Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard testimony on House Bill 3176, which would create a statutory framework for homeowners associations. The sponsor said the bill addresses quorum problems, allows a small percentage of members to revive defunct associations, sets deadlines for election and bylaw challenges, requires fidelity insurance, and expands recordkeeping and disclosure rights for members. Supporters said the bill would bring clarity, transparency, and accountability to HOAs. Opponents, including the St. Louis Home Builders Association and Missouri Bankers Association, argued that a statewide framework could be too burdensome, could interfere with local control and existing governing documents, and might increase risk and costs; several members also raised concerns about the bill’s effect on active neighborhoods and the short challenge window for elections. The public hearing on HB 3176 was then closed without a vote. The committee also heard House Bill 3277, a local sales tax measure for the City of Northwoods to fund public safety equipment. The sponsor said the city needs the revenue for its police department and that the tax would be decided by voters. Members discussed projected revenue, how the funds would be used, and the fact that the city’s board requested the bill. No opposition was offered, and the hearing was closed. House Bill 3143, sponsored by Representative Parker, would allow county voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax for senior services. The sponsor and supporters said the measure would help fund nutrition programs, transportation, in-home care, and other senior supports, especially in rural counties with limited resources. Testimony emphasized that local senior funds are often stretched thin and that the bill would give counties flexibility to replace or supplement property-tax-based funding. Some members raised concerns about broad spending language, appointed oversight, and the fact that seniors would be paying the tax through purchases, but the hearing closed without opposition. In executive session, the committee voted House Bill 2732 do pass by 13 ayes and 1 no, House Bill 3028 do pass unanimously, and House Bill 2431 do pass after adopting a substitute and amendment that combined multiple local tax authorization bills into one package. The chair explained that the package included several city and county measures, including tourism, safety, and economic development taxes, and members noted the strategy was intended to improve the bills’ chances of passage. House Bill 2431 was reported do pass by 13 ayes and 1 no, and the committee then adjourned.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call vote. Members then spent much of the morning introducing guests, including FFA groups from multiple counties, school officials, chamber leaders, veterans advocates, and other visitors. Several members also used personal privilege remarks to congratulate election workers and candidates following the previous day’s election. The chamber then took up committee reports and several bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3239, dealing with the workforce diploma program for adults seeking a high school diploma, was reconsidered after debate over its cost, eligibility, and relationship to other adult education programs. Supporters argued it offers a second chance and better outcomes than a GED, while opponents raised concerns about cost and diversion of K-12 funds. After motions for the previous question and reconsideration, the House ultimately passed HCS HB 3239. House Bill 1772, aimed at easing and encouraging adoptions and foster care permanency by helping cover legal costs and reduce delays, also passed with broad support. The House then passed House Bill 2096, which increases state matching funds for regional planning commissions and updates the statewide commission list, and later perfected House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2740, creating a pediatric disease task force in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to track research, outcomes, and funding with annual reports and a sunset in 2030. Members emphasized the bill’s accountability and its personal importance to the sponsor and others affected by pediatric illness. House Bill 2422, which raises a recording fee from $4 to $5 to support the Department of Agriculture’s land survey program and adds rulemaking authority for related records and maps, was also perfected and printed after debate; an amendment to redirect the fee increase to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund was offered, discussed, and then withdrawn. The House then recessed until 2 p.m.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 890 in executive session. Members explained a House committee substitute that combined provisions from related bills, including changes to eliminate or modify certain boards and councils and other unused statutory sections. House Committee Amendment 1 was adopted after discussion about restoring language that had been unintentionally repealed and about the Department of Corrections’ request to remove lines related to an advisory board that had not met in some time. The committee then adopted the substitute and voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 890 do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The hearing portion began with Senate Bill 945, sponsored by Senator Carla May, which would allow the circuit court in the City of St. Louis to raise a civil filing surcharge for the law library from $15 to $20. Senator May and supporters said the increase would help fund law library operations, digital resources, and related court services, and noted the surcharge had not been raised since 1996. Testimony in support came from the Law Library Association of St. Louis, which said the library serves attorneys, judges, students, the public, and incarcerated people requesting materials, and that costs have risen while filings have declined. Questions focused on whether the increase would be enough and how the surcharge compares with other jurisdictions; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. Representative Elliott and several supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that current voluntary labeling is insufficient, and that mandatory labeling would help independent cattle producers compete against large packers and imported beef. Supporters included the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, the Missouri Independent Cattlemen, and individual producers and consumers, who said the current system is confusing and that the supply chain already tracks cattle. Opponents, including Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and the Missouri Pork Association, argued that mandatory COOL would add regulatory burden and costs, that prior versions were not profitable for producers, and that voluntary labeling is preferable. No final action on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1142, which would clarify the Secretary of State’s authority to issue certificates of good standing to series LLCs and make each series searchable on the Secretary of State’s website. The sponsor said the bill was needed to preserve a long-standing practice and keep Missouri business-friendly, and witnesses from the Missouri Chamber and a law firm supported it as a simple clarification. No opposition was presented, and the hearing concluded without a vote in the transcript. The committee then took up House Bill 3347, sponsored by Rep. Murphy, which had two parts: one establishing requirements for political subdivisions entering contingency-fee legal contracts, and another addressing a Kansas City ordinance restricting sales of small liquor bottles in certain areas. Supporters of the legal-contract portion argued that local governments should coordinate with the Attorney General on contingency-fee cases involving statewide issues, citing opioid, PFAS, environmental, and other multi-jurisdictional litigation as examples where attorney fees and fragmented local action created delays and inefficiencies. Opponents, including the Missouri Municipal League, Missouri Association of Counties, and private attorneys, argued the bill would add bureaucracy, delay cases, undermine local control, and potentially freeze out smaller communities; they also raised concerns about vague language, a 45-day review period, and retroactive effects on existing contracts. On the alcohol portion, industry witnesses supported the amendment, saying the Kansas City proposal was discriminatory, unsupported by data, and would hurt retailers and tax revenue. