By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Senate has endorsed a bill that would revoke a provision allowing landowners to form self-governing villages.
The item was included in a wide-ranging bill that was signed into law last year, even though some lawmakers were unaware of its existence.
A property owner in Southwest Missouri wants to create a village near Table Rock Lake, a move opposed by Stone County commissioners.
The Senate bill would restore the law to its original language, according to Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields (R, St. Joseph).
"We can't be retro-active, it's not going to undo anything in terms of what happened in Southwest Missouri, but it can say, from this point forward, this is the state of the law in Missouri," Shields said.
The item that allows self-governing villages is supported by House Speaker Rod Jetton. He's on record as saying the provision will help spur the growth of infrastructure.