Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3256, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Dernel, which would require businesses to accept U.S. cash and prohibit cashless-only establishments, with exceptions such as unattended fuel pumps, card security deposits, and businesses that convert cash to a no-fee prepaid card for on-site use. Dernel argued the bill protects seniors, veterans, children, and unbanked or underbanked consumers who may be excluded by cashless policies, and said cash is legal tender and important for privacy and access. She also said she would remove an outdated subsection referencing banks or credit unions. Members raised concerns about whether the bill improperly limits business discretion, whether cashless policies can improve safety and reduce costs, and whether the bill’s definitions were too broad or unclear. Questions focused on what counts as a “retail establishment,” whether the bill would apply to schools, doctors, apps, and event venues, and who would be liable for violations. One member noted possible conflict with existing Missouri law on legal tender and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions and revisions. Testimony was mixed. The Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association supported the bill, saying cashless trends and credit card fees hurt gas stations and convenience stores, though they asked for practical exceptions. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill, arguing businesses should decide their own payment policies, especially for safety and operational reasons, and objected to the proposed Class D misdemeanor penalty, which they said is harsher than penalties in other states. Additional witnesses from consumer and advocacy groups spoke in favor, emphasizing consumer choice and the continued need for cash. No final vote was taken in the hearing.

Summary: The committee took up a series of capital and reappropriation bills, with the chair explaining proposed reductions or removals of funding that had not been spent or were no longer expected to be needed. Discussion focused on projects such as railroad grade crossing work, Mississippi levee stabilization, strategic mining, the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, tornado-related reappropriations, the Kansas City Behavioral Health Hospital, Camp Avery, and a Columbia-area highway/interchange project. Members asked for clarification on several items, including the strategic mining line item, the Columbia/Highway 63 project, and the treatment of older projects that had been appropriated in 2023 but had little or no expenditure. The chair said his general approach was to pull back funds that had not been used unless there was a clear, imminent need, and noted that some projects had grown significantly beyond original estimates. House Bill 2017 was amended and advanced after discussion of moving storm-related funding into reappropriations and concerns about taking large amounts out of the operating budget. The committee then adopted substitutes and voted House Bill 2017 do pass by a 28-1 vote, House Bill 2018 do pass by a 28-0 vote, House Bill 2019 do pass by a 29-0 vote, and House Bill 2020 do pass by a 28-0 vote. House Bill 2019 included a $10.7 million increase for a DSS youth services facility in the St. Louis area, described as a new treatment-oriented youth center in Bellefontaine, with members noting the project had risen from an earlier estimate of about $7 million to roughly $18 million total. House Bill 2020 involved final ARPA-related adjustments, including a small reduction and moving FTE language back to another bill, with the chair explaining that remaining unspent ARPA dollars would ultimately be directed to the foundation formula if not otherwise obligated and spent before the deadline.

Summary: The House Crime and Public Safety Committee met in executive session with a quorum present and considered House Bill 1882, with reference to House Bill 3097, sponsored by Representative Allen. Representative Allen explained that the bill had previously passed committee but was revised to address fiscal concerns by reducing a tax credit from 100% to 50%, making it non-transferable, lowering the annual cap from $500,000 to $150,000, and limiting it to forward application only rather than retroactive use. Members expressed appreciation for the changes and the work behind the substitute. The committee adopted the House committee substitute without objection. It then voted on the House committee substitute for House Bills 1882 and 3097, which received a due pass recommendation. The roll call showed 15 ayes, and the motion passed. No other business was taken up before adjournment.

