Rep. Dean Dohrman, a Republican, represents Johnson, Pettis, and Saline counties (District 51). He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2012. In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Dohrman is an online professor. Rep. Dohrman is a member of Warrensburg and Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce, and Sedalia Lions Club. He attends Wesley United Methodist Church. A graduate of LaMonte High, Rep. Dohrman earned his PhD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2004. Born in Warrensburg, Rep. Dohrman currently lives in LaMonte.

Capitol Report: July 12, 2018

Posted Monday, July 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM

Recently, with the governor’s signature, the appropriations bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2019 state operating budget officially became law and took effect when the new fiscal year began July 1. In total, the bills make up a $28.6 billion budget that makes a record investment in K-12 education, and stabilizes funding for Missouri’s institutions of higher learning. While the governor signed the majority of the legislature’s budget priorities into law, he also used his line-item veto authority to strike several appropriations from the spending plan. In total he issued 21 line-item vetoes totaling more than $12 million.

The vetoes impact special funding for several of the state’s colleges and universities, including Missouri Southern, Harris-Stowe, Truman State, Northwest Missouri State, and Three Rivers Community College. Other vetoes impact funding for the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Office of Child Advocate, and Volunteer Firefighter Workers’ Compensation Grants. With the vetoed appropriations, lawmakers will have the option to consider veto overrides during the annual Veto Session in September. An override requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber of the legislature and would reauthorize the vetoed spending line.

Also, as promised I will continue to summarize Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed (TAFP) bills from this legislative session. All of these bills have been signed by legislative officers and delivered to the governor’s office. Bill review will end on July 14.

2018 Truly Agreed to and Finally Passed Bills

HB 1796 -- Establishes the First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Act and authorizes a tax deduction for contributions to a savings account dedicated to buying a first home

Beginning January 1, 2019, this bill establishes the "First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Act" and authorizes an individual income tax deduction for 50% of the contributions to such a savings account dedicated to buying a first home. The bill specifies that the annual contribution deduction limit is $1,600 for an individual or $3,200 for a couple filing a joint tax return.

HB 1797 (Signed by Governor: 06/01/18) -- Establishes the Nuclear Power Plant Security Guard Act

This bill defines "armed nuclear security guard," "structure or fenced yard," and "nuclear power plant" for purposes of the laws relating to armed nuclear security guards. The bill specifies the levels of physical force, including deadly force, an armed nuclear security guard may use against another person at a nuclear power plant or within a structure or fenced yard of a nuclear power plant to prevent certain dangerous actions by the other person. An armed nuclear security guard, employer of an armed nuclear security guard, or owner of a nuclear power plant will not be subject to civil liability for conduct of an armed nuclear security guard that is permitted in the bill. The bill also provides that if an offense that would be trespass in the first degree, a class B misdemeanor, occurs at a building of or on real property of a nuclear power plant, it will be a class E felony.

HB 1809 (Signed by Governor: 06/01/18) -- Changes the laws regarding the Bi-state Metropolitan Development District compact by adding Franklin County

This bill adds Franklin County to the compact between Missouri and Illinois creating the Bi-State Development Agency and the Bi-State Metropolitan Development District.

HB 1831 (Signed by Governor: 06/22/18) -- Changes the laws regarding the sales tax holiday that occurs in early August by adding an exemption for disposable diapers

This bill clarifies that disposable diapers are included in the items exempted from sales tax during the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in August each year. This bill authorizes a state and local sales and use tax exemption for initiation fees and dues paid to nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation by the IRS under Section 501(c)(7).

HB 1832 (Signed by Governor: 06/01/18) -- Changes merchandising practices and credit user protection law and creates the offenses of defacing a credit card reader and illegal use of a card scanner

Currently, scrap dealers must keep documentation for any transaction involving certain metals. This bill expands the documentation requirements to add transactions involving motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or tractor batteries.

HB 1838 (Signed by Governor: 06/01/18) -- Authorizes the conveyance of certain state property

This bill authorizes and empowers the Governor to convey all interest in specific property, described in the bill, located in Jefferson City, Missouri. The Commissioner of Administration shall set the terms and conditions for the conveyance as he or she deems reasonable.

HB 1858 (Signed by Governor: 06/01/18) -- Requires the Department of Revenue to feature a map of all special taxing districts on its website

Beginning July 1, 2019, this bill requires interest on a tax overpayment be paid after 45 days at the same rate of interest as the rate imposed for an underpayment of income tax and removes the provision exempting interest on amounts of less than $1. This bill directs the Department of Revenue to create an online mapping feature whereby the taxing information of political subdivisions and special taxing districts will be made readily available. The mapping feature will display the geographical boundaries of such political subdivisions and taxing districts, and shall have the option of superimposing those boundaries on Missouri House of Representatives and Senate districts. Political subdivisions collecting sales tax are required to provide to the department mapping and geographic data pertaining to its borders and jurisdictions. The department may contract with a third party to maintain the mapping feature. The department shall implement the mapping feature by July 1, 2019.

Travel Missouri This Summer: Hermann

It is an honor to serve the 51st District in the Missouri House of Representatives. Each week I will issue a capitol report to keep you informed of activities in Jefferson City. Any concerns or issues you might have are of great interest to me. I look forward to your input and thoughts, so please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions, concerns, or ideas to improve our state government and the quality of life for all Missourians. My telephone number is 573-751-2204 or you may contact me by email at dean.dohrman@house.mo.gov. Thank you for working with me to make Missouri a great place to live.