Gov. Nixon Vetoes Bill That Would Have Imposed New Fees on Missourians at Local License Offices

Press Release

Gov. Jay Nixon today vetoed Senate Bill 867, which would have imposed new fees on Missourians at local license offices and violated the constitutional requirement that legislation be limited to its original purpose. In addition to a new $2.00 notary fee, the bill would have allowed license offices to charge $2.00 for each "electronic transmission" and each "electronic look-up." For example, all these $2.00 fees could have been imposed on top of the $3.50 fee currently charged by license offices for motor vehicle registrations.

"Missourians should not be asked to pay yet another new government fee to receive the same service they receive today, and certainly not by way of an eleventh-hour amendment to an already swollen omnibus bill stretched far beyond the bill's original purpose," the Governor said in his veto message.

The Governor also signed four bills, including legislation to clarify insurance coverage responsibilities required for ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. Senate Bill 947 requires both the transportation company and the driver to maintain primary automobile insurance and provides additional protections for consumers by requiring higher minimum insurance requirements.

"This is an important measure that will protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians by ensuring Missouri's insurance laws keep up with the emergence of ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft," said Gov. Nixon. "I thank the General Assembly for working in a bipartisan way to strengthen our insurance laws to account for these new technologies."

Among other provisions, the law requires minimum insurance of at least $1 million for death, bodily injury and property damage when the driver is on the way to pick up a fare or transporting the fare, and mandates that the company's insurance applies if a driver's insurance has lapsed or does not provide enough coverage.

Gov. Nixon today also signed:

Senate Concurrent Resolution 50 designating September as "Suicide Prevention Awareness Month" and encouraging Missourians to participate in activities to raise awareness for suicide prevention; and
House Concurrent Resolution 73 designating the month of May as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month" and the month of October as "Brachial Plexus Awareness Month;" and
House Bill 2194, which includes a number of provisions relating to insurance regulations, including a provision specifying that when an insurer transfers an auto or homeowner policy among affiliated insurers within an insurance company holding system, the insurer accepting the transfer must provide notice to the insured that their coverage is with a new insurance company.

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