To the Great Constituents of District 2,
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”- 1 John 3:16
We returned to Jefferson City earlier this month for a special legislative session, which concluded on June 11. This session was called by Governor Mike Kehoe with two key objectives: To create incentives to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri, and to approve disaster relief funding following the recent tornado in the St. Louis area.
Three main bills were considered:
—SB 1 – To appropriate money to the Department of Economic Development for the Missouri Housing Development Commission
—SB 3 – Stadium Incentives & Property Tax Amendment
—SB 4 – Authorizes the expedited disbursement of funds from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund for emergency aid
SB 3:
—Sporting Event Tax Credits: Event sponsors must now be members of the Sports Events and Tourism Association, and no longer need to document costs. Instead, they only need to provide ticket sales or participant data. Credit amounts were increased to $6 per ticket (up from $5) and $12 per participant (up from $10). The annual statewide cap was raised from $3 million to $6 million, and the cap for Jackson County or St. Louis City was increased from $2.7 million to $5.5 million. The credit will now run through 2032.
—Show-Me Sports Investment Act: The state can now fund sports facility projects based on past tax revenue generated by the team’s facility. Agreements can last up to 30 years, and the state can cover up to 50% of project costs through bonds. If a team relocates, they must repay the state. Private investors can receive tax credits worth 50% of their contributions, capped at $50 million or 10% of the project cost.
—This act requires certain counties to put a property tax credit question on the ballot by the April 2026 election for eligible taxpayers. Eligible taxpayers are those who own or have a legal interest in a homestead and are responsible for paying property taxes on it. The credit equals the difference between the current year’s tax liability and the year the taxpayer became eligible. For five percent counties, the credit can increase by no more than 5% per year or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is higher. In zero percent counties, the credit can’t increase beyond the original liability. The credit will be applied to the taxpayer’s property tax bill and noted on their tax statement. It will also count as tax revenue for the county when calculating property tax levies.
I opposed these measures because, while I value the Chiefs and Royals, I do not believe taxpayer dollars or incentives should be used to fund private stadiums for billion-dollar franchises. Your hard-earned money should not subsidize their facilities. At the same time, many Missourians have faced property assessment increases of 10–15%, largely due to pressure from the State Tax Commission on local assessors. Some assessors, fearing a loss of funding, signed agreements under that pressure.
Rather than addressing this state overreach, a last-minute amendment to SB 3 capped property assessment increases at 5%—but only in 97 counties. Others received no relief at all, depending solely on whether their senator included them, which is unconstitutional and has a high probability of being taken to court. The bill also includes a severability clause, meaning if one part is struck down in court, the rest remains in effect.
During debate, it was said that we “pass unconstitutional bills all the time” and that keeping the Chiefs and Royals was justification enough. I strongly disagree. I swore an oath to uphold the Missouri Constitution, and I take that responsibility seriously. After the Senate passed these bills, the House had little ability—or will—to improve them, despite our efforts. The legislature's job is to review and amend bills to best serve Missourians, but that didn’t happen in this special session. And in the end, the Chiefs thanked the legislature—but also said they’re still keeping their options open.
SB 1 and SB 4 included the following provisions:
—$100 million to the Disaster Relief Fund for rebuilding efforts.
—Up to $5,000 in tax credits to help individuals cover insurance deductibles in federally declared disaster zones
—$25 million in emergency housing support
—Increased income eligibility for emergency housing support, raising the threshold from 50% to 75% of the area median income
—In the event of a presidential disaster declaration, emergency funds from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund will be quickly transferred to the Missouri Housing Development Commission, with administrative costs waived. Eligibility for aid will be based on household income, set at 75% or less of the median family income for the area or state, bypassing normal eligibility rules.
While I deeply sympathize with those affected by the tornado, I voted “Present” on these bills. Why? Because most of the funding is going to NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and I was unable to get a clear answer on how much of the money would go toward actual aid versus administrative expenses. The Missouri Housing Commission could not even tell me what percentage of the funds would go toward operating costs. When we’re spending your tax dollars, we must demand accountability and transparency.
As your Representative, I will always advocate for fiscal responsibility, local control, and fair treatment for all Missourians. Rushed legislation, political bargaining, and special favors have no place in our state Capitol.
It's a pleasure to serve and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at (573) 751-4285 or email Mazzie.Christensen@house.mo.gov.
All my Best,
Mazzie Christensen,
State Representative for District 2
No comments:
Post a Comment