A bill sponsored by a western Missouri senator could nullify local ordinances governing agricultural operations, giving the state nearly sole authority in regulation farming-related activities.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Chris Koster, R-Harrisonville, would prohibit local governments from adopting or upholding agricultural health regulations that are sticter than the state's standards. The act would expunge local laws for licensing and operating farms that are not identical to state regulations.

The bill, supported by Gov. Matt Blunt, would also give farms greater protection against nuisance lawsuits.

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Fourteen months after the Taum Sauk dam burst, two legislators are seeking to increase dam inspection regulations.

Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, and Rep. Walt Bivins, R-St. Louis County, have sponsored bills increasing the number of dams the state inspects.

Under the bills, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources would inspect all of the state's high hazard and significant hazard dams.

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The Missouri House approved legislation to provide civil lawsuit immunity for persons who kill intruders in their homes or autos.

The original measure also would have provided a greater protection from criminal prosecution for homocide when a resident or vehicle occupant has fear of harm by an intruder.

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The state Education Board voted to establish a three-member panel to run the city school system if the state strips the school system of accreditation.

State action on accreditation could happen as early as next month.  The president of the state board and the commissioner education repeatedly have described the St. Louis city school system as a failed district with declining student performance.

Thursday's board meeting was delayed about 20 minutes as more than 100 protestors from St. Louis -- including school employees and students -- chanted and shouted down efforts to begin the board session.

In a major blow to Governor Blunt's proposed MOHELA sale, the chief outside financial firm which provided validity to the proposed sale has said the original report may not be valid.

 The firm, Liscarnan Solutions, LLC stated in an e-mail that MOHELA should immediately cease financial activity until the firm can reevaluate the proposal to ensure MOHELA's ability to meet funding requirements and the loan authority's long-term viability.

MOHELA issued a response to the statements by the firm Thursday stating that MOHELA's Chief Financial Officer, Scott Giles, remains confident that the funding program is feasible.

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UM System President Elson Floyd spoke with Senate Education Committee members Thursday about the System's plans to keep all medical research out of any buildings built by funds appropriated through the proposed MOHELA sale.

Missouri Right for Life,  a group strongly opposed to stem cell research, has been vocal about their disapproval of state funds going to support stem cell research. Sen. Chuck Graham D- Columbia said Floyd's proposal is unrealistic and does not placate Missouri Right for Life, who Graham said is adamant in their opposition of the sale.

The House voted to give initial approval to Speaker Rod Jetton's Social Security tax cut bill Thursday.

The bill is now set for final House passage.  If approved, it will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

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A representative's bill to phase out the state's corporate franchise tax gained approval Thursday from the Missouri House Committee on Ways and Means.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sutherland, R-St. Louis County, would eliminate the tax over the next three years.

After the first year of the bill's approval, some 14,000 employers would be exempt from the tax. The tax would then be eliminated from the state's largest employers by 2011.

About 20 states, including Missouri and Kansas, currently assess a franchise tax on businesses.

By an overwhelming majority, Missouri's Senate rejected an amendment that would have let the state's Public Service Commission regulate cable television services.

The amendment was offered to a bill that would let cable television companies walk away from their local contracts with cities across the state and avoid local regulation.

The bill's sponsor warned state regulation would drive up the cost cable television.  But the chairman of the utility-regulating PSC said the legislature needs to have some agency take responsibility for assuring customer service.

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Ameren UE finally broke its silence today, testifying before a House committee.

The main question Ameren answered dealt with why the company wa silent during the December and January ice storms.

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A Missouri Senator on Wednesday proposed restoring MOHELA funding to six buildings that were axed lsat week.

Though debate to the bill has been stalled, talks are expected to continue through next week.

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Following inaction last year in the U.S. Congress on immigration reform, a number of Missouri lawmakers are pushing an array of measures intended to combat illegal immigration.

Bills that would prohibit hiring illegal aliens and allowing them to attend the state's universities have been proposed, while other measures aim to make English the language at all official proceedings.

But the rising focus on immigration has also increased opposition to many of the proposals.

Hundreds of mothers and children came to the Capitol Wednesday in support of a bill that would repeal a 1950's law that illegalized midwifery in Missouri.

Proponents said Missouri's law stomps out a family's choice of a birthing method that is right for them. Opponents said that there are too many unknows and that it is unsafe.

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Extended debate by Senate Democrats blocked even a preliminary vote on the plan to use assets from MoHELA to fund a series building construction projects across the state.

Before the Senate is a higher education package that combines the MoHELA asset sale with other provisions to expand the power of the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board over the state's universities and to limit increases in college tuition.

The committee approved 7-1 a bill that would let police stop a driver for not wearing a seatbelt.

Currently, state law allows a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt to be issued only if the driver has been stopped for some other traffic violation.

The so-called primary enforcement bill has failed in past years.  But this year, one of the leading critics -- House Speaker Rod Jetton -- said he is reconsidering his opposition because of the role of seatbelts in saving the lives of his wife, daughter and himself in separate traffic accidents.

The company is Smartport and it would be use for transporting goods.

A major railway company involved with Smartport is linked to the Governor by its monetary contributions to his election campaign.

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.	Senate Judiciary Committee hears lethal force bill (02/12/2007)

Two Republican Senators have proposed two bills that would expand the right to use lethal force to protect a dwelling, residence or vehicle from an intruder. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony in favor of the bills from gun-rights activists from across the state on Monday night.

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Democrats have proposed identical legislation in the House and the Senate that would create a "Missouri Urban Pursuit Reduction Grant".

The grant would allow the state to match urban police departments in purchasing and maintaining Global Positioning System technology for use in high speed chases.

StarChase, the manufacturer of the technology, says their product allows police to tag a fleeing vehicle and follow it using GPS and is effective in reducing the number of high speed chases.

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