Bill > HB2977

This bill, by adding new sections to Missouri law, prohibits residents of the state from registering their motor vehicles in another state with the intent to avoid Missouri's titling and registration requirements, defining "residence address" as a person's true, fixed, principal, and permanent home where they have been physically present for at least six months in a calendar year and intend to return. It also makes it unlawful for a Missouri resident to register a vehicle through a "shell entity" (a company lacking a genuine business purpose or physical presence in another state) in another state to circumvent Missouri's laws, establishing a rebuttable presumption that vehicles owned and operated by Missouri residents are subject to state titling and registration. The bill outlines factors to determine intent to circumvent, such as having a Missouri driver's license, operating or storing the vehicle in Missouri, and insuring it there, and specifies penalties for violations, including a requirement to obtain Missouri registration and pay back taxes and fees within sixty days, a $500 penalty for non-payment, and potential suspension of the driver's license if compliance is not met. Additionally, it addresses fraudulent practices related to motor vehicle purchases and evasion of fees and taxes, allowing the department to use insurance databases to identify unregistered vehicles and imposing penalties, with provisions for waiving penalties under certain circumstances and directing revenue from fines to the county school fund.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2977&year=2026&code=R