ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved a series of board bills Friday that would repeal city abortion laws, change its jail access rules and charge a new free on short-term rentals.
The board approved several bills ahead of its annual summer break. These bills now head to the St. Louis mayor’s desk for review.
Abortion
Board Bill 36 would repeal two city ordinances on abortion regulations that have been effect for decades. The ordinances require abortion clinics to obtain permits and perform inspections. There are also various protocols for time limits and restrictions in prescribing abortion pills.
Alderwoman Cara Spencer, the bill’s sponsor, described the bills as “some of our city’s most archaic laws related to healthcare facilities” ahead of the final passage.
Jail access
Board Bill 11CS and Board Bill 12CS would increase opportunities for various city leaders and attorneys to access the St. Louis City Justice Center.
The mayor, members of the board of aldermen, the city counselor and members of the detention oversight board can make visits “every day” between 8 a.m. and 7 a.m. “without restrictions or advance notice.” Attorneys would also have the opportunity to visit clients at the justice center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during “regular professional visit hours,” presumably on weekdays.
The bills aims to facilitate city officials in the oversight of jail conditions and minimize obstacles for defense attorneys to communicate with their clients over legal proceedings.
Short-term rental fees
Board Bill 41CSAA would allow the city to impose a new fee for people who operate short-term rentals. It calls for a 3% fee for those who operate short-term rentals of their homes or properties through Airbnb, VRBO and similar services.
At least half of the proceeds collected within the fees would support the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. which aims to help low-income residents afford homes and repairs. The rest of the proceeds would support “other affordable housing initiatives such as relocation assistance or counsel eviction defense,” according to the board bill.
The bill head’s to the mayor’s desk, though with her approval, this would leave the possibility of a 3% short-term rental fee as a ballot proposition for city voters, likely in the November 2024 election.
For a closer look at other bills that cleared the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Friday, click here to watch the city’s live stream. And click here for Friday’s board agenda.