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session and unanimously voted House Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 907, 1154, and 1272 do pass and do pass with consent, after adopting a technical substitute. The transcript then returned to HB 3347, where testimony continued on both the legal-contract and alcohol provisions, but no final committee vote on HB 3347 appears in the transcript.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on General Laws met in executive session on several measures. On House Joint Resolutions 153 and 119, the committee adopted a substitute that would remove trial-level judges from the gubernatorial appointment framework and create a joint House-Senate committee to confirm Supreme Court and appellate court nominees. Members debated whether the change would make the judicial selection process more political and whether the substitute should have had a public hearing; the substitute and then the joint resolution package were both approved, 8-6. The committee also considered House Bill 2266. Representative Jobe offered an amendment to clarify that the bill’s exception for the attorney general’s office would cover assistant attorneys general rather than broader staff, and the amendment was adopted. The committee then rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the bill do pass, 11-3. House Bills 2207 and 2233 were combined into one bill string by amendment and substitute, but the combined measure failed on a 6-8 vote after a tie was broken by the chair voting no. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1062, which Senator Carter described as a statewide communication-access initiative intended to connect the Department of Social Services, local communities, and service providers to help families meet needs before children enter foster care. Testimony in support came largely from deaf and hard-of-hearing Missourians and advocates, who described barriers in hospitals, courts, schools, businesses, and emergency settings, and argued the bill would improve access to interpreters and other communication services. The bill’s supporters emphasized that current ADA-based access is inconsistent and that the measure would help fill gaps in service delivery; no opposition testimony was presented before the hearing adjourned.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and took up House Bill 3443, relating to court costs. Members adopted House Committee Amendment 1, which changed a January reference to July, updated language regarding the Department of Labor or its successors, and removed round-up numbers. The committee then rolled the amendment into a House Committee substitute and voted the substitute do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. House Bill 3304, concerning the offense of keeping a dangerous dog, was then amended to restore prior-bite language and narrow the injury definition to serious physical injury; the committee adopted the amendment, adopted a substitute, and voted the bill do pass 11-1. House Bill 2865, dealing with attorney’s fees and expenses in civil actions and agency proceedings, was approved do pass 12-0. House Bill 2255 was announced as not being taken up that day. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2777, the Public Nuisance Reform Act, was presented as a measure to narrow public nuisance claims, limit suits involving lawful products and regulated activities, strengthen causation requirements, and restrict who may sue and what damages may be recovered. Supporters from consumer reform, insurance, and civil justice groups said it would curb abusive litigation while preserving traditional nuisance claims; no opposition testimony was offered. House Bill 2667, the Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act, would bar negligence claims arising from a person’s own wrongful conduct, limit negligent security liability, require apportionment of fault in some cases, and restrict certain recoveries by unauthorized aliens in auto cases. The sponsor and supporters said it would prevent criminals from profiting from their wrongdoing and protect businesses, while committee members raised questions about scope, premises liability, and sovereign immunity. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2666, an anti-SLAPP bill intended to provide a faster dismissal process for lawsuits that are meant to chill speech or petitioning activity. The sponsor and supporters said it would protect free expression and align Missouri with other states, while still preserving claims for genuinely harmed parties. No opposition testimony was presented on either House Bill 2667 or House Bill 2666, and the hearing concluded without any votes on the public hearing bills.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1747, an artificial intelligence-related measure. Members adopted a House committee amendment and then a substitute. The sponsor explained the amendment standardized the definition of AI, changed mandatory language to permissive language to address First Amendment and business concerns, clarified language about using marks to avoid damages, and limited the bill’s reach to future conduct rather than retroactive requirements. The committee then voted the House committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 5 ayes, 3 noes, and 2 present. The committee next heard Senate Bill 1092, which would allow social worker supervisors to qualify after three years of practice instead of five. Senator Patty Lewis said the bill is intended to address Missouri’s mental health workforce shortages and would not change licensure, education, supervised hours, or scope of practice requirements. Supporters from the National Association of Social Workers, Missouri Chapter, and Burrell Behavioral Health said the current five-year requirement creates a bottleneck, especially in rural areas, and that the bill would help more clinicians enter supervision roles sooner. No opposition was presented. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1421, a drone/public safety bill. Senator Schroer said the bill strengthens law enforcement tools against dangerous unmanned aircraft near critical infrastructure and other sensitive sites, while adding a carve-out for lawful commercial drone operations authorized by the FAA. Committee members asked about the definition of critical infrastructure and whether the bill could affect commercial drone delivery operations; the sponsor said the commercial exemption was added to avoid harming lawful business uses. Testimony in support came from the Department of Public Safety and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and no opposition was heard.

