HB 130 a Win for Transportation and Economic Freedoms

Yesterday, Governor Eric Greitens signed HB 130 into law. HB 130, colloquially known as the ‘Uber Bill’, creates statewide regulations for transportation network companies (TNC) such as Uber and Lyft. By streamlining TNC regulations across all of Missouri, the law reduces regulatory uncertainty and eliminates anti-competitive red tape at the local level. Show-Me Institute analysts, myself included, have testified in favor of HB 130 and similar legislation in the past, and we’re delighted to see it become law.

HB 130’s passage means that Missouri will be an easier place to earn an extra income and get around. Rather than navigate a patchwork of rules and regulations—or none at all—TNC drivers and riders across the state will now all follow the same, reasonable rules. In some cities, like Kansas City, St. Louis, and Columbia, bureaucrats and special interests have attempted to regulate TNCs out of existence, killing jobs, slowing economic progress, and reducing consumer choice. HB 130 eliminates unnecessary barriers to market entry, thereby expanding economic opportunity (especially for the disadvantaged) and efficient transportation choices.

I commend the Legislature and Governor for advancing liberty and economic freedom by making HB 130 law. (The law’s swift progression has even prompted ossified and cartelized taxi firms to call for deregulation.) We’re hopeful this is just one of many free-market transportation reforms to become law over the next few years.