Oppose Unregulated "Rangers" & Corporate Power Grabs in Port Authorities

I urge you to oppose SB1146 (Gregory) and HB2693 (Steinmeyer), which dangerously expand the powers of port authorities with insufficient oversight, erodes accountability, and threatens the rights and resources of Missouri’s most vulnerable communities. These bills represent a reckless consolidation of authority, enabling port authorities to act as quasi-independent governments with broad powers that risk prioritizing corporate interests over public good. 1. Creation of Armed Port Rangers Without Clear Civilian Oversight The bills grant port authorities the power to appoint and commission armed Port Rangers with arrest authority and the power to carry firearms. While they are required to complete peace officer training, these rangers operate under port authority jurisdiction—not municipal police oversight—raising serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and the potential for over-policing in port-adjacent communities, especially communities of color already burdened by systemic inequities. 2. Expansion of Corporate Influence and Displacement Risks SB1146 and HB2693 allow port authorities to partner with private corporations, acquire property across state lines, and use eminent domain for development projects. This could lead to land grabs, resident displacement, and gentrification, with tax incentives and diverted public funds subsidizing private developers without strong guarantees of affordable housing, living-wage jobs, or community benefits. 3. Weakening of Fiscal Oversight and Transparency The bills triple the competitive procurement threshold, raising it to $75,000, and allow port authorities to reject bids based on subjective criteria like “character and reputation.” This opens the door to favoritism, reduces fair competition, and risks wasting public funds. Additionally, closed records provisions allow port authorities to shield business negotiation documents from public view, limiting transparency and accountability. 4. Undermining Democratic Governance and Taxpayer Consent The bills allow port authorities to levy sales and property taxes within “port improvement districts” with only 50% consent by assessed value and per capita property owners—down from 60%—and without always requiring a court review. This reduces community input and enables tax levies that disproportionately impact low-income residents, all while operating through appointed boards with little direct public accountability. 5. Environmental and Equity Concerns While the bills include provisions for environmental cleanup, their broad development powers could lead to overdevelopment, pollution, and loss of natural habitats—disproportionately affecting marginalized communities already burdened by environmental injustice. SB1146 and HB2693 are corporate-friendly power grabs disguised as economic development. they empower unaccountable armed rangers, enable land dispossession, weaken fiscal oversight, and silence community voices. I urge you to reject these bills. Missouri deserves equitable development, transparent governance, and justice—not legislation that sacrifices communities for private profit.