Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3037, sponsored by Rep. Allen, which would allow certain Missouri educational contribution tax credits beginning in 2028 to be carried back to the prior tax year. The sponsor described it as a narrow technical change that would not alter credit caps, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards, and said it would simply give donors more flexibility when their tax liability is not known until the following year. Supporters from the American Federation for Children and an educational assistance organization said the change would help small businesses and taxpayers participate more easily and could support scholarship funding. Rep. Thomas raised concerns about the fiscal impact on the education budget, noting the fiscal analysis and asking whether the change would reduce available education revenue; the sponsor acknowledged it would affect budgeting but said the delayed effective date was intended to give time to plan. No vote was taken. The committee then heard House Bill 2830, sponsored by Rep. Collins, which would increase the Missouri Housing Trust Fund recorder fee from $3 to $9 per real estate document. The sponsor and supporters said the fee increase was needed because the fund has not kept pace with inflation and housing costs, leaving many requests unfunded and preventing new construction or rehabilitation projects in recent years. Testimony from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers, and the St. Louis City Continuum of Care emphasized severe affordable housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more rental assistance, case management, and recovery housing. Witnesses said the increase would expand services without using general revenue and would help communities respond to housing instability and workforce needs. No opposition testified and no vote was taken. Finally, the committee heard House Bills 1778 and 2760 together, both focused on religious liberty during public emergencies. Rep. Loy and Rep. Boucher argued the bills were intended to prevent government orders from restricting worship services in a discriminatory way, citing COVID-era church closures and saying religious exercise should be treated consistently with other activities. Members questioned whether the bills could create problems during serious infectious disease outbreaks and whether the language was too broad or vague, especially around what counts as a place of worship and how emergency powers would work. An opponent, a Baptist minister, argued the bills would tie the hands of public health officials and that worship should be treated like other mass gatherings rather than receiving a special exemption. The hearing ended without a vote on either bill.

Summary: The committee heard the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services present its FY 2027 budget request, with Director Sarah Wilson and budget staff describing the department’s mission, major divisions, and the impact of federal funding shifts, especially the FMAP change that will shift costs to general revenue. Wilson emphasized prevention, public health infrastructure, workforce capacity, and data modernization, while several members praised the department’s responsiveness and cost-cutting efforts. The discussion repeatedly focused on lapses, excess authority, and the department’s stated practice of spending federal and other funds before general revenue where possible. Members asked detailed questions about local public health agency support, nutrition programs, rural health and primary care, newborn screening, the state public health lab, and the department’s use of flexibility and reallocations. There was extended discussion of substance use disorder funding: the department explained that some funding is being reduced in its own budget because transfer authority is being added for the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Corrections, while some other SUD-related lines are actual reductions. Members also questioned tobacco prevention and cessation cuts, maternal and infant health programs, fetal infant mortality review, and minority health initiatives, with staff explaining program purposes and noting that some reductions were tied to excess authority or to moving programs to other departments. The committee also reviewed specific operational items such as the Health Initiatives Fund transfer, debt offset escrow for loan repayment defaults, donated funds authority, emergency preparedness, environmental health, health informatics, HIV/STI/hepatitis services, local public health incentives, and the COVID/ARPA authority reductions. Several members requested follow-up information on vacancies, lapse trends, grant spending plans, and program details. No final vote or formal action was taken in the portion provided; the chair recessed briefly and the hearing continued with additional budget testimony.

Summary: The House met with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 5, 2026 by roll call vote, 134-2. During personal privilege remarks, a member recognized Bridget Williams, the first Black woman to lead the Heavy Constructors Association of Kansas City, in honor of Black History Month. The chamber then took up several bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2273, 1946, 1814, and 2551, a large anti-trafficking package addressing sex trafficking, grooming, sextortion, terminology changes from “child pornography” to “child sexual abuse material,” a statewide anti-trafficking council, training requirements, expungement for some trafficking victims, and related criminal penalties, was debated at length over constitutional concerns but ultimately passed third reading 148-2. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1757, which helps school districts identify gifted students by the end of third grade, passed 142-8. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2375, a workers’ compensation reform measure clarifying the burden of proof and compensability standards, passed 86-62 after supporters said it would streamline claims and opponents called it unnecessary. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1788, regulating recurring political donations and increasing transparency, passed 134-16. House Bill 1628, a cleanup bill updating higher education and workforce development statutes and repealing outdated provisions including the Vietnam Veterans Survivors Grant, passed unanimously 153-0. The House also perfected House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2033, 1608, 1672, and 1854, a package centered on removing the sunset from the SAFE Act and continuing Missouri’s restrictions on gender-related medical treatment for minors; debate was sharply divided, with supporters citing child protection and opponents arguing it harms transgender youth and intrudes on parental and medical decision-making. The House then announced upcoming committee meetings and adjourned until February 10, 2026.

