Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first went into executive session and adopted a House committee substitute combining House Bills 3078 and 2672, then voted do pass on that substitute by 16 ayes and 1 no. It also voted do pass on House Bills 2362 and 2588, each by 16 ayes and 1 no. One member opposed the substitute on constitutional grounds, arguing the approach could create unequal treatment and should instead be handled through a constitutional resolution. In public hearing, Representative Boykin presented HB 3280, which would create a “Disabled Veterans Surviving Spouse” specialty license plate for surviving spouses of disabled veterans who previously qualified for the plate. Supporters, including a surviving spouse, said the plate would recognize the family’s ongoing sacrifice and provide a meaningful visible tribute; members generally praised the idea and asked about plate wording, eligibility, and fiscal impact. The witness described having had a similar plate in Texas and said Missouri should offer the same recognition. Representative Schulte presented HB 3029, aimed at regulating paid assistance with veterans’ benefits by requiring disclosures, prohibiting guarantees of specific benefits, and barring compensation for referrals. Supporters from veterans service organizations said the bill would protect veterans from “claim shark” companies that use social media and contingent-fee contracts to prey on veterans, while opponents from private firms argued it would remove lawful choices, especially for VA-accredited attorneys, and should be narrowed to target bad actors without restricting ethical providers. The committee also heard a lengthy informational presentation on the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program and a presentation on MU Extension’s Veteran REEDS program, which uses literature and discussion to build resilience and reduce isolation among veterans and first responders.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety met with a quorum, first in executive session and then in public hearing. In executive session, members voted House Bill 2323 do pass, after discussion clarified that it would create a confidential domestic abuse offender registry accessible to law enforcement; the vote was 13 aye, 0 no, 3 present. The committee also passed House Bill 2530, described as a scrap metal bill, by a vote of 14 aye, 0 no, 3 present. House Bill 1882 was withdrawn after members noted it had been rolled with another bill and needed to be handled differently. The committee then adopted a committee substitute and two amendments for House Bill 3332, which dealt with public safety personnel recruitment and retention and first responder benefits, including scholarship eligibility and removing a sunset from a line-of-duty death benefit; the substitute was approved 15 aye, 1 no, 1 present, and the bill was voted do pass. In public hearing, Representative Justice presented House Bill 3174, Alyssa’s Law, which would require wearable panic alert systems for school employees, subject to appropriation, to improve emergency response and location sharing with first responders. Support testimony came from Alyssa’s mother, Lori Al-Haddaf, who described the Parkland shooting and argued that faster alerts save lives; committee members asked about cost, implementation, and how the system would work for medical emergencies as well as active shooter situations. Representative Williams presented House Bill 3434, which would create a statewide sexual assault response task force to review reporting, investigation, medical response, advocacy, and prosecution. Testimony in support emphasized Missouri’s history of sexual assault kit backlogs, the need for consistent statewide practices, and ongoing challenges for advocates, nurses, and crime labs; witnesses also discussed teleSANE, rural access, and the need for better coordination and funding. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills.

Summary: The Committee on Crime and Public Safety met with a quorum and first took up several bills in executive session. House Bill 2323, relating to a domestic violence registry, was discussed as a private law-enforcement database for domestic abuse offenders; members noted it was similar to other registry bills already advanced, though some said it differed in details. House Bill 2530, described as the scrap metal bill, was also voted do pass without discussion. House Bill 1882 was withdrawn from consideration after members noted it had been rolled with another bill and had been sent back from fiscal review and Rules. The committee then adopted a House committee substitute and two amendments for House Bill 3332, which concerns public safety personnel recruitment and retention and employment benefits for first responders; the substitute removed additional degree programs from scholarship eligibility and the amendments fixed scholarship prioritization language and removed a sunset from the line-of-duty death benefit. HB 3332 was voted do pass. In public hearing, Representative Justice presented House Bill 3174, Missouri’s version of Alyssa’s Law, requiring each school employee to have access to a wearable panic alert system tied to local emergency responders and school personnel. He said the bill is subject to appropriations and would use a qualified vendor list; members questioned cost, funding, liability, and whether schools could already implement such systems. Support testimony came from Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa’s mother, who described the Parkland shooting and argued that faster alerts save lives, including in medical emergencies, and from a teacher who said the system would help in both active shooter and non-shooter emergencies. No opposition testimony was offered. Representative Williams then presented House Bill 3434, which would create a Missouri statewide sexual assault response task force to examine reporting, investigation, medical response, advocacy, and prosecution and report recommendations by December 31, 2028. She said the task force would build on progress made reducing the sexual assault kit backlog but address ongoing inconsistencies across jurisdictions. Members asked about overlap with a prior expired task force, appointment structure, and whether the group should include more medical or law-enforcement representatives. Support testimony from the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence described the history of the kit backlog, the Telesane program, uneven services across the state, and the need for continued coordination and accountability; the Missouri Emergency Nurses Association also supported the bill, citing the need to address both rural and urban response challenges.