Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 10, 2026 by roll call vote, 120-0. Members then used personal privilege and guest introductions to recognize fraternity members, students, advocacy groups, and other visitors. One member delivered remarks honoring Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and another gave a personal statement about a cousin who died in a domestic violence-related murder-suicide, followed by a moment of silence. The main floor action focused on House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2780 and 2668, a major property tax reform package. The sponsor described the bill as a broad effort to stabilize Missouri’s property tax system after extensive statewide hearings and testimony. The bill and amendments addressed issues including clearer ballot language for tax measures, moving tax-related ballot questions to November general elections, prohibiting “no tax increase” ballot descriptions, standardizing ballot wording, changes to assessed valuation and inspection rules, quarterly tax payment options in some counties, and a fix to a CPI-related provision. Members debated the size and scope of the bill, concerns about local control, election timing, voter fatigue, and possible litigation. Amendments were adopted to narrow the title, add clear ballot language, exempt township counties from the election timing requirement, and remove duplicative language. After the previous question was ordered, the committee substitute as amended was adopted and ordered perfected and printed. The House also perfected House Bill 1917, a Jefferson County-specific water district bill. Supporters said it would allow detachment of a ratepayer from a water district under certain conditions so a large manufacturing project could proceed, describing the district’s demands as obstructive to economic development. The bill passed committee unanimously and was ordered perfected and printed after discussion about the federal loan issue, the district’s refusal to cooperate, and whether the measure should be limited to one district or expanded later. The chamber then moved to announcements, including upcoming committee meetings, a property tax issues presentation by FFA students, birthday wishes, and a recess until 2 p.m.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick on his fiscal year 2027 budget request. He said the office had been rebuilt from a historic staffing low and is now at 119 FTE, but still is not fully staffed and needs more time to train auditors into management roles. He also discussed the office’s use of lapses, the workload of required audits, and the need for more authority to investigate subrecipients of public funds. Members asked about the auditor’s ability to examine state agencies, the Department of Conservation decision, general revenue projections, the effect of eliminating the state income tax, and the use of “E” appropriations. Fitzpatrick also requested $290,000 to raise CPA stipends, citing a shortage of CPAs and pending legislation to ease CPA education requirements. His core budget request was about $14 million, including payroll, E&E, and a small amount for sports betting audit work. The committee then moved to public testimony on House Bill 10, focusing mainly on Department of Mental Health funding for day habilitation and self-directed services. Witnesses representing providers, families, and service recipients opposed proposed cuts, arguing that lower reimbursement rates would reduce access, force staff losses, and push people into more expensive institutional or emergency care. Several speakers described the personal and financial impact of SDS and dayhab services, including the ability to keep disabled family members at home and the higher cost of facility care. One witness from the Alzheimer’s Association also urged the committee to preserve caregiver program funding in the Department of Health and Senior Services, warning that a proposed $1 million reduction would harm families and increase Medicaid and institutional costs. Committee members asked questions about provider costs, the share of services delivered by private providers versus state facilities, and whether the cuts would fall mainly on community providers. The chair repeatedly reminded witnesses about the three-minute limit and the need to identify whether they were testifying in support, opposition, or for information. The hearing was briefly recessed for floor activity and later resumed, with the chair apologizing for earlier tension and noting that an ASL interpreter was available for a limited time. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and voted House Bill 1867 do pass by a vote of 15-1. It then considered House Bill 2394, which drew discussion about a committee amendment changing “get” to “obtain” for business licensing language and concerns from plumbers and pipefitters that the bill did not fully address their broader proposal. The amendment was adopted, the substitute was rolled, and the House Committee substitute for HB 2394 passed 10-7. House Bill 2600 was then amended with clarifying language about petition signature thresholds tied to the most recent gubernatorial election, rolled into a substitute, and passed unanimously 17-0. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 1906, sponsored by Rep. McGaugh, would allow township counties to offer annual, semi-annual, or quarterly tax payment options like other counties; county collectors and county association representatives supported it, and one witness suggested adding monthly payments in the future. House Bill 3003, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeyer, would require regular inspection and documentation of fire and smoke dampers by qualified personnel, with testimony from the sponsor, fire protection engineers, contractors, labor representatives, and opponents who raised concerns about international certification standards, penalties, and cost. Supporters said the bill would standardize existing practices, improve accountability, and protect occupants and first responders. Finally, House Bill 2898, sponsored by Rep. Owens, sought to revive and revise the land bank law after a prior version was struck down because of a non-germane amendment. The bill would expand land bank authority beyond the original cities, allow counties to use Chapter 141-style delinquent property procedures, and make a small change to St. Louis County board appointments. Supporters from local government, realtors, and municipalities said it would help clear title to abandoned properties and return them to productive use, while an opponent argued the bill could weaken delinquency protections and raise costs. No further votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after closing the hearing on HB 2898.