House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann’s legislation to improve local government accountability and transparency (HB 271) was signed into law by Governor Mike Parson.

Wiemann’s bill creates the Missouri Local Government Expenditure Database, which creates an easy-to-use, downloadable database allowing taxpayers to search expenditures and payments received and made by counties and municipalities. The new database will be housed on the Missouri Accountability Portal.

One provision included in the final bill will limit the ability of local health officials to close businesses, churches and schools during an emergency. It will prevent local health officials from abusing their power, limiting their ability to close businesses, schools and churches during a public health or safety emergency to a period of 30 days, as opposed to closures in perpetuity, which occurred during the pandemic. Another provision bans so-called “vaccine passports” to ensure Missourians do not have to show proof of vaccination in order to access public transportation or other public services.

Additionally, the bill contains language to help facilitate the expansion of broadband internet access, as well as a new crack down on the theft of copper and catalytic convertors.

With the governor’s signature, the provisions in the bill are now set to become law on August 28.