Bill > HB627

This bill modifies several aspects of Missouri's natural resources and environmental regulations. It changes the Department of Natural Resources' permit application process by requiring local jurisdictions to verify that permit applicants comply with local zoning, building, and health codes. If a local jurisdiction doesn't respond within 30 days, it's considered a verification of compliance. Notably, the department cannot deny an application based on local codes enacted after the initial application filing. The bill also updates regulations for nursery dealers, requiring them to submit an affidavit that they will not import or sell certain invasive plant species by specific future dates. Additionally, the bill creates a new Soil Erosion Control Fund to provide loans to homeowners' associations for ecological restoration projects along waterways, such as daylighting waterways, restoring natural flood capacity, and bank stabilization. The fund has specific eligibility requirements, including that loans cannot exceed 80% of a project's total cost, must have repayment terms of up to 10 years, and require a homeowners' association assessment and property liens as collateral. The bill also adjusts fee structures for various environmental and chemical reporting requirements, with provisions for fee collection and distribution to local emergency planning committees.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB627&year=2025&code=R