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first completed executive-session action on House Bill 3009, adopting an amendment, rolling the bill into a House Committee Substitute, and then voting do pass on the substitute by a 20-0 roll call. The meeting then moved into public hearings. House Bill 1963, sponsored by Rep. Tara Peters, would reduce the required years of supervisory experience for certain licensed social workers from five years to three years and require 16 hours of supervisory training. Peters and supporters from the National Association of Social Workers and Burrell Behavioral Health said the change would help address Missouri’s behavioral health workforce shortage, especially in rural areas, by expanding the pool of supervisors and speeding entry into the profession. There was no opposition testimony. House Bill 2557, sponsored by Rep. George Hruza, would require a physician to be physically present in emergency departments during all hours of operation, with discussion of possible amendments for rural critical access hospitals and telehealth backup. Supporters, including physicians and medical associations, argued that physician-led emergency care improves safety, meets patient expectations, and is needed in high-acuity settings. Opponents, including the Missouri Hospital Association, hospital administrators, emergency nurses, and rural hospital leaders, warned the bill could be impossible to staff in many rural areas, increase costs, and force closures or reduced access; they emphasized current team-based models using APPs, telehealth, and transfer protocols. The hearing on HB 2557 concluded without a vote. House Bill 311, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Phelps, would modernize Missouri’s bail bond laws by creating a professional regulatory board, strengthening training and oversight, and clarifying procedures for agents and recovery work. Phelps said he was considering a committee substitute that would merge the new board with an existing board to reduce fiscal impact. Supporters from the bail bond industry said the bill would improve professionalism and accountability; questions from members focused on self-regulation and board composition. The committee then adjourned after the hearing.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Commerce Committee met in executive session and voted due pass on three bills. House Bill 2717 passed on a 7-0 vote. House Bill 2465 passed after adoption of a House Committee substitute that changed a referenced number from two to one, and then passed 8-0. House Bill 1791 also passed 8-0 after adoption of a committee substitute incorporating an amendment that added language for an emergency permit and a 30-day extension to obtain a full permit. One member raised a question about whether the bill would align with federal disaster recovery grant requirements, and the chair said he would look into it further. The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2927, House Bill 2057, and House Bill 1707. House Bill 2927 would revise Missouri’s time-limited settlement demand statute for bad faith claims by requiring settlement demands to be in writing, remain open for at least 90 days, and reference the statute. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would close a loophole created by untimed or vaguely timed demands and provide clearer rules for insurers, while opponents argued it would make it harder for injured people and policyholders to hold insurers accountable and could encourage delay. Supporters included representatives of the Missouri Insurance Coalition, Missouri Hospital Association, and Associated Industries of Missouri; opponents included plaintiff-side attorneys who said the current law already addressed abusive short deadlines. House Bill 2057 was described as a technical fix to an entertainment district law for Osage Beach, correcting population language after a prior bill reportedly used the wrong text in the Senate. House Bill 1707 would exempt credit card surcharge fees from sales tax. The sponsor and supporters said the Department of Revenue has been taxing those fees in audits and that the bill would clarify that fees incident to the extension of credit are not taxable. No opposition was presented on either bill, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2710, which would revise school accountability report cards. The sponsor and members described a committee substitute that clarified the report card’s purpose, added an appeal process and changed deadlines, set the top decile of schools as the highest rating, addressed the 95% participation issue with an asterisk-style disclosure, shifted the Show Me Success funding language toward growth-based criteria, clarified growth-to-proficiency language, added agricultural industry reporting, and removed an anonymous survey section and a changing-target provision. After discussion about how letter-grade cutoffs would be set and whether the bill captured enough information about school quality, the committee adopted an amendment changing “growth to proficiency” to “growth relative to grade level” and exempting special school districts or state-operated schools serving only students with disabilities. The substitute was adopted and the committee voted the bill do pass by 16 ayes and 6 noes. The committee then considered House Bill 2872, a literacy bill. The sponsor explained that the substitute kept the four approved screeners, retained the commission, and softened the three-cueing language so science of reading remains the primary approach while allowing teachers some flexibility. Members discussed retention and possible future exceptions, including parental consent and reading plans, but those changes were not yet drafted. The substitute was adopted and the bill passed the committee 20-0, with two present. Next, the committee heard House Bill 2120 and House Bill 1698 together under a combined substitute addressing bullying and related reporting requirements. The substitute removed language on second-degree harassment, added a title reference to Sawyer’s Law, modified reporting procedures to require notice by the end of the school day or the next school day if the incident occurs on a weekend, and clarified investigation and liability protections for teachers. The substitute was adopted and the combined bill passed unanimously. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2335, which would let districts and administrators reduce repetitive annual teacher trainings by using a rotation after a teacher’s first three years. The sponsor and several witnesses from school administrator and teacher groups supported the bill as a time-saving retention measure, while a student witness raised concerns about ensuring continued training on mental health emergencies. Testimony then began on House Bill 2918, the Cronkite New Voices Act, which would expand student journalism rights at public schools and public colleges. The sponsor, a Hazelwood plaintiff, student journalists, an advisor, a law professor, and free-speech advocates testified in support, arguing the bill would protect student speech while preserving limits for libel, obscenity, privacy, and disruption; no opposing testimony was presented before the transcript ended.

Summary: The Special Committee on Urban Issues held a public hearing on House Bill 2292, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones, which would require cross-reporting and training between child/elder abuse systems and animal welfare personnel. Jones said the bill is intended to help identify abuse earlier by training investigators to recognize signs of abuse in both people and companion animals, and she announced planned amendments to narrow the definition of animal to dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds and to extend training time from one hour to one and a half hours. She emphasized the bill is focused on companion animals, not livestock, and said it would use existing agencies rather than create a new department. The committee heard questions about the definition of companion animal and the scope of the bill. Supporters included Humane World for Animals, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, the Missouri Animal Control Association, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Wayside Waifs, and the St. Louis County Police Association. They argued that animal abuse is closely linked to child, elder, and domestic abuse, that animal control officers and humane investigators often see warning signs first, and that cross-reporting would improve early intervention and save lives. Several witnesses described cases where animal abuse coincided with child abuse or other violence, and some said current reporting systems are inconsistent or delayed. One witness also said the training could be provided at low cost through existing mechanisms. Opponents, including the Missouri Pet Breeders Association, Missouri Cattleman’s Association, Missouri Federation of Animal Owners, and Missouri Animal Husbandry Association, raised concerns about the bill’s wording, possible inclusion of commercial breeders or livestock-related issues, and the role of humane investigators. They argued that animal abuse is already reported to law enforcement, that the bill could create confusion about authority or access to private property, and that it could impose costs and training burdens on agencies already stretched thin. Some rural witnesses said they wanted any investigations to remain with law enforcement and the Department of Agriculture, not animal welfare groups. The hearing ended without a vote or other action on the bill.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after several members were absent, then moved into bills for perfection. House Bill 261, dealing with anti-Semitism in public schools and higher education, drew extensive debate. The sponsor described rising anti-Jewish incidents and said the bill would require educational institutions to adopt nondiscriminatory policies, use the IHRA definition as a guide, and treat failures to address harassment as Title VI issues. An amendment from the gentleman from Pulaski was adopted to clarify that protected First Amendment speech, religious expression, and political viewpoints would not be reported or cataloged. Supporters said the bill was needed to protect Jewish students; opponents argued it singled out one group, could chill speech about Israel and Palestine, and created unequal reporting requirements. The House ultimately ordered the bill perfected and printed as amended. The chamber then took up House Bill 2384 on housing affordability and building codes. The sponsor said the bill would lower housing costs by rolling back energy-code mandates to 2009 standards, setting clearer permitting timelines, and allowing certain multifamily buildings to use a single staircase. Supporters argued current codes raise costs, discourage builders, and contribute to Missouri’s housing shortage. Opponents raised concerns about local control, preemption of municipal energy standards, and public safety, especially the single-stair provision; the sponsor responded that the design has been used safely in other states and cities. A Pulaski amendment requiring municipalities with online ordinances to keep only one hard copy available was adopted, and after debate the previous question was moved and approved. The House then adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. House Bill 1766, addressing personal property tax, was also perfected and printed. The sponsor said the bill would apply Hancock/CPI-style tax limitations to personal property tax growth, arguing that rapidly rising vehicle values had created a windfall for political subdivisions and unfairly increased taxpayer burdens. Supporters said the bill would slow growth without eliminating it, while opponents argued local governments need revenue to keep up with inflation and that the measure would reduce resources for schools and other services. Finally, the House began consideration of House Joint Resolution 154, which would place into the Missouri Constitution a Medicaid work requirement mirroring federal policy. The sponsor said adults ages 19 to 64 would need to work, volunteer, participate in a work program, or attend school for 80 hours a month to remain eligible, and the discussion began with questions about whether the constitutional change was necessary and how documentation requirements would work.

