Expect a flurry of announcements in the next week, as time runs out for Governor Jay Nixon to act on legislation before it becomes law without his action.

The Missouri State Capitol

The Missouri State Capitol

Among legislation Governor Nixon has yet to act on is the municipal court reform bill, SB 5.

Touted by supporters as a response to social issues in Ferguson, the bill would cap at 20-percent the amount of a city’s revenue that can come from fines and fees except for municipalities in St. Louis County, where the cap would be 12.5-percent. Opponents say the cap should be the same statewide. It would also bar the jailing of a person for a minor traffic violation and limit fines for such offenses to 300-dollars.

Another bill awaiting action, HB 722, would prevent cities from banning the use of plastic bags by stores and from setting their own minimum wage. Backers say both will help businesses, opponents call it an attack on local government control.

Two other bills would allow victims of sexual assault to get orders of protection and would allow the state to intervene when a child is sexually abused by another child.  Those are SB 321 and SB 341.

Governor Nixon must act on those and a number of other bills by next Tuesday, or let them become law without his action.