Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard two bills. House Bill 3221, sponsored by Rep. Castile, would bar state funds from supporting higher education degree programs that the federal government designates as low-earning, with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education reviewing the federal list and reporting impacts. The sponsor framed it as taxpayer accountability and return on investment, while many committee members and witnesses argued it was premature, lacked data, and could harm essential but lower-paid fields such as education, social work, early childhood education, counseling, and the arts. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal policy and affect only a small number of programs; opponents warned it could discourage universities from offering needed programs and would not account for long-term career outcomes or transferable skills. No vote was taken, and the sponsor said the bill was still a work in progress. Testimony in support of HB 3221 came from a lobbyist for FGA Action and others who said federal law is already moving in this direction and cited a small number of affected programs. Opposition came from representatives of independent colleges, community colleges, and other witnesses who said the federal rules are still being developed, the earnings test is based on a limited snapshot, and some low-wage programs serve important workforce needs or lead to later advancement. Several members asked for more information on the federal list, the number and demographics of affected students, and possible unintended consequences for rural schools and workforce development. The committee then heard House Bill 3416, sponsored by Rep. Bosley, which would create the Strengthening HBCUs Fund and direct a portion of gaming and classroom trust revenues to Lincoln University and Harris-Stowe State University for capital improvements and related support. The sponsor said the bill is intended to address historic underfunding of HBCUs and align Missouri with similar efforts in other states and at the federal level. Lincoln University President John Mosley testified in support, describing recent growth, major campus projects, and the need for additional infrastructure funding without increasing debt. Committee members asked about the funding amounts, whether Lincoln receives any special state support, and how the money would be distributed. No opposition testimony was heard, and the committee adjourned after the HB 3416 hearing without taking a vote.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 982, adopting a House committee substitute and two House committee amendments before voting the bill do pass 14-1 with one present. The substitute added cleanup language to reflect recently enacted sex offense classifications and made changes related to sexual violent predator civil commitment housing, allowing the Department of Mental Health to contract with the Department of Corrections for secure placement when DMH runs out of bed space. One amendment required sex offender registry entries to remain under the offender’s name and biological sex as listed at the time of the offense, and another clarified age-related language without changing existing “Romeo and Juliet” protections. The committee then passed House Bill 3414 12-1 with three present, and House Bills 3434, 3460, and 2628 as a combined House committee substitute 11-4 with one present after adopting an amendment. That package focused on emergency contraception and related health care facility provisions; members discussed language clarifying that emergency contraception does not include FDA-approved medication to terminate a pregnancy, and concerns were raised about combining the bills and about religious-objection issues for providers. The committee also heard Senate Joint Resolution 87, which would place the office of sheriff in the Missouri Constitution and preserve election of sheriffs by county voters, with carve-outs discussed for certain jurisdictions; testimony from the sponsor, a sheriff, and the interim sheriff of St. Louis emphasized local accountability and public safety, while some members questioned removal procedures and the role of the Attorney General. Later, the committee heard House Bills 1868 and 3257, identical bills creating a Class D misdemeanor for impeding, threatening, or harassing first responders after an oral warning and within a defined distance. Sponsors and witnesses from law enforcement, ambulance, fire, and physician groups said the measure was intended to protect responders and bystanders during volatile scenes, while members asked about crowd-control training, the 25-foot distance, and how harassment would be judged in emotionally charged situations. The committee also heard House Bill 3017, which would create the offense of permitting a public nuisance for property owners or controllers who knowingly allow repeated illegal activity on their property; after three documented complaints or observations, authorities could secure the property and trespassers could be arrested. Members debated whether the felony penalty was too severe, how landlords would be notified, and whether the bill created an unfunded mandate, though Kansas City police testified in support and the bill sponsor argued it would give law enforcement a tool to address repeat nuisance properties.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session to consider House Bill 2576. Members adopted a House committee substitute, then approved two amendments: one adding Infertility Awareness Week to the last full week of April, and another adding bridge naming language while removing the Kansas City Chiefs as Missouri’s official professional football team. The committee then rolled the amendments into a new substitute and voted the substitute do pass by an 8-0 roll call vote. After returning to open session, the committee heard Senate Bill 1544 from Senator Maggie Nernburn. The bill would designate a portion of Highway 9 in Platte County in honor of firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed in the line of duty on April 27, 2025. The senator described Hoffman’s service and family support for the memorial designation, and noted the bill had passed the Senate unanimously 33-0. No one testified in opposition to Senate Bill 1544, and there were no questions from the committee. The chair then closed the hearing and adjourned the Committee on Legislative Review.

