by Michael R. Allen
Rep. Ron Richard, sponsor of controversial economic development bill HB 327, today moved that the Missouri House refuse to move on the House’s acceptance of the conference version of the bill. That version includes the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act, the tax credit developer Paul McKee seeks for north St. Louis.
Apparently, the bill faces strong opposition in the Missouri Senate due to the number of different bills that were added on through amendment without their own hearings, including the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act.
Richard’s motion would prevent the bill from returning to conference. If the Senate rejects the version of the bill that the House approved today, the bill is effectively dead. However, the Distressed Areas language remains intact in SB 282 and SB 22 (in an inexplicable 100-acre version) as well as HB 991.