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session with a quorum present and first took up House Concurrent Resolution 52, which concerns Missouri’s participation in America’s 250th birthday celebration. After a brief procedural discussion about whether the resolution could go to consent, the committee voted 11-0 to give HCR 52 a do pass recommendation. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson. Hudson said the bill would reestablish the tourism supplemental revenue fund in statute after it was inadvertently sunset, and he described the measure as a continuation of previously discussed policy that had already passed the House companion committee unanimously. Members from both parties voiced support for tourism as an important statewide economic driver and asked for continued advocacy to move the bill through the process. During questioning and comments, members discussed the importance of tourism funding for regions across Missouri, including Branson, the lake area, St. Charles, Texas County, and the 138th District. The chair emphasized that the bill should move cleanly and quickly, noting tourism’s major economic impact. No witnesses testified in opposition or for informational purposes, and the hearing on SB 1000 concluded with no further business.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 834, sponsored by Senator Sandy Crawford. Crawford described the bill as the Mortgage Modification Act, intended to modernize loan modifications by preserving lien priority while allowing changes such as interest rate adjustments and term extensions. She said the measure is consumer-friendly because it can help borrowers avoid foreclosure and reduce the need for new title work and appraisals. She also explained a Senate floor amendment adding the Missouri Residential Sale Leaseback Protection Act, which would provide consumer protections for homeowners entering sale-leaseback transactions, including time to seek advice and safeguards against predatory practices. A committee member thanked Crawford for the mortgage modification provisions and noted the practical benefits for consumers seeking lower rates. In support testimony, David Kent of the Missouri Bankers Association said the bill was very consumer-friendly and supported the mortgage modification section, while being neutral to generally supportive of the leaseback provisions. Heath Clarkston of the Missouri Mortgage Bankers Association agreed, saying the bill made sense and that the amendment did not appear problematic for the mortgage industry. No one testified in opposition or for informational purposes. After closing testimony, the chair announced that the hearing was complete and adjourned the meeting.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session and first took up House Concurrent Resolution 52, a noncontroversial resolution related to America’s 250th birthday celebration. After a brief procedural discussion, the committee voted the resolution do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 0 noes. Members noted that the resolution could not go to consent because of procedural rules, despite the sponsor’s request. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, sponsored by Sen. Brad Hudson. The bill would reestablish the tourism supplemental revenue fund in statute after it had previously sunset. Hudson and several members emphasized the importance of tourism to Missouri’s economy, the need to restore funding, and the bipartisan support for the measure. Discussion also included references to regional tourism areas such as Branson, the Lake area, Hannibal, St. Louis, Kansas City, and “God’s country” in southern Missouri. No witnesses testified in opposition or for informational purposes. The hearing on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000 was closed with no further business, and the committee adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 834, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Crawford. Crawford described the bill as the Mortgage Modification Act, which would allow loan modifications such as rate changes and term extensions without changing lien priority, making it easier for lenders and borrowers to work out consumer-friendly modifications instead of moving into foreclosure. She also explained a Senate floor amendment added by Sen. McCreery that creates protections for residential sale-leaseback transactions, including clearer disclosures and time for homeowners to seek advice to guard against predatory practices. Members briefly discussed the practical benefits of mortgage modifications, including avoiding new title work and appraisals. Testimony in support came from David Kent of the Missouri Bankers Association and Heath Clarkston of the Mortgage Bankers Association of Missouri, both of whom said the bill is consumer-friendly and supported the mortgage modification provisions; Clarkston said the sale-leaseback amendment was not problematic for the industry, though his group took no formal position on it. No one testified in opposition or for informational purposes only. After closing testimony, the chair thanked the witnesses and adjourned the meeting. No vote was taken during the transcript.

