Bill > HB947

This bill introduces several provisions aimed at supporting rural economic development and infrastructure in Missouri. The bill directs the Department of Transportation to prioritize rural road and highway projects with high fatality rates and conduct a feasibility study on improvements to the Upper Mississippi River basin, including evaluating year-round navigation, lock upgrades, and potential hydropower additions. It modifies the Missouri Technology Corporation's board structure by increasing board membership from 15 to 16 and requiring at least 6 board members to be from rural areas. The bill also mandates that the corporation's expenditures for rural areas must proportionally match the percentage of rural residents. Additionally, the legislation establishes new requirements for solar energy projects, including mandating that at least 90% of solar equipment and labor be sourced from the United States and Missouri, respectively, and limiting solar projects to no more than 2% of a county's cropland. The bill creates a Rural Development Office within the Department of Economic Development to advocate for rural communities, build partnerships, serve as a liaison for rural programs, and conduct needs assessments in areas like housing, childcare, broadband, healthcare, workforce development, and community development. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions protecting coal-fired power plants from closure for five years and requiring electrical corporations to obtain certificates of convenience and necessity before selling power.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB947&year=2025&code=R