INCOME TAX DEDUCTIONS

This act provides a Missouri income tax deduction in the amount of the value of any prize or award won by a taxpayer in athletic competition in the Olympic, Paralympic, or Special Olympic Games. (Section 143.121)

MOTOR FUEL TAXES

Beginning July 1, 2019, this act provides that the rate of tax on motor fuel shall be increased from $0.17/gallon to $0.27/gallon over a period of four years, with an annual increase of two and one-half cents per gallon. Subject to appropriation, the state portion of the revenue generated from such increases shall be used for the actual cost of the State Highway Patrol in administering and enforcing any state motor vehicle laws and traffic regulations.

This act also provides that, beginning January 1, 2026, alternative fuels shall be taxed at a substantially equivalent rate to the rate of tax on motor fuel.

The State Auditor shall biennially audit the funds generated by the motor fuel tax imposed under Chapter 142 and provide a report to the General Assembly. Such report may be included as part of an audit of a department or agency that receives such funds.

The provisions of this act are expected to raise at least $288 million annually to the State Road Fund to provide for the funding of Missouri state law enforcement and $123 million annually to local governments for road construction and maintenance. (Section 142.803)

This provision is similar to HB 995 (2015), HB 1168 (2015), and HB 1581 (2016), and to a provision contained in HB 992 (2017), HB 993 (2017), HCS/SS/SB 623 (2016), SS/SB 540 (2015), HB 738 (2015), and HB 1360 (2015).

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

This act creates the Emergency State Freight Bottleneck Fund, which shall consist of moneys appropriated by the General Assembly. Moneys in the fund shall be used for the engineering and construction of transportation infrastructure projects that meet certain criteria. If in any fiscal year there are insufficient funds to finance all eligible projects, such projects shall be rank ordered and given priority based on the Missouri State Infra-Grant application criteria published by the Department of Transportation. (Section 226.145)

This act contains a referendum clause.

JOSHUA NORBERG