Citizens of the 125th District

House Approves Legislation to Protect Victims from Their Abusers (HB 744)

The members of the Missouri House gave strong bipartisan support to legislation that would allow victims of abuse to obtain lifetime orders of protection against extreme, obsessive abusers.

The bill’s sponsor said the legislation “would end the necessity for victims to have to return to court every year to get a new protection order, and incurring the associated costs, as well as having to face their abuser again in court.”

HB 661 disqualifies any person from driving a commercial motor vehicle for life if they are convicted of using a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving severe forms of human trafficking. Supporters say this is needed to provide a strong disincentive to human trafficking.

House Moves to Exempt Stimulus Payments from State Income Tax (HB 991)

The House has given initial support to legislation that would exempt the federal stimulus payments received by Missourians from state income tax. The bill is similar to one approved by the legislature last year that exempted the first round of stimulus payments from state income tax.

He said, “Since then we’ve had two payments in the state of Missouri. Those would be subject to state tax if we don’t change that in statute. So this bill takes care of those and also seeks to eliminate tax liability for any future stimulus payments related to the pandemic.”

State Representative Jim Kalberloh