostler services (moving locomotives within yards), and slow-speed loading/unloading (under 10 mph). Violations carry escalating fines: up to $1,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for third or subsequent offenses. The law explicitly states it won’t override federal crew rules, and enforcement will be handled by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The bill’s effective date depends on federal court validation of similar national regulations.
HB 1741 regulates nonconsensual towing of commercial vehicles (those over 10,000 pounds) in Missouri. It requires the Department of Transportation to establish procedures for handling complaints from owners, operators, or insurers about unfair towing practices, including detailed invoice requirements and a disciplinary system for violating towing companies. Key provisions ban per-pound charging, stop storage fees once a complaint is filed, prohibit liens on vehicles/cargo from nonconsensual tows, and mandate towing companies provide access for property retrieval or accident investigations. The bill directly affects commercial vehicle owners, towing companies, and law enforcement agencies handling roadside recoveries.
HB 2351 adds "failure to secure a load" (violating section 307.010) to the list of traffic violations that earn 2 points on a driver's license. This specifically affects commercial drivers who transport goods, as failing to secure cargo properly will now count toward license point totals. The bill amends existing point assessment rules to include this violation, aligning it with other non-speeding traffic offenses like improper equipment. Points are assessed after conviction and can lead to license suspension if accumulated, but drivers may avoid points by completing approved driver improvement courses (within limits).
HB 2385 modifies Missouri railroad safety rules to address highway crossings, train length, crew requirements, and crew privacy. It prohibits trains from blocking highway crossings for over 15 minutes (except during emergencies or continuous movement), limits freight trains to 8,500 feet in length, and requires two qualified crew members for most freight operations (excluding helper/hostler services or slow loading/unloading). Violations incur fines up to $10,000 per offense, and the bill mandates redaction of crew members' personal information in public incident records, with limited access for authorized entities like railroads or law enforcement. The law aligns with federal safety regulations and is enforced by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
SB 942 allows trucks transporting construction materials (like asphalt or concrete) or raw materials (like sand or gravel) to exceed standard weight limits by up to 10% when moving directly between production sites and construction projects or material-processing facilities. This applies only if vehicles are properly maintained, do not exceed the manufacturer's weight rating, and avoid the interstate highway system, bridges with lower weight limits, or speeds over 30 mph on bridges with posted limits. The bill directly affects construction companies and trucking firms hauling these materials within Missouri. It does not change general weight regulations for other freight or vehicles.