Summary: The Committee on Pensions heard House Bill 1762 and House Bill 2059 together because both addressed the same issue: expanding Missouri’s tax deduction for private pensions. The sponsors explained that current law allows a limited deduction for private pension income only for taxpayers below certain income thresholds, and their bills would double both the deduction amount and the income limits. They said the proposal is intended to make private pension treatment more comparable to public pension treatment and to help retirees, self-employed people, and small business owners who saved through IRAs, SIMPLEs, or SEPs. One sponsor noted the bill was a scaled-back version of a prior proposal that would have fully eliminated the tax, in part to reduce the fiscal impact. Committee members asked several questions about who would benefit and how the limits work. The sponsors said the deduction would apply only to taxpayers under the income thresholds, would not help higher-income taxpayers, and would not apply to Roth accounts because the plans must be deferred. Members raised concerns about the fiscal note, which was discussed as roughly $135 million to $140 million, and about whether the income test could still allow some relatively wealthy taxpayers to qualify because Missouri adjusted gross income can differ from broader measures of income. The sponsors defended the bill as a fairness issue and noted that similar treatment already exists for public pensions. No witnesses testified in support, opposition, or for informational purposes. The committee did not take any vote or other action before adjourning.

Summary: The Committee for Rural Issues met with a quorum and took up House Bill 3076, with a House Committee Substitute offered for adoption. The bill sponsor explained that the substitute was intended to clarify language so the Department of Natural Resources would not have to permit common agricultural non-point source practices, describing it as codifying current DNR practice and not creating a blanket exemption from pollution rules. Committee members discussed concerns about CAFO manure application, runoff, over-application, and environmental impacts, while supporters said best management practices and existing conservation measures address those risks. Representative Burton argued the bill was a solution in search of a problem and said DNR is not currently mandated to issue these permits, while the sponsor responded that the bill was needed because the current interpretation could require permitting of non-point sources. There was also clarification on the record that DNR did not testify on the bill. After discussion, the committee adopted the House Committee Substitute by voice vote. The committee then voted on the substitute for House Bill 3076 and reported it do pass. The roll call showed 11 in favor, 1 opposed, and 2 present, with Representative Burton voting no and the rest of those voting supporting the measure. The committee then adjourned.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2748. Members considered a committee substitute and adopted a House committee amendment that restored recess language and clarified age-appropriate physical activity provisions. After rolling the amendment into a new substitute, the committee voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 6 ayes, 4 noes, and 1 present. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2774, which would prohibit the state or political subdivisions from restricting the sale or use of equipment, vehicles, tools, or similar items based on fuel source. Representative Knight presented the bill as a short measure aimed at preventing fuel-source restrictions. Testimony in support came from the American Petroleum Institute, Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association, Missouri Propane Gas Association, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Missouri Golf Association, with supporters emphasizing consumer choice, free-market fuel policy, and economic benefits for biofuels and related industries. During questioning, a member asked whether the bill would affect homeowners associations banning gas-powered lawn equipment; the witness said it would not, unless the HOA were a political subdivision. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing on HB 2774 was concluded before the committee adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Pensions heard House Bill 1762 and House Bill 2059 together because both addressed the taxation of private pensions. The sponsors explained that current Missouri law allows a $6,000 deduction for private pension income only for taxpayers below relatively low income thresholds, and their bills would double both the deduction and the income limits, making the maximum deduction $12,000 for joint filers with income up to $64,000 and single filers up to $50,000. They said the proposal is intended as a fairness measure for retirees who saved through private plans such as IRAs, SIMPLEs, and SEPs, and noted it is structured to keep the fiscal impact below the larger cost of a prior public-pension tax break. Members questioned the sponsors about the fiscal note, the use of Missouri adjusted gross income, and whether the bill would mainly benefit lower-income retirees. The sponsors said the bill is means-tested, excludes those above the thresholds, and applies only to deferred retirement income, not Roth accounts. They also acknowledged that Missouri AGI can differ from federal AGI because of items like capital gains, but said the bill mirrors the public-pension treatment. One member raised the possibility of phasing in the increase rather than adopting the full deduction at once, and the sponsors said that would be possible. The sponsors said a similar version passed the House overwhelmingly last year but died in the Senate after being amended into another retirement bill and then stripped off on the final day. No one testified in opposition or for informational purposes, and the hearing was adjourned without any vote or committee action on the bills.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee for Rural Issues met with a quorum and took up House Bill 3076, with a House Committee Substitute (HCS) offered before the vote. The sponsor explained that the revised language was intended to codify current Department of Natural Resources practice and avoid requiring permits for agricultural non-point source pollution from common farming practices. Members discussed concerns about CAFO manure/fertilizer application, runoff, water quality, and whether the bill could affect environmental protections, while supporters argued that best management practices and existing enforcement would still address over-application and that the bill was aimed at clarifying permitting, not giving a free pass on pollution. Representative Burton opposed the measure, saying DNR is not currently mandated to issue such permits and warning the bill was a solution in search of a problem. The sponsor responded that the bill was needed because the current interpretation could require permitting for non-point sources, unlike point-source discharges from facilities such as wastewater plants. A clarification was also made that DNR did not testify on the bill. The committee adopted the HCS and then voted the bill do pass. On the final roll call, the HCS for House Bill 3076 passed with 11 in favor, 1 opposed, and 2 present. The committee then adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met with a quorum present and first went into executive session. In that session, it voted do pass on House Bill 1756, described as dealing with June’s Week, and House Bill 1828, which concerns funding for veterans’ memorials, museums, and related projects. Both bills passed unanimously, with HB 1756 receiving 9 yes votes and HB 1828 receiving 12 yes votes. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 2845, sponsored by Representative Lisa Durnell, to designate a memorial bridge for Jared Bennett near Willow Springs. Durnell described Bennett’s death in a 2002 automobile accident, the family’s long care for the roadside memorial area, and the loss of their Adopt-A-Highway sign after MoDOT discontinued the program. She said the bridge naming would honor Bennett and noted the signage would be privately funded, resulting in no fiscal note. Jared Bennett’s father, Craig David Bennett, testified in support and shared personal memories of his son, including a fishing story that illustrated his character. Committee members offered condolences and supportive comments, and several indicated they would support the bill. No one spoke in opposition or for informational purposes only, and the hearing on HB 2845 was then closed with no further business.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2748, which concerned school recess and physical activity requirements. Members discussed and adopted a House committee amendment that restored recess language and clarified age-appropriate physical activity language for elementary and high school students. The committee then rolled the amendment into a new substitute and voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2748 do pass by a roll call vote of 6 ayes, 4 noes, and 1 present. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2774, sponsored by Representative Knight. The bill would prohibit the state or political subdivisions from restricting the sale or use of their equipment, vehicles, tools, or other items based on fuel source. Representative Knight described it as a short bill aimed at preventing fuel-source restrictions by government entities. Testimony on HB 2774 was entirely in support. The American Petroleum Institute said the bill would preserve consumer choice and competition among fuel sources. The Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association supported the measure as a way to keep fuel policy in the free market. The Missouri Propane Gas Association said some communities have banned propane and argued for energy-source choice. The Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Farm Bureau supported the bill, citing biodiesel’s economic benefits and producers’ need for access to preferred fuels and tools. The Missouri Golf Association also supported the bill and referenced written testimony from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded with no further business.