WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 1786

SB 1786 - This act authorizes the City of St. Joseph to annex an airport owned and operated by such city, regardless of whether the boundaries of such airport are contiguous and compact to the existing corporate limits of the city. This act is identical to HB 2818 (2026). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

2026 Regular Session

Allows St. Joseph to annex its outside-owned airport even if noncontiguous to city limits.

Second Read and Referred S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1786

Overview

  • Bill: SB 1786
  • Session/Jurisdiction: Missouri, 2026
  • Introduced by: Senator Black
  • Purpose: Authorizes the City of St. Joseph to annex an airport owned and operated by the city, even if the airport’s boundaries are not contiguous and compact with the city’s existing corporate limits. The bill is identical to HB 2818 (2026).

Intent and main purpose

  • The primary aim is to expand the scope of annexation authority for the City of St. Joseph specifically to include an airport that is outside the city’s current boundary but owned and operated by the city.
  • In effect, it creates a targeted provision allowing non-contiguous-but-city-owned airport property to be annexed into the city.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 71.012 revisions:
    • Repeals existing section 71.012 and enacts a new section with modified annexation criteria.
    • Subsection 1: Allows governing bodies of cities to annex unincorporated areas that are contiguous and compact to the city, subject to existing statutory frameworks, with a specific exception added (see below).
    • Subsection 2: Establishes procedural steps for petitions and public hearings related to annexation, including:
    • Notarized petitions signed by all fee owners or approved by a majority of unit owners in common-interest communities.
    • Public hearing timing (not less than 14 and not more than 60 days after petition receipt).
    • Notice publication requirements.
    • Subsection 3: If no written objections are filed within the specified period, the city may annex by ordinance without further action, provided it accurately defines new boundary lines and completes filing requirements with county officials and election authorities.
    • Subsection 5: Allows specific discretionary annexation under unique county classifications (this subsection contains several conditions for certain counties near the Mississippi River and for correctional centers).
    • Subsection 6: Adds the airport-specific exception:
    • Notwithstanding other provisions, a city with more than 71,000 but fewer than 79,000 inhabitants that owns and operates an airport outside its boundaries may annex that airport even if the airport’s boundaries are not contiguous and compact to the city’s existing limits.
  • General annexation process: Maintains standard procedural elements (petitions, hearings, public notice, opportunities for objections, and filing with county authorities) but adds the targeted airport provision as a standalone exception.

Who/what is affected

  • Primary beneficiary: The City of St. Joseph.
  • Affected entity: The City-owned airport located outside the current city boundaries.
  • Affected populations: Residents and property interests within the airport area and adjacent areas undergoing annexation; landowners within proposed annexation tracts (subject to petition and objection processes).
  • Administrative/timely impacts: County clerks, county assessors, election authorities, and local planning/administrative bodies will implement the expanded annexation process and notice requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Petition and hearing timeline:
    • Hearing held within 14–60 days after petition receipt.
    • Notice published at least 7 days before the hearing; publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the petitioned city boundaries (or nearest qualified newspaper if none exist).
  • Objections:
    • Written objections must be filed within 14 days after the public hearing by at least 5% of qualified voters in the city (or by 2 qualified voters within the area to be annexed if applicable) to trigger standard annexation procedures under existing sections (71.015 and 71.860–71.920).
  • Effect of no objections:
    • If no objections are filed, the city may annex the territory by ordinance without further action, with formal filing requirements to county officials and the election authority.
  • Limitation and sunset:
    • The bill does not specify a sunset; it creates a standing exception for airport annexation by the City of St. Joseph, subject to the general annexation framework.

Practical implications

  • The bill provides a clear, legislature-backed mechanism for St. Joseph to bring its airport into city limits, potentially improving governance, service provision, zoning consistency, taxation, and regulatory oversight for airport operations.
  • It narrows a general contiguity requirement for this particular circumstance (city-owned airport outside city boundaries) to enable timely annexation.
  • Other municipalities or airports are not automatically covered; the provision is tailored to St. Joseph’s situation and is identical to a companion bill (HB 2818).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.