Transportation (Ports)

SCS/SB 1146 - This act modifies provisions relating to port authorities. Current law prohibits a city from creating a port authority if the city is located within a county that has created a port authority which has received approval as a political subdivision of this state. This act provided that this shall not be construed as invalidating any port authority created by a city and approved as a political subdivision prior to the creation of a port authority by a county. (Section 68.010.3) If a port authority whose port district includes Kansas City shall purchase or lease real property anywhere in such counties, the real property shall be deemed included within the port district. (Section 68.015.1). Powers of port authorities are also modified as specified in the act, including the grant of powers for the establishment of port rangers licensed as peace officer, and contracting with other port authorities. (Section 68.025). The act provides that failure of a port authority to include a statement that the state is not liable on bonds of a port authority as required by law shall not invalidate the bonds or render the state liable on the bonds. (Section 68.040). Furthermore, the act modifies provisions regarding the terms of port authority commissioners and their removal from office, as well as determination of commissioners' qualifications, salaries, powers, and duties if they are not determined by the political subdivision establishing the port authority. The political subdivision establishing the port authority shall also provide for the filing of annual reports by the board of port authority commissioners, and for periodic independent audits of the port authority's accounts. (Section 68.045). The act modifies port authorities' contracting processes for work, equipment, and supplies and materials, and provides that port authorities may utilize additional procurement measures authorized for other political subdivisions, as described in the act. (Section 68.055). Under the act, port authority expenditures over $50,000, rather than over $25,000, including professional services contracts, shall be competitively procured. The act requires at least 20 days notice of the letting of the contract, with publication as described in the act. Port authorities shall have the authority to reject any and all bids, and readvertise the work or proposed purchase. (Section 68.057). The act provides that political subdivisions with existing port authorities can not form regional port authorities themselves, but that the boards of existing port authorities may apply to the Highways and Transportation Commission for approval of a regional port authority, as detailed in the act. (Section 68.060). The definition of "new job" in the Advanced Industrial Manufacturing Zones Act is modified to include any job determined by the Department of Economic Development to be eligible for, and approved for, retention of withholding tax under the Missouri Works Program, provided that the establishment of the AIM zone immediately follows the end of the period of benefits under the Missouri Works Program. (Section 68.075). Under the act, certain records submitted to a port authority may be deemed closed records, and disclosure to a port authority shall not affect records' status as closed. (Section 68.085). The act modifies the threshold for consent to the creation of a port improvement district, from 60% per capita to 50% per capita, of the owners of all real property within the boundaries of the proposed port improvement district. (Section 68.205). Lastly, the act provides that a petition to the circuit court shall not be required for creation of a port improvement district within port district boundaries or for substantial changes, as defined by law, to a port improvement district in certain circumstances. (Section 68.253). This act is similar to SCS/HCS/HB 1346 (2025) and SCS/SB 715 (2025) and identical to HCS/HB 2693 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

HB 20 is a funding bill that allocates $3,026,580 from Missouri's Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund and other state funds to support specific state government operations for fiscal year 2025-2026. It directly affects state departments by providing money for higher education grants (with a 50% local match requirement), technology upgrades for job centers, port authority grants, streetcar planning, and facility construction projects like HVAC systems and a new state office building. Key provisions include $10.9 million for port authority grants and $35.2 million for multimodal port infrastructure in major cities, all funded through designated state accounts. The bill does not create new policies but specifies how existing funds will be distributed to state agencies and programs.

HB 2716 creates a Missouri state tax credit for eligible rail entities to cover certain railroad infrastructure costs. It allows short-line railroads (Class II/III), rail siding owners, or port/city rail authorities to claim a 50% credit against their state tax liability for qualified maintenance, reconstruction, or new rail infrastructure expenses like tracks, bridges, or industrial spurs. The credit is capped annually at $4.5 million for maintenance costs and $10 million for new infrastructure projects, with unused credits carryable for up to five years. Taxpayers must submit a certificate to the Missouri Department of Economic Development detailing eligible expenses and track miles, with credits allocated in the order claims are received if annual limits are exceeded.

HB 2693 replaces Missouri's existing port authority rules with new provisions. It authorizes cities or counties near navigable waterways to form port authorities (recognized as state political subdivisions) after approval by the state highways and transportation commission. The commission must consider factors like population, economic feasibility, river traffic potential, and whether the proposed area overlaps with existing port authorities. Cities with 300,000+ residents bordering Kansas automatically qualify for approval, and new port authorities cannot overlap with existing ones.

HB 2020 is Missouri's fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill, allocating $26.3 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and $15.5 million from the Coronavirus Recovery Fund for specific state programs. It funds higher education grants requiring 50% local matching, technology upgrades for job centers, port authority grants (with local match requirements), streetcar planning, and infrastructure projects like state building HVAC repairs and a new warehouse. The bill also supports broadband expansion in underserved areas, a sports facility for athletes with special needs, and early childhood education programs, all subject to local matching funds where specified. This bill directly affects Missouri state agencies, local governments, and qualifying organizations receiving these allocations for designated projects.

HB 1656 would have revised Missouri's laws governing port authorities, primarily affecting cities and counties near navigable waterways seeking to establish or expand port districts. It would have established a new approval process for port authorities through the state highways and transportation commission, requiring consideration of factors like population size (300,000+ for certain areas), economic feasibility, and avoiding boundary overlaps with existing authorities. Key provisions included granting port authorities power to levy local sales/use taxes or real property taxes within designated port districts for infrastructure projects, and defining how port district boundaries could be adjusted. The bill was prefaced in December 2025 but withdrawn the same month and never became law.