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Water export bill advances in MO Senate

A bill on water rights that has the support of several state ag groups advanced out of the Missouri Senate on Thursday.

Senate Bill 82 requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources to export water from Missouri. A similar bill was considered in the state legislature last year, but didn’t advance.

Mike Deering with the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association says the organization is supportive this year after learning more about it, because water is an important resource for the state’s cattle producers.

“We’re making sure we protect our water in the state and make sure it doesn’t go to California at the whim at whoever needs it.”

Casey Wasser with the Missouri Soybean Association tells Brownfield water is important for the state’s soybean farmers and “a 31 to 1 vote in the Missouri Senate is very good. I know House leadership has interest in passing this water preservation act.”

Wasser says there is a similar bill in the Missouri House, but it’s not as advanced as Senate Bill 82. The recently passed Senate bill could be considered in the House around spring break.

“If the House picked up the Senate version and moved it quickly, it will have to go back to the Senate for another ratification vote. I think that’s the way it will go and the Senate version could end up on the governor’s desk.”

The Missouri Legislature is scheduled to wrap up the session in May.