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met, established a quorum, and immediately entered executive session. The only substantive item taken up was Senate Bill 938, described as Senator Burns Gettor’s bill previously presented by Representative Haley. No discussion was offered before the vote. The committee moved to recommend the bill “do pass” and a roll call was taken. The motion passed with 13 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 present. No other business was discussed before adjournment.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee called the roll and established a quorum with six members present and three absent. The committee then entered executive session and considered House Bill 3329. A motion was made to vote House Bill 3329 due pass. There was no discussion, and the roll call vote was unanimous among those present, with six in support and none opposed. The committee reported House Bill 3329 due pass and then adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session with a quorum present and took up House Bill 2576. Members adopted a House substitute and two amendments: one adding Infertility Awareness Week to the last full week of April, and another adding bridge naming language while removing a reference to the Kansas City Chiefs as Missouri’s official professional football team. The amendments were rolled into a new House committee substitute, which was then voted do pass by roll call, passing 8-0. The committee then returned to open session and heard Senate Bill 1544 from Senator Maggie Nurrburn. The bill designates a portion of Highway 9 in Platte County in honor of firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman, who was killed while responding to a call in April 2025. The senator described Hoffman’s service and the family’s request for the memorial naming, and noted the bill had already passed the Senate unanimously 33-0. No one testified in opposition, and there was no further discussion or testimony. The hearing on Senate Bill 1544 was closed, and the Committee on Legislative Review adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The transcript shows the start of a committee roll call. Chairman McGill, Vice Chair Davis, Ranking Member Taylor, Representative Strickler, and another member identified as “Right” all responded present. Representative Coleman was mentioned, with a brief joking exchange about the name, but no clear attendance response was recorded for Coleman in the excerpt. The remainder of the exchange appears to be a brief, informal aside with unclear or garbled wording, including a question about being at a committee hearing and a joking reference to being “a concrete,” but it does not indicate any substantive legislative discussion, testimony, votes, or actions.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House met with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the House Journal for the 45th day by a vote of 124-1, and welcomed several student groups and advocacy visitors, including elementary students, Rotary Interact clubs, pediatric advocates, and other special guests. Committee reports were then read, recommending passage of several deferred bills and substitutes. The chamber then took up a series of budget and capital-improvement measures. House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 were debated and passed, covering reappropriations, maintenance and repair, new capital projects, and remaining ARPA federal pandemic funds. Members generally supported the bills, though some raised concerns about general revenue spending and the use of one-time infrastructure funds. The House also adopted Senate changes and finally passed House Bill 2641 on hemp/cannabis-related regulation, and House Bill 2423, which was described as giving the Department of Finance tools to retain staff and expand capacity. Several policy bills were also debated and passed. House Bill 1919 aligned Department of Revenue electronic filing thresholds with IRS rules; House Bill 3239, on the Workforce Diploma Program, was defeated after concerns about cost and shifting K-12 funds to adult education; House Bills 1768 and 2016 passed on short-term rental property tax classification despite concerns about local flexibility; House Bill 1855 passed to add alpha-gal syndrome to reportable conditions; House Bill 2355 passed to create a Food is Medicine waiver pilot; House Bills 1717 and 1643 passed to establish a controlled psilocybin therapy program for veterans and first responders; House Bill 2372 passed as a broad health care package; House Bill 2408 passed to remove limits on the Deaf-Blind Fund; House Bill 3113 passed to require naloxone in public buildings and designate Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month; House Bill 3000 passed to prevent changing audit goalposts for political subdivisions; House Bill 2898 passed to restore land bank tools; and House Bill 1740 passed as “Melanie’s Law,” increasing penalties for serious intoxicated-driving offenses and adding ignition interlock requirements. House Bill 2760, the “Praise Act,” also passed after debate over equal treatment of houses of worship during emergencies, though the transcript ends amid further discussion on that bill.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Government Efficiency met with a quorum and immediately went into executive session to consider SSSB 889 by Senator Coleman. The bill was described as a cleanup measure intended to remove expired, terminated, sunset, and obsolete language from Missouri statutes, with the sponsor and chair noting that similar housekeeping bills had been done annually in the past but had not been addressed for several years. During discussion, Representative Burton said he had wanted to remove a section but, after meeting with the senator, was not willing to offer changes and said he would vote present; another member joked about offering unrelated amendments, including health exchange and horse racing language, but no amendments were offered. After discussion, the committee took a roll call vote on the motion that SSSB 889 be voted do pass. The vote was 9 ayes, 6 noes, and 2 present, with one member passing. The motion prevailed, and the bill was reported do pass. The hearing then concluded for the day.