Steve Butz

The House also passed legislation barring state funds from going to diversity, equity and inclusion programs and a bill shielding companies from having to place specific cancer warnings on pesticides.

The legislation would move control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from the mayor’s office to a board mainly appointed by the governor.

The House also passed bills to end the capital gains tax, preserve the assets of foster children and allow landlords to refuse tenants who get federal housing assistance.

The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would place control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department under a board consisting of governor-appointed members and the mayor of St. Louis.

A lawsuit that seeks to reimburse remote workers who paid the city’s earnings tax awaits a ruling from the Missouri Court of Appeals.

Other recommendations by the committee included an exemption of the earnings tax for low-income workers as well as reimbursements for remote workers.

St. Louis Budget Director Paul Payne faced a barrage of questions from Missouri House members over the city’s earnings tax on Monday.

As the St. Louis Board of Aldermen considers a proposal to provide property tax relief for seniors, the St. Louis County Council will again debate the issue after rejecting an earlier bill. The discussions come as the Missouri House continues to examine personal property taxes and the earnings tax.

The sold-out event in St. Louis coincides with a three-day Democratic National Committee event that will feature Vice President Kamala Harris.

Rep. Crystal Quade has been the leader of Missouri House Democrats since 2018.