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute combining House Bills 2592, 2834, and 2787 into one measure. The combined substitute was then voted do pass by a unanimous roll call, recorded as 15 ayes and 0 noes after a brief correction to the tally. The committee then heard House Bill 1786, which would raise the Highway Patrol’s spending threshold for purchasing vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and related specialized equipment without returning to the legislature from $100,000 to $500,000. The sponsor and Highway Patrol witnesses said the current cap is outdated because boats, armored vehicles, bomb trucks, and aircraft equipment now cost far more than $100,000, while members asked about inflation, the revolving fund, and whether a lower increase might be more appropriate. No opposition testimony was offered. Next, House Bill 2885 was heard. It would redirect the first $1 million in annual boat registration fee revenue away from general revenue and into the Missouri Water Patrol Division. The sponsor and Highway Patrol said registration revenue has declined while operating costs have risen, and the division needs the money to support enforcement, search and rescue, dive operations, and boating safety programs. Members asked how much revenue is collected and whether the change would affect other programs; testimony indicated the bill would mainly earmark existing revenue rather than increase overall department funding. The committee also heard House Bill 2694, which would exempt four fee-supported funds from the end-of-biennium sweep to general revenue: the Highway Patrol Academy Fund, the State Forensic Laboratory Account, the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, and the Elevator Safety Fund. The sponsor and Department of Public Safety witnesses said the sweeps make long-term planning difficult and can disrupt training, lab support, and safety inspection operations, though members raised concerns about excess balances, guardrails, and whether fee reductions should be considered if reserves grow too large. Finally, House Bill 1712 was heard; it would make intentionally failing to charge an electronic monitoring device a crime, closing a loophole in existing tampering law. The sponsor, a sheriff, and other witnesses said the bill addresses deliberate attempts to evade monitoring, while members discussed battery warnings, rural access to electricity, and the costs and benefits of pretrial release. No votes were taken on the later bills before the committee adjourned.

Summary: The committee first took up House Joint Resolution 169, which would cap spending growth and was described by supporters as a taxpayer protection measure. Representative Taylor opposed it, arguing the legislature was already considering too many tax-related measures at once and lacked a broader strategy. The sponsor said the resolution was about limiting spending, not taxes, and offered a committee substitute that added fees and surcharges into the baseline and addressed tax credits. After discussion, the substitute was adopted and the committee voted the House Committee Substitute for HJR 169 do pass, with Taylor and Strickler voting no. The committee then heard House Bill 2819, which would allow rounding of cash transactions now that pennies are no longer being produced. The sponsor explained a committee substitute added safe-harbor language to protect merchants from lawsuits over rounding errors. Members asked about the rounding rules and confirmed the bill remained permissive rather than mandatory. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2819 do pass unanimously. House Bill 2746, sponsored by Representative Williams, would create a property tax map feature on the Department of Revenue website showing current levies and assessed values to improve transparency. Supporters said it would help homeowners compare assessments and understand property tax differences, while opponents and agency witnesses raised concerns about the large startup cost, estimated at about $7 million, the need to gather data from many counties, and the fact that some counties already provide similar information. The Department of Revenue and State Tax Commission witnesses said the data would be difficult to compile statewide and that local participation and data standards vary widely. The bill was heard, but no vote was taken in the transcript. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2329, which would gradually reduce the assessment ratio for personal property from about 33 1/3% to 18% over three years. The sponsor argued the tax is burdensome, especially for working families and businesses, and said it would encourage a broader shift away from personal property taxation. Supporters echoed that it is a highly visible and unpopular tax. Opponents, including a county assessor, warned the bill would sharply reduce local tax bases, especially in rural counties, and likely force levy increases on real property or cuts to schools and other districts. The hearing ended without a committee vote on HB 2329.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan. The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented. Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2901 in executive session. After a brief explanation from the bill sponsor, the committee adopted a House Committee amendment ending in 0.07 that set a five-year expiration date and clarified where reports must be filed. The committee then rolled the amendment into a substitute and voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 13 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then heard House Bill 3000, which would fix the signature threshold for petition-driven audits by tying the required number of signatures to the gubernatorial election in effect when the petition process begins, rather than when signatures are submitted. The sponsor and the State Auditor’s office said the change would prevent the required number from shifting during the petition period and provide consistency. