SCS/SB 715 - This act modifies provisions relating to port authorities. PORT AUTHORITIES (Sections 68.010, 68.015, 68.025, 68.035, 68.040, 68.045, 68.055, 68.057, 68.060, 68.075, 68.085, 68.205, 68.253, and 68.259) This act specifies that creation of a port authority by a county only precludes creation of a port authority by a city within that county if the county port authority was created first. (Section 68.010.3). Also, currently the boundaries of a port district must be approved by the Highways and Transportation Commission. Under this act, if a port authority purchases or leases real property located within adjoining municipalities or states, 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. Additional powers are granted to the Kansas City Port Authority, including for the establishment of park rangers licensed as peace officers, contracting with other port authorities, and for creation of housing authorities, clearing land for redevelopment, planned industrial expansion, and urban redevelopment as provided by law for other political subdivisions. (Section 68.025). The act specifies that appropriations to a department or office may be provided by the department or office to a port authority as an advance rather than on a reimbursement basis, subject to certain assurances the funds will be used for their designated purpose. (Section 68.035.4). 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. (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). These provisions are similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1346 (2025). WATERWAYS AND PORTS TRUST FUND (Section 68.080) This act requires that a Missouri port authority have requested funds for statutorily permitted port purposes before funds may be withdrawn from the Waterways and Ports Trust Fund. The act also specifies that port projects located on land owned by the City of St. Louis and managed by a Missouri port authority, or within an adjacent waterway, may be eligible for an appropriation from the fund, provided the other conditions of the fund are met. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 199 (2025), SB 125 (2025), HB 685 (2025), HB 928 (2025), and SCS/SB 1263 (2024), SS/SB 120 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1346 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 572 (2025), and similar to HB 2216 (2024) and HCS/HB 2352 (2024). ERIC VANDER WEERD