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session after establishing a quorum and considered House Bill 3395. The committee first adopted a substitute ending in 0.02C, described as containing mostly technical changes that clean up language for the Department of Economic Development, with the possibility of a few additional floor changes later. After adopting the substitute, the committee moved the House Committee substitute for HB 3395 due pass. There was no substantive discussion, and the bill was approved unanimously by a roll call vote of 8 ayes and 0 noes. No other business was taken up, and the committee adjourned.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony focused on the effects of educational technology and screen time on K-12 students, with particular attention to House Bill 2230 and related policy changes. Dr. Mariam Mohamed Connie argued that one-to-one devices, digital instruction, and early screen exposure harm children’s learning, attention, physical development, and mental health, and that schools should return to more analog methods such as paper, handwriting, cursive, phonics, and print-based materials. She cited international and national assessments, research on handwriting versus typing, and her experience on the Springfield Public Schools board, saying the district saw improved MAP scores after scaling back Chromebook use in elementary grades and reintroducing books and cursive. Several witnesses and committee members discussed the practical and budgetary implications of reducing screen use. A Springfield administrator said many teachers were trained in technology-heavy environments and would need support to teach without relying on devices, and she estimated Chromebooks and related infrastructure cost more per student than textbooks, manipulatives, and paper. Another witness from the Missouri National Education Association supported the bill’s direction, saying elementary years are critical and that the state should signal a move away from overuse of screens while allowing districts time to adjust. Committee members emphasized local control, the need for a task force, and the importance of involving DESE because state testing and standards currently drive much of the digital use in schools. The discussion also covered Missouri Learning Standards, computer science requirements, and the tension between digital testing and classroom instruction. Speakers criticized the fact that MAP testing is digital and adaptive, arguing it forces schools to keep devices in elementary grades just to prepare students for state assessments. The chair and other members said the bill was intentionally nonprescriptive, aiming instead to create a task force and encourage local districts to develop screen-time policies, especially for elementary students. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public comment.

Summary: The Committee on Government Efficiency met in executive session with 17 members present and considered two bills. On House Bill 3428 by Representative Canton, members adopted a House committee substitute ending in .03C after the sponsor explained that it removed several accounts previously identified, including civil liberty and tourism-related accounts. The committee then voted the substitute due pass by 17 ayes, 0 noes, and 1 present. The committee next took up House Bill 2877 by Representative Vosby and voted it due pass after brief discussion. The roll call showed 18 ayes and 1 no, and the bill was reported out of committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Summary: The Committee on Utilities met with 19 members present, establishing a quorum, and then moved into executive session. The committee first revisited House Bill 2762, noting that the prior vote had to be repeated because bill strings had not been posted 24 hours in advance. Members adopted a substitute ending in .04C and then adopted an amendment ending in .01H that added two bills from Representatives Bucke and Hayden to the title, before rolling the amendment into a new substitute. The committee then considered the House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402 together and moved them do pass. After a roll call vote, the motion passed 16-3. The recorded no votes were cast by Representatives Thomas and Weber, with the remaining opposition reflected in the roll call. The committee then adjourned.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and numerous introductions of visiting groups and guests, including schoolchildren, Republican women’s organizations, county commissioners, and family members of legislators. Members also suspended House Rule 98 to allow baseball apparel in celebration of opening day, with the motion passing 118-22. The chamber then took up the state budget bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2002, covering elementary and secondary education and child care, drew the most debate. Supporters said it maintained record funding for the foundation formula, transportation, and early childhood programs, while critics argued it still fell short of fully funding the formula and underfunded child care subsidies by about $51 million. After extended debate over statutory obligations, school funding, and child care policy, the bill passed 85-70. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2003, the higher education and workforce development budget, also prompted substantial debate over a proposed shift to an FTE-based funding model for colleges and universities. Supporters called it a fairer, more equitable system that follows students and encourages efficiency, while opponents warned it would sharply reduce funding for some institutions, including community colleges and regional universities. The bill passed 83-66. The House then passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2004, covering revenue and transportation, 91-50, despite objections over a public transit cut and constitutional concerns raised about MoDOT appropriations. