2016 Missouri legislative session recap

For advocates of better, safer walking and biking, no bills passed in Jefferson City this year that constituted big wins.  As usual though, we stopped some really bad bills from passing! Missouri State Representative Jay Houghton dominated the bad bills sponsorship this session. His HB 2046, would have required a 15 foot “safety flag” (see above photo) to be attached to any bicycle on lettered county roads. His second, HB 2047, would have allowed certain users to ride motorized vehicles – ATVs and golf carts – on the tranquil Katy Trail.  Both bills failed to pass in the House.  

In the “better luck next year” category, bills to ban texting while driving for all ages failed to gain traction in either house this year, despite a large coalition in support.  Missouri continues to be one of only four states in the nation that have not banned texting while driving for all ages.

In preparation for 2017 Trailnet and other advocates will be back at it, working to build support for and pass state legislation to ban texting while driving, and assuring that motorized vehicles will not be allowed on the Katy Trail.