HB770--RESTRICTIONONACTIONSBYSTATEAGENCIES
SPONSOR: Thompson
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
FinancialInstitutionsbyavoteof10to3.
Thisbillprovidesthatnostateagency,asdefinedinthebill,
shallpublishinformation,adoptlawsorrules,orissueguidelines
forpurposesofsocialcreditscoresorotherenvironmental, social
justice,orgovernancescoresormetricsthatrestricttheability
ofanyindustry,includingagriculturaloperations,tooffer
productsandservices. Astateagencyshallnotrequireanyperson
orbusinesstooperateinaccordancewithsocialcreditscoresor
otherenvironmental, socialjustice,orgovernancescoresor
metrics.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthebillprohibitsastateagency
fromimplementingenvironmental, socialjusticeandgovernance
scoresonindustriessuchasenergy,water,etc.Thesocialaspect
relatestothecommunitywherethecompany'soperationsareandthe
governanceistheleadership,theexecutivecontrolandproxy
voting.Recentlythefederalgovernmentputpressureonfinancial
relateddisclosuresandtheSecuritiesandExchangeCommission
(SEC)issuedanapproximately500pagedisclosurerulefor
companiestomakecertaindisclosures. TheAttorneyGeneral's
OfficewrotealetterinoppositiontotheSECproposal. The
environmentalagendaisadversetotheagriculturalindustry. The
intentofthebillisforthestatenottopublishrulesand
regulationssimilartoSECpolicythatcouldharmthebusiness
community. Thebillseekstoenhanceanindividual'spathtoself-
sufficiency. Thereisaconcernabouttherebeingnostandardsin
placecurrentlyandtheinterestistofocusonenvironmentaland
otherfactorsbutnottoforceit.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Thompson;
GregoryPfister,OpportunitySolutionsProject;andMissouriFarm
Bureau.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthebillisvague
andoverlybroad.TheDepartmentofCorrectionswasconcerned
aboutthebilllimitingitsabilitytoscorebiddersforprojects
thattheydo.TheprohibitionoftheESGrequirementswouldlead
toanegativeimpact.Wearethreatenedbyclimatechangeand
thereisathreattotheenvironmentwithfloodingandalsoaneed
forstandardizedrulessuchasthosebeingimplementedbySEC. TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereKathleenDolson;Service
EmployeesInternationalUnionMissouriStateCouncil;SierraClub
MissouriChapter;andServiceEmployeesIntlUnion.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.