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2005, the Office of Administration and employee benefits budget, passed overwhelmingly after members discussed state worker compensation, deferred compensation, and benefits funding. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2006, covering agriculture, natural resources, and conservation, passed 133-17 after members highlighted restored funding for agriculture business development and food insecurity grants, while others criticized cuts to natural resources and parks funding. The chamber then moved on to House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2007, covering economic development, commerce and insurance, and labor and industrial relations, with the budget chair introducing the bill and outlining its major departmental appropriations.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Utilities met with 19 members present, establishing a quorum, and then moved into executive session. The committee first addressed House Bill 2762, noting that the same vote had been taken the previous day but needed to be repeated because the bill strings had not been posted 24 hours in advance. Members then adopted a substitute ending in .04C and a committee amendment ending in .01H, which added two bills from Representatives Bucke and Hayden to the title, before rolling the amendment into a new substitute. The final action was a motion that the House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2762, 2816, and 2402 be reported do pass. After a roll call vote, the substitute passed 16-3. The committee then adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Local Government heard testimony on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which dealt with community paramedic/mobile integrated health services and related jurisdictional issues. Supporters, including representatives from Caldwell County Ambulance, Osage Ambulance District, and Cox Health EMS, described community paramedic programs as effective in rural and regional care, reducing Medicaid costs, helping frequent ER users, supporting early hospital discharges, and filling gaps in underserved areas. A representative of the Missouri State Council of Firefighters opposed the jurisdictional changes added in the Senate, saying the organization supported the underlying bill but wanted the community paramedic language clarified so services could continue without conflict between service areas. Committee members asked about MOUs, service-area boundaries, and whether the Senate amendment was necessary, but no vote was taken and testimony was closed. The committee then took up House Bill 3496, sponsored by Representative Reedy, which would update county official salary schedules and assessed valuation ranges that have been in place for about 45 years. Reedy and Missouri Association of Counties Executive Director Steve Hobbs said the bill was the product of a multi-year task force effort and was intended to preserve local control while modernizing minimum salary schedules to reflect current county valuations and economic conditions. Members discussed how the bill would interact with existing salary-setting practices, annual training requirements, and prior legislation, and noted concerns about public misunderstanding when county commissions set salaries above the base schedule. Support for HB 3496 came from the Missouri Association of Counties and Warren County Presiding Commissioner Joe Gildon, who said he approved of the bill. There was no opposition or informational testimony on HB 3496, and the chair closed the public hearing and adjourned the meeting after testimony concluded.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee Substitute combining House Bills 2163 and 2574, then voted the substitute do pass by a 9-0 roll call. The combined bill concerns limited driving privileges. The committee then moved into public hearings. House Bill 3304, sponsored by Representative Justice, drew extensive testimony on dog attacks and dangerous-dog enforcement. The bill was presented as a response to serious attacks on children and adults and would remove or change the current “first bite” approach so that dogs causing serious physical or emotional injury could be addressed after a first attack. Supporters included victims, a sheriff, and others who described severe injuries, lasting trauma, repeated attacks, and law enforcement frustration with current law. Opponents, including Humane World for Animals and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, warned that the bill was too broad, could criminalize ordinary dog behavior or protective reactions, and needed clearer language on provocation, dangerous propensity, and liability. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns about strict liability, mens rea, and the need to narrow the bill, and the sponsor said he was willing to work on amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 3116 and House Bill 3289, both presented by Representative Parker as technical or clerical clean-up measures. HB 3116 would correct outdated statutory references and a minor wording issue, and HB 3289 would update court-automation and redaction provisions, clarify the membership and terms of the Missouri Court Automation Committee, and align statutes with current Supreme Court redaction rules. The Judicial Conference of Missouri testified in favor of both bills, explaining that the changes largely codify current practice and remove outdated or unclear language. No opposition was offered, and the hearing concluded without any recorded votes on those two bills.