Legislative Alert: Oppose SB 4 – Act Now Before March 10th Hearing!
Missourians, your voice is needed! Senate Bill No. 4, a sweeping utility regulation bill, is scheduled for a Missouri House hearing on March 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM. This legislation threatens to raise utility costs for consumers and small businesses while favoring utility companies with significant financial and operational benefits. We must act quickly to oppose it!
The deadline to submit online testimony against SB4 is March 10, 2025, at 11:59 pm. Please take a few minutes to submit your opposition through the Missouri House witness portal here: Submit Testimony Now. Every voice counts, and your testimony can help stop this one-sided bill from becoming law.
Why Oppose SB4?
ACT For Missouri has outlined serious concerns about this legislation, which prioritizes utility companies over the people they serve. Here’s why SB4 is bad for Missourians:
- Higher Utility Bills: The bill allows increased assessments (Section 386.370) and new fees to be passed onto consumers, potentially raising rates by as much as 20%. Small businesses and households will feel the squeeze.
- Paying for Projects Early: Through CWIP “Construction Work in Progress” (Section 393.1900), you’ll pay higher rates for utility projects before they’re even finished—essentially giving utilities interest-free loans on your dime.
- Unpredictable Rate Hikes: “Future Test Rate Modeling” (Sections 393.130, 393.135, 393.1900) lets utilities charge based on projected costs, risking overcharges if estimates are wrong, with limited accountability.
- Sewer District Fees: Trustee compensation in sewer districts (Sections 204.300, 204.610) could increase operational costs, again passed onto ratepayers.
These changes favor utility profits over affordability and fairness for Missouri families and small businesses. While the bill offers minor consumer protections—like opting out of smart meters (Section 386.820)—they don’t offset the massive burdens it imposes.
Take Action: Submit Testimony by 11:59 pm March 10th!
We urge all Missouri residents to submit online testimony opposing SB4 before the deadline on March 10, 2025. Use the link below to make your voice heard:
Submit Testimony Here
Not sure what to say? Feel free to use or adapt these bullet points in your testimony:
- “SB4 could raise my utility bills by up to 20% through increased assessments and new fees, this is unfair to families and small businesses.”
- “I shouldn’t have to pay for utility projects before they’re done. This ‘Construction Work in Progress’ policy is a hidden tax on ratepayers.”
- “Future Test Rate Modeling risks overcharging me based on guesses, not actual costs, with little protection if utilities get it wrong.”
Why This Matters Now
With a new administration in Washington shifting energy priorities toward reliable, affordable sources, Missouri lawmakers can revisit utility infrastructure needs in the next session without rushing this flawed bill through. SB4 is a bad deal for consumers, and we need to tell the House to KILL THIS LEGISLATION!
Submit your testimony today—it’s quick, easy, and vital. Together, we can protect Missouri families and businesses from this utility giveaway.
Link: Submit Testimony Now
Deadline: 11:59 pm March 10, 2025
Let’s stand up for fair utility rates—ACT NOW!
More Info: Concerns on SB 4
Want to do more? Here are the office numbers of the committee members:
Rep. Bob Bromley (R) 573-751-7082 Chair
Rep. John Simmons (R) 573-751-3776 Vice Chair
Rep. Keri Ingle (D) 573-751-1459 Ranking Minority Member
Rep. Brad Banderman (R) 573-751-0549
Rep. John Black (R) 573-751-1167
Rep. Stephanie Boykin (D) 573-751-4163
Rep. Mark Boyko (D) 573-751-4069
Rep. Mike Costlow (R) 573-751-3572
Rep. Ron Fowler (R) 573-751-8636
Rep. Ed Lewis (R) 573-751-6566
Rep. Cathy Jo Loy (R) 573-751-5458
Rep. Mark Meirath (R) 573-751-1468
Rep. Jeff Myers (R) 573-751-2689
Rep. Philip Oehlerking (R) 573-751-9765
Rep. Brad Pollitt (R) 573-751-9774
Rep. Jim Schulte (R) 573-751-5226
Rep. Mike Steinmeyer (R) 573-751-3674
Rep. Del Taylor (D) 573-751-2198
Rep. Wick Thomas (D) 573-751-3310
Rep. Dean Van Schoiack (R) 573-751-3666
Rep. Christopher Warwick (R) 573-751-1347
Rep. Emily Weber (D) 573-751-4485
Rep. Eric Woods (D) 573-751-2199