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. House Bill 313 was then heard, a fentanyl-poisoning response bill that would require naloxone in public buildings, designate October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, require fentanyl education for students in grades 6 through 12, and require training and investigation procedures for law enforcement in drug-related deaths. The sponsor and multiple family members who lost loved ones to fentanyl strongly supported the bill, emphasizing prevention, access to Narcan, and more thorough death investigations. Committee members generally expressed support, raised questions about the definition of public buildings, school implementation, and funding, and testimony suggested opioid settlement money as a possible source. No committee action was taken on HB 313 in the transcript.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met in executive session to work through a series of major property tax measures and related amendments. The committee first considered House Bills 2780 and 2668, which dealt with property tax reform concepts including ballot language for tax measures, timing of elections, and a proposed 25% voter assent threshold. Members also discussed removing provisions related to nursing homes, apartment buildings, and the blind pension fund from the substitute. A separate amendment clarified ballot titling so ballot measures would use alphanumeric labels rather than descriptive names, and members debated whether the language was clear enough and whether it should be further narrowed on the floor. The committee ultimately adopted the substitute and voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2780 and HB 2668 do pass, after a reconsideration and a second roll call vote. Much of the discussion focused on the proposed 25% assent requirement for certain tax measures and whether that standard would meaningfully increase voter participation or instead create confusion and strategic behavior. Some members supported the concept as a way to ensure broader buy-in for tax increases, while others argued it was arbitrary, could be manipulated in small districts, and should be vetted more publicly before adoption. Several members also raised concerns about moving tax questions to the November ballot versus allowing elections at other times, and about the size and complexity of the overall bill. Despite those concerns, the chair and several supporters emphasized that the committee could continue refining the language on the floor and that the measure was intended to improve transparency and voter participation. The committee then took up House Joint Resolutions 148 and 111, which would place Kansas City school district property tax issues under Hancock-style treatment and extend similar treatment to school district debt levies. An amendment was adopted to clarify the Kansas City school district language, and another amendment combined the two resolutions into a committee substitute. Members praised Kansas City Public Schools for recent improvements but differed on whether the issue should be handled statewide or left to local voters. Concerns were also raised that the debt-levy changes could increase borrowing costs and ultimately raise taxpayer bills. After debate, the committee voted the House Committee Substitute for HJR 148 and 111 do pass by a 14-3 vote.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal by roll call vote, 123-1. Members then introduced a series of special guests and recognized birthdays, including visitors connected to Missouri Technology Corporation, education, veterans’ recognition, pediatricians, and a House photographer being honored for long service. During points of personal privilege, members gave extended remarks honoring Black History Month and the speaker’s father, Anthony Todd Ely Sr., for military service, postal work, ministry, and mentoring young people. Another member paid tribute to Donna Kramer Scott, wife of former legislator Delbert Scott, noting her teaching career, church service, and support of public service. The House also read several new bills for first reading, including measures on presidential electors, video lottery terminals, and driving offenses. On third reading, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1667 and 2294, a born-alive abortion measure, drew debate over whether it was necessary or redundant; supporters framed it as protecting infants born alive, while opponents argued existing law already covered the issue and said the chamber should focus on other priorities. The bill passed 103-40. The House then passed House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1694, 1674, 1780, 2056, 2312, and 1755 unanimously, 149-0, a package centered on curbing abusive website-access litigation and improving accessibility compliance. The chamber ended with announcements about upcoming committee meetings, events, and district notices, and adjourned until Monday, February 9, 2026.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Tax Reform met in executive session and first took up House Bill 3035, which concerns vehicle valuation/depreciation for tax purposes. The chair offered a committee amendment to start the depreciation schedule at 85% of MSRP rather than MSRP itself, explaining that the bill would then apply the existing depreciation schedule from that reduced starting point. Members discussed whether the chart and two-step calculation would be confusing, whether assessors and vendors would implement it correctly, and whether the approach was preferable to a simpler flat depreciation method. The bill sponsor supported the amendment, saying the goal was predictability and a standardized depreciation schedule similar to business equipment valuation. Some members still raised concerns about MSRP being a theoretical number and about the bill’s broader effect on property taxes, including a possible shift onto real property if subclass protections are not adopted. The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 3035 do pass by a vote of 5 ayes, 2 noes, and 2 present. The committee then considered