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House journals for the prior two days. Members also introduced several guests and recognized staff and visitors before moving into House bills for perfection and printing. House Bill 2636, the Mortgage Modification Act, was explained as a banking measure to keep first mortgages in first position when modified, and it was adopted and ordered perfected and printed with broad support. The chamber then considered House Bill 1718, which would address a court interpretation of Missouri’s sovereign immunity caps by tying the inflation-adjusted cap to the date of injury rather than the date of judgment. Supporters said it would provide certainty for political subdivisions and align insurance coverage with the accident date, while opponents warned it could encourage delay in litigation and reduce recovery for seriously injured plaintiffs. After questions and debate, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members spent the most time on House Bills 2120 and 1698, the anti-bullying legislation known as Sawyer’s Law. Sponsors and supporters described it as requiring prompt investigation and reporting of bullying to administrators, parents, and school boards, citing tragic real-world examples and arguing that schools need clearer accountability. An amendment from the Boone County member would have removed zero-tolerance references, limited identifying information in reports, and given school boards more flexibility; supporters said it would protect due process and privacy, while opponents said it would weaken the bill’s purpose. The amendment failed, but the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bills perfected and printed. The House also took up House Bill 2748, which would require daily physical activity in schools. The sponsor said the bill was based on research showing benefits for learning, behavior, and mental health, and an amendment would remove the emergency clause, delay implementation, and clarify how schools could count up to 10 minutes of activity toward class time. Members debated scheduling, staffing, and whether the proposal would be too prescriptive, but supporters argued it would improve student outcomes without adding time to the school day. The discussion continued as the transcript ended, with no final vote shown on that bill in the excerpt.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 937, which would authorize the governor to convey several state-owned properties, including vacant parcels and facilities no longer needed by the state. Members asked about how the properties are controlled, why legislative authorization is needed, and whether some items were easements or had indeterminate land descriptions. The Office of Administration testified in support, saying the state incurs maintenance costs on vacant properties and that some DESE schools are closing, creating an opportunity to sell or transfer them rather than continue upkeep. One clarification was that the Donovan Readiness Center conveyance would go to the Donovan School District, and another item involved a tower site intended for Washington County Central Dispatch 911. Several members raised concerns about specific parcels, especially a Jefferson City property near the Capitol and whether parking needs and future state use were being protected. The City of Jefferson then testified in support of the bill’s section involving the High Street viaduct, explaining that the conveyance would help redesign and rebuild the bridge, improve pedestrian safety, and support a roundabout and access changes near state buildings, though it could reduce parking by roughly 20 to 30 spaces. The witness said the city would continue to seek community input and that the project was tied to a federal BUILD grant application. No witnesses spoke in opposition or for information only. The committee did not take a recorded vote in the transcript, and after testimony and questions, the chair adjourned the Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs met in executive session to act on House Bill 32110 and House Bill 3510, then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 1351. For HB 32110, members adopted a committee amendment clarifying fair market value language, rolled it into a substitute, and then advanced the House Committee substitute by a 9-5 vote. HB 3510 was then moved due pass by a 14-1 vote after a brief script correction. Senator Joe Nicola presented SB 1351, which would reduce the Independence school board term from six years to three years to match most other districts. He also described a Senate amendment allowing a student to be excused from school once per scheduled election to accompany a parent voting, saying it was intended to encourage civic engagement. Committee members asked about the unusual six-year term, the scope of the excused absence, and whether the amendment created any title or single-subject concerns. Testimony in support came from Otto Fajun on behalf of Missouri NEA, who said the longer term is a barrier to school board service and explained the historical structure of Missouri school district statutes, noting that the bill would align Independence with the norm. He also supported the voting-related amendment as a way to promote family civic participation. No opposition or informational testimony was offered, and the hearing on SB 1351 concluded without a committee vote.