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Tax Reform heard testimony on House Bill 2923, House Bill 3256, and Senate Joint Resolution 95. HB 2923, sponsored by Rep. Caten, would exempt homeowners from increased property taxes on qualifying home improvements for up to four years, with a minimum improvement cost of $7,500 and a cap of $75,000. Supporters said it would encourage homeowners to reinvest in their properties, help after catastrophic losses, and reduce disincentives created by current assessment practices, especially in Jackson County. Committee members raised questions about assessor workload, fiscal impact, the definition of homestead, and whether the bill could create fairness issues or unintended consequences. Testimony in favor emphasized that the bill could reduce ambiguity in assessments and help homeowners avoid being penalized for repairs or improvements; no opposition testimony was presented during the hearing portion. The committee then went into executive session and took up HB 3256. A substitute was adopted after the sponsor explained changes narrowing and clarifying the bill, including broadening the definition of retail establishments to include venues like sports and concert facilities, removing banks and credit unions from the covered entities, and making other carve-outs. Members discussed concerns about criminal penalties in the bill and whether they should be reduced, with the sponsor saying she was open to further changes, possibly by floor amendment. The House Committee Substitute for HB 3256 was then approved by a 5-1 vote, with Ranking Member Strickler voting no. Finally, the committee heard SJR 95 from Sen. Schnautting, which proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Show Me Prosperity Fund, a state endowment intended to eventually replace state-imposed taxes with investment earnings. The senator argued that compound growth could allow Missouri to eliminate state taxes over time, with the fund overseen by the treasurer and audited by the auditor, and with a fallback allowing taxes to be reimposed if the fund failed. Members questioned the size of the needed appropriation, the timing of distributions, the 3% withdrawal cap, and whether state law would need to change to permit the kinds of investments envisioned. One witness testified in support, saying the proposal was straightforward and transparent, and no opposition testimony was offered.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bills 1066 and 1088, sponsored by Sen. Ben Brown, dealing with the property tax classification of single-family short-term rental homes. Brown argued the bills would prevent counties from reclassifying short-term rentals as commercial property, saying they should remain residential because the use is still dwelling, sleeping, and eating, and citing Missouri case law, IRS guidance, and federal tax treatment. He said the substitute language narrowed the bill to single-family homes owned by individuals, partnerships, or LLCs, and further limited it to owners with 15 or fewer short-term rental properties to focus on smaller owners rather than large corporate operators. Committee members questioned whether the bill would affect local zoning or licensing, and Brown said it would not limit local governments’ zoning authority or other regulation, only property tax classification. Members also raised concerns about a floor amendment requiring an in-person consultation before reclassification; several said the language could create practical problems for assessors and might be unnecessary because owners already receive official notice of assessment changes. Brown said he was open to revisiting that language. One witness in support, Jim Brown, described using a family home as a short-term rental to help pay for his mother’s care and support a granddaughter with special needs, warning that commercial classification would create a harmful tax burden. Another supporter said the bill was needed for fairness and property rights, while an opponent from the Missouri Hotel Lodging Association argued short-term rentals are businesses because they collect sales tax and said the 15-property cap was ineffective unless ownership was counted in the aggregate across LLCs. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the chair adjourned the meeting after testimony.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions came to order, established a quorum, and then moved into executive session. The chair noted that Senate Bill 890 would not be taken up and would instead be considered in executive session on Tuesday at 4:30. The committee then considered House Bill 1829. A motion was made that the bill be voted do pass, and there was no discussion. The roll call vote was 12 ayes and 0 noes, so House Bill 1829 was reported do pass. With no further business before the committee, the meeting adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Mental Health first took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3401, Representative Phelps’s workplace violence bill. Phelps explained the substitute broadened the language by removing a reference to bodily fluids, based on testimony from hospital security personnel that broader wording would be easier to prosecute. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 16 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 2370, sponsored by Representative Peters, which would require private insurance plans to cover a 12-month supply of hormonal contraceptives at one time, similar to Missouri HealthNet. Supporters included the Missouri section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Missouri State Medical Association, Beacon Reproductive Health Network, and the Missouri Nurses Association, who said annual supply improves access, reduces gaps in use, lowers unintended pregnancies, and can save costs. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition, raised concerns about cost, plan mandates, and how the benefit would work if a person changed insurance midyear. MOST Policy Initiative provided informational testimony citing research on improved adherence and reduced unintended pregnancy, and noted that Missouri HealthNet already covers a one-year supply. