Bill > SB953

This bill modifies provisions related to the expenditure of moneys in certain funds by the Department of Natural Resources, specifically concerning the Natural Resources Protection Fund and the Missouri Air Emission Reduction Fund. Key changes include extending the period during which unexpended balances in the Natural Resources Protection Fund subaccounts exceeding prior biennium collections will not revert to the general revenue fund, from June 30, 2027, indefinitely, and establishing a new mechanism to transfer a portion of state general revenue sales and use taxes derived from electric power distribution to the air pollution permit fees subaccount of the Natural Resources Protection Fund starting July 1, 2027, to solely fund the air pollution control program. The bill also removes a provision that allowed the state treasurer to deposit certain moneys into the general revenue fund if the state's net general revenue did not increase by two percent or more, thus ensuring that fees collected for the Missouri Air Emission Reduction Fund are consistently used for its intended purposes. Additionally, the bill clarifies that agricultural nonpoint sources and agricultural storm water discharges, along with return flows from irrigated agriculture, are exempt from permitting requirements unless they cause harm to public health or the environment, and it introduces a new section granting exclusive rights to return flows generated by a person who has contracted for water storage in a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, provided they have unused storage capacity and comply with state regulations.