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 40th day by a roll call vote of 122-1. The chamber then spent a long period on points of personal privilege and introductions, including tributes to Scott Bell and the late Ernie Dempsey, recognition of numerous student, civic, and advocacy groups visiting for Child Advocacy Day, and several special guests and pages for the day. The main floor business centered on House Bill 3239, which would make the Missouri Workforce Diploma Program permanent and move it into the MoCAP framework with a $4 million annual cap and continued pay-for-performance funding. Supporters said it helps adults complete high school, especially women and parents who need flexible online access, while opponents argued the state should not divert foundation formula money from K-12 students and questioned the program’s cost and structure. An amendment to add college admissions and financial aid task force language failed 55-82, then the previous question was ordered 88-42, and the bill was perfected and printed. The House also took up House Bill 1768/2016, which would prevent county assessors from reclassifying single-family short-term rental homes from residential to commercial for tax purposes. Supporters framed it as a property rights and tax relief measure for homeowners and small investors, while some members raised concerns about LLCs, commercial use, and local control; the bill was perfected and printed. House Bill 2944, dealing with the senior property tax freeze, was also amended and perfected and printed; it would simplify the application process, make the freeze easier to maintain, clarify that it applies across taxing districts, and add notice requirements for changes in eligibility. An attempted Jackson amendment was ruled out of order as previously amended material.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and went into executive session. It first took up House Bill 2957, adopting a House Committee substitute that combined the respiratory care practitioners bill with related compact respiratory language from other members. The substitute was approved, and the committee then voted do pass on the substituted bill by a roll call of 20 yes and 1 no. The committee then considered House Bill 2897, the optometry bill. Members discussed ongoing concerns about collaborative practice, oversight by the Board of Healing Arts, continuing education, and the scope of authority the bill would give optometrists. Supporters said they wanted to move the conversation forward, while opponents argued the bill was too broad and raised public safety concerns. One member said they remained uncomfortable but would vote yes to keep the discussion moving. House Bill 2897 was approved on a roll call vote of 19 yes and 2 no. After that vote, there was no further business and the committee adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Utilities first took up House Bill 2762, with a committee substitute and amendment that folded in the titles of related solar bills, HB 2816 and HB 2402. The sponsor and other members described the substitute as a compromise solar framework covering taxation, setbacks, and decommissioning/bonding. The bill would set a nameplate capacity tax rate of $4,000 per megawatt, allow commercial assessment of facility property, exempt certain pre-August 9, 2022 Chapter 100 agreements and PSC-regulated projects, establish setback rules of 500 feet from an occupied dwelling or 300 feet with screening, and require county-notified decommissioning plans and bonds for larger projects, with county rulemaking limited so it cannot impose undue burdens. The committee adopted the amendment and substitute, then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2762, 2816, and 2402 do pass by a roll call of 18 ayes and 2 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 2248, which would change economic development electric rates. The sponsor and utility witnesses said the bill would close a loophole that could let data centers under 75 megawatts access reduced rates intended for job-creating manufacturers, and would replace the current variable 10-year rate structure for larger projects with a fixed five-year 35% discount on fixed costs while still requiring full payment of service costs and maintaining load-factor requirements. Supporters from Evergy, Ameren Missouri, and the Missouri Chamber said the current formula is unpredictable and hurts Missouri’s ability to compete for manufacturing projects. Ford Motor Company testified in informational opposition, asking the committee to consider a retention discount for large existing industrial users, arguing that long-term baseload customers help support the grid and local jobs. No vote was taken on HB 2248 in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903 on critical infrastructure protection. Senator Henderson said the bill responds to increasing vandalism and theft involving telecommunications and utility equipment, including incidents affecting 911 and other services. The bill would add wireline and broadband networks to the definition of critical infrastructure, create or adjust penalties for damaging or tampering with such facilities, and establish an unauthorized-possession offense for certain stolen materials such as copper and related telecom materials, with exceptions for legitimate possession and scrap operations. AT&T, Verizon, Missouri broadband and railroad representatives, electric cooperatives, the Missouri Chamber, and municipal utilities supported the bill, saying it would deter theft, protect public safety, and help law enforcement; some witnesses noted concerns about distinguishing legitimate scrap dealers from thieves. The hearing on SB 903 concluded without a recorded vote in the transcript.