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3278, Representative Laubinger’s bill to improve coordination for adults age 60 and older and adults 18 and older with cognitive impairments or disabilities who are at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Laubinger said the bill would create a multidisciplinary team framework to allow appropriate information sharing among agencies, reduce duplicated investigations, and better connect vulnerable adults to services without expanding guardianship authority or creating new positions. The Department of Health and Senior Services supported the bill, explaining that multidisciplinary teams already exist in some counties but lack a clear statutory framework, and that the bill would help streamline coordination while keeping discussions highly confidential. Committee members asked about conflicts of interest, the role of ombudsmen, possible misuse in family disputes, and whether the bill would create new costs; the sponsors and DHSS said it would not create new positions and would mainly remove statutory barriers to existing coordination. The hearing concluded with several letters of support submitted for the record, and the committee adjourned after the hearing.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session and first adopted a substitute for House Bill 3401, Representative Phelps’s workplace violence bill, then voted the House Committee Substitute do pass. The substitute broadened language by removing a specific reference to bodily fluids, based on testimony from hospital security personnel that broader wording would be easier to prosecute. The roll call showed the substitute adopted and the bill passed out of committee. The committee then heard House Bill 2370, sponsored by Representative Peters, which would require private insurance to cover a one-year supply of self-administered hormonal contraceptives at one time, similar to Missouri HealthNet. Supporters included ACOG, the Missouri State Medical Association, Beacon Reproductive Health Network, and the Missouri Nurses Association, who argued the bill would improve access, reduce missed doses and unintended pregnancies, and save costs by reducing barriers such as transportation, work schedules, and pharmacy refill gaps. The Missouri Insurance Coalition opposed the bill, arguing it would impose a mandate on private plans, increase costs—especially for brand-name products—and raised questions about whether the bill would require bulk dispensing and how it would interact with existing refill rules. The committee also heard informational testimony from MoSPI noting rural access barriers, higher adherence with 12-month supplies, and that Missouri HealthNet already covers an annual supply. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3278, sponsored by Representative Lobbinger, which would create a multidisciplinary adult protection team framework for adults 60 and older and adults 18 and older with cognitive impairments or disabilities. The bill is intended to improve coordination among agencies handling abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases by allowing limited information sharing and reducing duplicated investigations while preserving confidentiality and guardianship protections. DHSS testified in support, saying the bill would provide a clearer framework for existing multidisciplinary teams, streamline coordination, and help protect vulnerable adults without creating new positions or infrastructure. Committee members asked about membership, meeting frequency, conflicts of interest, and how the bill differs from the ombudsman system; the sponsor and DHSS explained that the teams would be case-specific, generally meet as needed or quarterly, and apply to community cases rather than facility residents. The sponsor also submitted letters of support from existing multidisciplinary teams and related organizations.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2923, which would give homeowners a temporary property tax exemption of up to four years on qualifying home improvements between $7,500 and $75,000, so long as the property is the owner’s homestead and the required intent and completion forms are filed. The sponsor said the bill is meant to encourage reinvestment in homes, including after catastrophic events, and said the fiscal note showed no impact. Members asked about the bill’s effect on assessors, taxing districts, school districts, the definition of homestead, and whether the state would reimburse lost revenue. Testimony in support argued the bill would reduce ambiguity in new-construction assessments, encourage repairs and improvements, and help homeowners avoid being penalized for fixing damaged homes. Concerns were raised about routine maintenance, the four-dwelling language, possible burdens on assessors, and whether the bill could affect senior tax freezes. The hearing on HB 2923 ended without a vote. The committee then went into executive session on House Bill 3256, adopted a committee substitute, and voted the substitute do pass by a roll call of five yes and one no. Discussion focused on criminal penalties in the bill, with the ranking member objecting to those provisions and noting that other states do not include them. The sponsor explained changes in the substitute, including broader retail-establishment language, explicit coverage of sports venues and concert halls, and removal of banks and credit unions from the bill. Members suggested further floor amendments and additional review of other states’ statutes. Finally, the committee heard Senate Joint Resolution 95, which would create the Show Me Prosperity Fund as a constitutional endowment intended to eventually replace all state-imposed taxes with investment earnings. The senator said the fund would be seeded by a one-time appropriation, managed by the treasurer, audited by the auditor, and protected from borrowing or diversion, with distributions capped at 3 percent. Supporters said the proposal would use compound growth to create long-term tax relief and eventually make Missouri the first state to eliminate state taxes; one witness called it straightforward and honest. Members questioned the size of the needed appropriation, how the fund would work if state income tax changes separately, whether state law allows the needed investments, and how the fund would avoid becoming unstable if distributions begin before it is large enough. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded without action on SJR 95.