Summary: The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties. The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill. Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost. A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.

Summary: The committee first took up executive action on Senate Bill 890. Members explained that the House committee substitute combined provisions from related bills, changed the title to accommodate an amendment, and restored language that had been unintentionally repealed in section 217.550. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for SB 890 was voted do pass by a roll call of 11 ayes and 1 no. The committee then heard Senate Bill 945 from Senator Carla May, which would raise the civil filing surcharge in the city of St. Louis from $15 to up to $20 to support the law library and related court services. Senator May and a representative of the Law Library Association of St. Louis testified that the surcharge had not been raised since 1996, that costs had increased, and that the increase would help maintain legal research resources and public access. Questions focused on whether the amount was sufficient and what other funding sources existed; there was no opposition testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Concurrent Resolution 29, which urges Congress to restore mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. The sponsor and supporters argued that consumers should know where meat comes from, that independent cattle producers are harmed by consolidation in the packing industry, and that voluntary labeling is inadequate. Opponents from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and Missouri Pork Association argued that mandatory labeling adds regulatory burden, is not supported by consumer purchasing data, and should remain voluntary. The hearing included extensive testimony from cattle producers and consumers, but no vote on HCR 29 was taken in the portion provided.

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard testimony on House Bill 3176, which would create a statutory framework for homeowners associations. Sponsor Rep. Koslow said the bill addresses quorum problems, allows defunct associations to revive, sets deadlines for election and covenant challenges, requires fidelity insurance, and expands recordkeeping and disclosure to members. Supporters said Missouri HOAs currently operate under a patchwork of outdated documents and laws, while opponents from the home builders and bankers groups warned the bill could interfere with development interests, create burdens, and increase risk or fees. Committee members raised concerns about fairness, homeowner rights, and whether the bill would override stricter local subdivision standards; no action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 3277, a local public safety tax measure for Northwoods. Rep. Fountain Henderson said the city needs the tax to upgrade police equipment and support public safety, and members noted the city’s retail center and voter approval requirement. The hearing then moved to House Bill 3143, which would allow counties to place a quarter-cent sales tax on the ballot for senior services. Rep. Parker and supporters from senior services organizations said the measure would help fund Meals on Wheels, transportation, nutrition centers, in-home care, and other aging services, especially in rural areas with limited funding and transportation. Some members questioned the breadth of spending authority, oversight, and whether a sales tax would shift costs onto seniors, but the bill drew supportive testimony overall. In executive session, the committee voted House Bill 2732 do pass by 13-1 and House Bill 3028 do pass unanimously. It then took up House Bill 2431, a package of local tax authorization measures, adopted a substitute and amendment adding several city and county proposals, and voted the House Committee Substitute do pass by 13-1. The committee then adjourned.

Summary: The House Committee on General Laws met with a quorum and went into executive session on House Joint Resolutions 153 and 119, House Bill 2266, and House Bill 2207, then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1062. On HJR 153/119, the committee adopted a substitute that would remove trial-level judges from the gubernatorial appointment framework and create a joint House-Senate committee to confirm Supreme Court and Appellate Court nominees. Several members objected that the changes were substantial and should have had public hearing, while supporters argued the change would streamline confirmations and add legislative accountability. The committee adopted the substitute and voted the resolutions do pass by 8-6. On HB 2266, the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that the bill’s exception for the Attorney General’s office applies to Assistant Attorneys General rather than broader staff, then rolled it into a committee substitute and voted the substitute do pass by 11-3. On HB 2207, the committee adopted an amendment combining HB 2207 and HB 2233 into one bill string, but after a motion to reconsider was withdrawn, the combined substitute failed on a 6-8 vote. The public hearing on SB 1062 focused on expanding communication access services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind Missourians. Senator Carter described the bill as a way to connect Department of Social Services caseworkers with churches, nonprofits, and other community resources to help families avoid foster care placements and better meet local needs, saying the model already exists in some counties and other states. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, family members, and advocates, who described repeated barriers in hospitals, courts, schools, businesses, and emergency settings, including delays in interpreter access, reliance on family members, and problems with video remote interpreting. Witnesses said the bill would improve access, reduce delays, and provide needed coordination and funding support. No opposition testimony was presented, and the hearing was closed without a vote on SB 1062.