COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday signed a slew of bills into law, including one that can increase the speed limit on rural roads.

Kehoe’s office announced in a Monday press release that the governor signed Senate Bill 1408. The bill allows the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission and the Missouri Department of Transportation to raise speed limits from 70 miles per hour to 75 mph on rural interstates and freeways.

JoDon Chaney with the Department of Revenue confirmed to ABC 17 News that Kehoe signed SB 1408 in its original form, which only covered the speed limits. Additional provisions added later, but not included in the final verson, would have cut requirements for safety inspections and extend the option to buy five-year registration tags for $45. Previously, tags were capped at two years.

A later version of the bill also included a provision regarding drivers and language proficiency. That provision was not in the version signed Monday. It said commercial motor vehicle operators must “be able to read and 2 speak the English language sufficiently to: (1) Converse with the general public; (2) Understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language; (3) Respond to official inquiries; and (4) Make entries on reports and records.”

The provision stated a driver who is in violation of the language proficiency requirements will be prohibited from driving a commercial vehicle in the state. The provision was debated after a high-profile wrong way driver incident occurred in Lincoln County.

A further provision not included in the signed version of SB 1408 would have stopped new Kansas City Chiefs plates from being issued in the state.

Editor's Note: this story has been updated to correct the version of SB 1408 which Gov. Kehoe signed Monday.

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