MFPA Final Legislative Report

            The 93rd session of the Missouri General Assembly adjourned at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2006. 

            It was not a particularly productive session from anyone’s standpoint and can be described as a session of “almosts” for the Missouri Forest Products Association.

            Specifically, we almost passed legislation which would have expanded our local log truck mileage radius to 100 miles (SB 697 & HB 1340); almost passed legislation setting target amounts of bio-moss (wood) used in generating electricity (SB 915); almost passed legislation requiring a two-thirds popular vote to change laws relating to conservation and forsting reserves (HJR 43).

            While these referenced bills were within hours of passage when the time ran out on the session, we were successful on several legislative fronts.

            SB 1008, established the Governor’s Advisory Council on Agriculture, Science and Technology.  We successfully amended the bill to include as one of the council’s five primary responsibilities the following, “5  Apprising the Governor of new developments in forestry technology”.

            In addition, we successfully amended HB 1006, the appropriations bill for the Department of Agriculture, to include almost one hundred thousand dollars for phytosanitary inspectors.  These inspector positions are a critical component for the forest products industry when exporting their products.

            A potential new market for denatured ethanol was created by HB 1270 and 1027.  This law requires, by January of 2008 that all gasoline sold in Missouri contain at least 10% agriculturally derived,  denatured ethanol.  We supported this legislation.

            On the general business front, the General Assembly did pass unemployment compensation reform legislation (HB 1456).

            Copies of all legislation referenced in this report can be had by contacting the MFPA office.