Summary: The House approved the journal and recognized several special guests and departing staff before moving to bills on perfection and printing. House Bill 2636, the Mortgage Modification Act, was explained as a banking measure to keep a first mortgage in first position when modified, and it received bipartisan support and was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 1718, dealing with sovereign immunity caps and the inflation factor under section 537.610, was also advanced after questions about whether the cap should be measured at the time of injury or judgment; the sponsor said the bill would use the injury date and that trial attorneys were the main opposition. House Bills 2120 and 1698, combined as an anti-bullying measure known as Sawyer’s Law, were then taken up and advanced after extensive debate. The bill would require prompt reporting and investigation of bullying, reporting to administrators and school boards, and protections for staff and schools acting under the policy. An amendment from the Lady from Boone sought to remove zero-tolerance references, limit identifying information in reports, and give school boards more flexibility, but it failed on a voice vote. Supporters of the bill cited tragic bullying cases and argued schools need stronger reporting and accountability; opponents of the amendment and some speakers warned about due process, school board overreach, and potential liability. House Bill 2748, requiring daily physical activity for students, was then brought up with an amendment that would remove the emergency clause, delay implementation, and specify weekly activity minutes and how some activity time could count toward class requirements; members debated scheduling, teacher workload, and whether the proposal would reduce instructional time, but the discussion was still ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee first took up House Bill 3405, which clarifies tax language for pass-through entities and preserves the underlying tax credit while treating it more like a deduction. Members discussed that the bill would reduce confusion and administrative burden for the Department of Revenue. The committee then voted the bill do pass by an 8-0 roll call, with one member absent. The committee then heard two related bills on food pantry and hunger-relief tax credits, House Bill 2457 and House Bill 1782. HB 2457 would extend the food pantry/soup kitchen/homeless shelter tax credit to 2032, add food banks as qualifying entities, and raise the cap from $1.75 million to $4 million; the sponsor said the 50% credit rate would be retained to stretch donations. HB 1782 would remove the sunset from the food pantry tax credit altogether. Testimony from food banks, Community Services League, and other supporters emphasized rising hunger, the value of food banks in reducing food waste and leveraging donations, and the need for stability; there was no opposition testimony. The committee also heard House Bill 3518, which would redirect and earmark revenue from the athletes and entertainers income tax into a special fund and extend the sunset from 2030 to 2060. The sponsor and supporters from Missouri Citizens for the Arts, libraries, Missouri Humanities, and arts education groups argued the bill would better match the original statutory intent, improve predictability, and support arts, humanities, libraries, and historic preservation statewide. They cited economic impact figures, grant oversight rules, and the importance of stable funding for planning and programming. Some members questioned the long sunset extension, oversight, and whether the funds should remain subject to annual budget review, but no vote was taken before the committee adjourned.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee first met in executive session and voted 8-0, with one member absent, to do pass House Bill 3405. Members described the bill as clarifying how pass-through entity tax information and credits are handled, with supporters saying it would reduce confusion and administrative burden while preserving the tax credit. In public hearing, the committee took testimony on House Bill 2457 and House Bill 1782, both related to food pantry tax credits. HB 2457 would extend the food pantry/soup kitchen/homeless shelter credit to 2032, add food banks as eligible entities, and raise the cap from $1.75 million to $4 million, while keeping the credit at 50 percent. HB 1782 would remove the sunset from the food pantry tax credit. Supporters said food banks and related charities need stable, predictable funding to address rising hunger and food waste; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Bill 3518, which would redirect the existing athletes and entertainers tax into a dedicated fund and require distribution to arts, humanities, libraries, public broadcasting, and historic preservation, while extending the sunset to 2060. The sponsor and supporters argued the money was intended for these purposes and that current appropriations fall short of the statutory split, creating instability for cultural and educational organizations. Witnesses from arts groups, libraries, and humanities organizations cited economic impact, statewide reach, and the need for long-term planning; some members raised concerns about oversight, general revenue impacts, and the long sunset, but no vote was taken on HB 3518 in this transcript.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee held public hearings on four bills. House Bill 1611, sponsored by Rep. Billington, would combat catalytic converter theft by requiring scrap buyers to record the vehicle identification number of the car the converter came from, in addition to existing seller ID requirements. The sponsor and a representative of the Recycled Materials Association supported the bill as a practical way to trace stolen converters; members asked how the VIN would be used to catch thieves, and the sponsor said it could help law enforcement track the source. No opposition was presented. House Bill 2032, the Guard Act sponsored by Rep. Schmidt, would regulate AI chatbots and companions to protect minors. The bill would require age verification, require chatbots to disclose that they are non-human and not professionals, and prohibit AI systems from soliciting minors into sexually explicit content or encouraging suicide, self-injury, violence, or sexual violence. The Missouri Psychological Association and Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics supported the bill, while the Entertainment Software Association raised concern that the definition of covered services might be broad enough to affect video games and asked for a clearer carve-out. Members discussed possible amendments and implementation details. The committee then heard House Bills 3393 and 2392, both aimed at social media harms to minors. Rep. Mayhew’s HB 3393 would require age verification for social media access, using government-issued ID and related verification methods, and would restrict data retention and sale by platforms. Rep. Murray’s HB 2392 would prohibit children under 14 from creating accounts, require parental consent and oversight for minors, and limit addictive design features, targeted advertising, and adult contact with children. Supporters, including pediatric and psychology advocates, argued the bills would address anxiety, cyberbullying, and self-harm linked to social media; a 12-year-old witness described bullying and harm experienced by students online. Members raised questions about email accounts, fake IDs, privacy, and unintended consequences, and the sponsors said they were open to language changes and combining the bills. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded without further action.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on three sets of bills before adjourning: House Bill 1611, House Bill 2032, and House Bills 3393 and 2392. No votes were taken. HB 1611, sponsored by Representative Billington, would combat catalytic converter theft by requiring scrap buyers to record the vehicle identification number of the car the converter came from, in addition to existing seller ID requirements. The sponsor and a representative of the Recycled Materials Association supported the bill as a practical way to trace stolen converters; members asked how the VIN would be used to catch thieves, and the sponsor said it could help law enforcement track the source of a converter. No opposition testified. HB 2032, the “Guard Act,” sponsored by Representative Schmidt, would require age verification for AI companions, require disclosure that the chatbot is non-human and not a professional, and prohibit AI systems from knowingly or recklessly encouraging minors toward sexually explicit content, suicide, self-injury, or violence. The sponsor cited cases involving harmful AI interactions with children and said the bill was intended to create guardrails, with possible language changes still under discussion. Support came from the Missouri Psychological Association and Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, while the Entertainment Software Association raised concern that the bill’s definitions might unintentionally cover video games and asked for clearer exclusions. House Bills 3393 and 2392, sponsored by Representatives Mayhew and Murray, would restrict minors’ access to social media and impose parental consent, age verification, and limits on addictive design features, targeted advertising, and adult contact with children. The sponsors argued that social media is harming youth mental health and cited studies, lawsuits, and examples of cyberbullying and self-harm; they also suggested possible amendments on definitions, data handling, severability, and a fund for prevention efforts. Testimony in favor included a 12-year-old student describing bullying and its effects, as well as a pediatric/psychology advocate who recounted the Megan Meier case and supported stronger safeguards. Members questioned age verification, privacy, fake IDs, email accounts, and whether the bills should be broader or more narrowly tailored, but no formal action was taken.

Summary: The committee heard only Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 937, which would authorize the governor to convey a list of state-owned properties that are no longer needed. Representative Veit and Office of Administration witness Hanna Swan explained that many of the parcels are vacant, costly to maintain, or are former DESE school properties closing at the end of the year. They said the bill is intended to consolidate multiple conveyance authorizations into one measure, with some properties to be sold on the open market and others transferred for specific public purposes. Members asked about the location, ownership, and intended use of several parcels, including whether some were easements, how “indeterminate” acreage would be handled, and whether the Donovan School District would receive a property back in the substitute. Swan said the state generally seeks the best deal for Missouri while also considering community impact, and that maintenance savings on some vacated school properties could be roughly $100,000 to $130,000 annually. Questions also focused on whether local school districts or the state owned the properties, and on how community input would be considered before any sale. A second witness, Jefferson City city engineer David Bangy, testified in support of the parcel related to the High Street viaduct. He said the conveyance would help the city redesign and rebuild the bridge, improve pedestrian safety, add underpasses, and support a roundabout and better access to downtown and emergency services, though it could reduce parking by about 20 to 30 spaces. No witnesses spoke in opposition or for information only, and the committee adjourned after testimony without taking a recorded vote in the transcript.

Summary: The committee first took up executive-session action on House Committee Amendment ending in point 02H and adopted it, then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and adopted the substitute for House Bill 3210. The committee then voted House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3210 do pass by a roll call of 9 ayes and 5 noes. Next, the committee corrected a script issue and voted House Bill 3510 do pass by a roll call of 14 ayes and 1 no, after brief confusion over the bill number. The meeting then moved to a public hearing on Senate Bill 1351, sponsored by Senator Joe Nicola. The bill would reduce Independence’s school board term from six years to three years to match most other districts. An amendment added on the Senate floor would allow a student to be excused from school once per scheduled election to accompany a parent who is voting. The sponsor said the bill was intended to improve accountability and make school board service more accessible, and he said the amendment promoted civic engagement. Committee members asked about why Independence had a six-year term, whether three years is the norm, and whether the voting-related amendment was unrelated to the bill’s original subject. The sponsor said he did not know why the six-year term existed and said the amendment had been reviewed for title compatibility. A representative from Missouri NEA testified in support, explaining the unusual structure of Missouri school-district statutes and saying the organization supported both the shorter term and the student voting absence provision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded without further action.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened briefly, opened with a moment of silent prayer, and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Members and those in the galleries were asked to remain standing during the proceedings. No legislation, debate, testimony, votes, or other substantive business was taken up in this session. The only additional action was a request for members to check in with the clerks at the dais to record their উপস্থিতence. The House then adjourned until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2006.

Summary: The House convened briefly, opened with a moment of silent prayer, and then recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Members and those in the galleries were asked to remain standing during the pledge, and legislators were instructed to check in with the clerks at the dais to record their presence. No bills, motions, testimony, or substantive legislative business were taken up in this session. The House then announced that it would remain adjourned until 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2006.