The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri Senate Bill 1551 authorizes certain third-class cities to impose a transient guest tax up to 5%
Last action · March 9, 2026: Voted Do Pass S Local Government, Elections and Pensions CommitteeSponsor: Rusty Black
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 1551 permits qualifying third-class cities operating under a to impose a transient guest tax of up to 5% on lodging establishments and short-term rentals, subject to voter approval. The revenue must be used for tourism promotion, and cities can choose whether to collect the tax internally or through the state Department of Revenue.
Qualifying municipalities gain a new revenue source from hotel and short-term rental guests, which must be dedicated to tourism promotion, while visitors face increased lodging costs if voters approve the tax.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Transient guests
Transient guests occupying lodging establishments or facilities in participating cities will pay a separate tax of up to 5% on their lodging charges.
Qualifying third-class cities
Eligible cities gain the authority to propose, impose, and collect a transient guest tax to fund tourism promotion upon voter approval.
Department of Revenue
The Department of Revenue may enter into agreements with cities to administer, collect, and enforce the tax, retaining up to 1% for costs.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cities are eligible to impose this transient guest tax?
What can the revenues from the transient guest tax be used for?
Can the tax be repealed once it is in place?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 9, 2026SenateCommitteeVoted Do Pass S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
- Mar 2, 2026SenateHearing Conducted S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
- Feb 5, 2026SenateFloorSecond Read and Referred S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
- Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroducedS First Read
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. The text on record is the 6711S.01I - Introduced version. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Identical Legislation Across Multiple Bills
The text notes this act is identical to HB 2595, a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1790, and HCS/HB 2431 from the 2026 legislative session.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.senate.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools