144th House District Capitol Report

I had several constituents from the district stop by to visit last week. I don't always have a lot of time to spend with guests, but I always enjoy their visits and do my best to spend as much time as possible with them. We also had members from the Silver Haired Legislature at the Capitol, advocating for issues impacting our senior citizens. Our senior citizens face a lot of obstacles, and we must ensure that we are doing our part to assist them in whatever way we can.

• Improving rural economic development: The House Committee on Rural Community Development recently considered two bills aimed at enhancing rural economic development in Missouri. This endeavor is vital for rejuvenating and sustaining rural communities, tackling demographic challenges, fostering job creation, diversifying the economy, and enhancing overall quality of life.

HB 2170 introduces the "Missouri Rural Access to Capital Act," promoting economic development by offering tax credits to investors making capital investments in rural funds. The credits start at 0% for the first two years and rise to 15% for the subsequent four years, with an annual cap of $16 million. Rural funds must undergo an approval process, adhere to investment criteria, and could face credit recapture for noncompliance. Eligible businesses must meet specific criteria, and rural funds are required to submit annual reports. The program sunsets on Aug. 28, 2030.

Meanwhile, HB 2069 adjusts state funding for regional planning commissions, doubling the maximum funds for the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and increasing the Mid-America Regional Council's limit. The bill also updates the list of planning commissions and adjusts maximum grants for all commissions with the consumer price index from July 1, 2026.

Legislative initiatives, such as these bills, aim to offer targeted support and resources to address the unique challenges faced by rural areas such as ours.

• An eye on immigration issues: The Special Committee on Innovation and Technology heard testimony last week on HB 2489, which would establish the "Immigrant Employment Registration and Taxation Protection Act."

This legislation seeks to address employment practices and immigration status verification, and extends municipal sanctuary policies to include qualified immigrant workers registered in the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) database. Private employers would be required to enroll in a federal work authorization program, verifying the eligibility of new hires beginning Jan. 1, 2025, with specified penalties for noncompliance.

The bill outlines definitions, establishing a database and setting requirements, for qualified immigrant workers and their employers. Qualified immigrant workers must sign an affidavit, and employers must provide documentation to DOLIR for confirmation. The Attorney General enforces the act, with penalties for noncompliance. The bill also sets restrictions on the working hours for individuals ages 16 to 18 and grants exemptions for certain categories.

The legislation would protect Missouri jobs, help cut down on illegal immigration, and protect Missouri taxpayers' dollars. I am not on this committee, but it is my understanding there will need to be a few amendments to this bill before it can move forward.

• Missouri looks to safeguard individuals from unauthorized AI deepfakes: The state of Missouri is not going to "shake it off" when it comes to the issue of explicit deepfake images being shared across the digital world. The newly-filed HB 2573, referred to as "The Taylor Swift Act," would combat the unauthorized disclosure of intimate or explicit digital depictions, particularly deepfake images. Prompted by Taylor Swift's experience with manipulated photos, the bill allows affected individuals to bring civil actions, specifying conditions for valid consent. Relief options include monetary damages and injunctive relief.

The legislation also addresses criminal offenses, categorizing them as felonies based on intent. The bill provides liability protections for interactive computer service providers. The bill sponsor said he filed the bill, acknowledging the emotional, financial and reputational harm caused by such disclosures, especially on women. The bill reflects a commitment to creating a safer digital environment for all Missourians.

• Update on the budget process: One week following the State of the State address and the release of Gov. Mike Parson's budget recommendations, the House Budget Committee got to work on the more than $52 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
• As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or suggestions you might have. As your representative, I am here to assist you however I can. I can be reached by email at Chris.Dinkins@house.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 751-2112. Please do not contact me via social media. These messages are easy to overlook and may not be responded to in a timely manner.

CHRIS DINKINS represents Missouri's 144th House District. The district includes Bollinger, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, Shannon, Washington and Wayne counties.