As some of you may have heard, the city of Annapolis had a well go down last Friday. My office has been working with the city to help them find drinking water. So far, we have been able to help get three pallets of drinking water donated. The city is working with SEMA to be put on a rotating schedule to receive drinking water. Our office is still trying to get them more drinking water. We are thankful to the area communities who have been helpful to the city during this time. I want to ask our constituents of the 144th district to help. If you can donate any kind of drinking water please get in touch with the city of Annapolis. As a community, we have to stick together and help our communities that may be in need.

Tax relief for seniors

Senate Bill 756, another bill passed during the 2024 legislative session, updates the criteria for Missouri seniors to qualify for a real property tax credit. This clarifies the eligibility requirements established by SB 190, which was enacted in 2023 to reduce the tax burden on senior citizens. The new law addresses issues that Missouri counties encountered while implementing the provisions of Section 137.1050, RSMo, particularly regarding which senior taxpayers qualify for the homestead credit. It defines eligibility criteria and calculates credits based on reductions in property tax liability, benefiting eligible senior homeowners statewide.

To qualify for the tax credit, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Missouri resident.

• Be 62 years of age or older.

• Be the property owner or have a legal or equitable interest in the home.

• Be liable for the payment of real property taxes on the home.

• Occupy the property as their primary residence.

• Have no delinquent taxes.

Counties must individually implement the tax credit. The deadline for the initial application is December 31, 2024. Applicants will be notified by mail or email if their application is approved.

Approved applicants do not need to renew their applications to continue participating in the program. However, the Department of Revenue reserves the right to conduct periodic audits and reviews of continued eligibility. Failure to provide the requested documentation may result in removal from the program.

'SuN Bucks' program

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has introduced a new program called Missouri SuN Bucks, under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT) initiative. This program aims to help families with school-aged children purchase food during the summer when school meals are unavailable. Eligible families will receive a one-time $120 benefit per child, which can be used to buy nutritious foods at approved locations across Missouri.

Most eligible children will automatically receive the benefit without the need to apply. However, households that do need to apply must do so online by August 31, 2024. The Missouri SuN Bucks Eligibility Navigator is available to assist families in determining if they need to complete an application.

Families with qualifying children will receive an EBT card by mail, or the benefit will be added to their existing EBT card. Automatic eligibility is based on several factors, including participation in SNAP or Temporary Assistance, the child’s status as a foster child, homeless, or migrant, or if the child attends a school offering the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program and the household meets the income requirements.

The federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved Missouri’s program on July 19, 2024. Due to the late approval and the challenges of launching the program in its first year, DSS anticipates potential delays in issuing benefits.

For additional details about Missouri SuN Bucks, visit mydss.mo.gov/SuNBucks.

Broadband expansion

The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has received approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for its Initial Proposal under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This approval allows Missouri to access over $1.7 billion in funding, the third largest allocation in the country, to expand broadband across the state.

This approval supports ongoing efforts to improve internet connectivity for various sectors, including business, agriculture, healthcare, and education. The state’s proposal, submitted in two volumes, outlines a transparent process to assess broadband availability and details the plans for administering funds to bring high-speed internet to underserved areas.

The OBD has identified over 200,000 locations lacking broadband access, with plans to provide service either through BEAD funding or existing programs. The OBD will continue to refine its broadband mapping and expects to open the first round of grants soon. Further information, including the final proposal, is available on OBD’s Connecting All Missourians webpage.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you might have. As your Representative, I am here to assist you however I can. I can be reached by email at Chris.Dinkins@house.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 751-2112. Please do not contact me via social media. These messages are easy to overlook and may not be responded to in a timely manner.

CHRIS DINKINS represents Missouri's 144th House district. The district includes Bollinger, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, Shannon, Washington and Wayne counties.