House Bill 2945, which would expand and redefine certain capital gains-related provisions, including definitions that could affect items such as pipelines, railroad tunnel bores, petroleum storage, and trusts. Representative Strickler argued the bill’s fiscal impact was uncertain and that the committee had not received a clear estimate of the cost of the new definitions, warning against repeating the experience of last year’s capital gains changes, which were initially expected to cost far less than they ultimately did. Representative Simmons supported the bill as a tax reduction measure, saying Missourians should keep more of their money. Representative Butz responded that the legislature has already been reducing taxes through income tax cuts, Social Security exemptions, capital gains elimination, and SALT-related changes, and urged patience to see the effects of prior tax cuts before enacting more. The committee voted HB 2945 do pass by a vote of 5 ayes and 3 noes.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Government Efficiency heard public testimony on House Bill 2226, sponsored by Rep. Riggs, which would require fiscal notes to estimate the employee hours needed to implement new programs. Riggs argued the bill would expose the hidden time costs of mandates, especially on schools and teachers, and said it would help legislators better understand the burden they place on agencies and local districts. Several members supported the concept, though some questioned the fiscal note attached to the bill itself as excessive or unrealistic, and one member suggested the bill could be improved by requiring more factual fiscal-note estimates. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing was closed without a vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2330, sponsored by Rep. West, an annexation bill that would increase the contiguity requirement from 15% to 25%, bar cities from annexing adjacent unincorporated areas within 24 months of a prior annexation, and repeal a petition-based annexation procedure in certain counties. West said the bill was intended to curb strip annexations, slow overdevelopment, protect county land-use plans, and reduce strain on roads, schools, and utilities. Members raised questions about whether the bill should apply to both voluntary and involuntary annexations, the effect of the 25% threshold on future annexations, and whether the petition procedure already includes voter protections. Testimony in support came from a St. Charles County representative, while opposition testimony argued the bill misunderstood existing annexation law and that current statutes already provide protections and election procedures. The hearing concluded after witness testimony, with no committee action reported.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Budget Committee heard budget presentations from the Attorney General’s office, the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, and the Department of Public Safety. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway outlined four priorities: reducing violent crime, targeting illegal or unregulated activities she described as a “vice squad” focus (including illegal hemp, VLTs, kratom, unlicensed cannabis shops, and Bitcoin ATMs), protecting Missourians from fraud, and improving office performance. She highlighted major litigation involving insulin pricing, Dollar General pricing practices, a police-shooting death penalty case, Jackson County property tax assessments, and a new lawsuit against MSHA over board governance. Members also asked about cybercrime cooperation, the office’s role in defending state laws and ballot issues, and the cost of referendum/redistricting litigation. Hanaway said the office works closely with federal and local law enforcement and that the budget relies heavily on dedicated funds rather than general revenue, including consumer protection, Medicaid fraud, sexual assault kit work, violent crimes, and human trafficking efforts. The Missouri Office of Prosecution Services said it provides training and support to prosecutors statewide and that its budget is in line with the governor’s recommendation. Members asked about assistance for counties without elected prosecutors, and the office said surrounding counties and circuit judges can request help, while MOPS can provide legal troubleshooting through its general counsel. Questions also focused on a new conviction integrity/review unit and how its positions were funded. The Department of Public Safety reviewed its FY27 budget, explaining several one-time items were removed and that many programs are funded through federal grants, settlement funds, or other dedicated sources rather than general revenue. Topics included the crime victims notification system, school safety, drug task forces, law enforcement academy scholarships, Blue Star grants, the 988 fund, opioid-settlement-funded first responder trauma training, wastewater testing in schools, and FIFA World Cup security funding for Kansas City. Members asked about the lack of a match requirement for the FIFA funds, the status of school wastewater testing, and the use of Operation Relentless Pursuit funds for deputy salaries, overtime, and vehicle/equipment needs. The committee recessed before finishing the DPS presentation, with plans to return later to continue the budget review.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bills 2365, 2490, and 2249, a bipartisan version of Elijah’s Law, which would require child care facilities to receive training on identifying and responding to food allergies and anaphylaxis, with the bill updated to refer to epinephrine delivery systems rather than only EpiPens. Sponsors and supporters described the death of Elijah Silvera and argued the bill would help prevent similar tragedies by giving child care staff clearer guidance and training. Committee members asked about whether the bill should be incorporated into licensing rules or other legislation, and sponsors said they were open to working with the Office of Childhood and other bills to advance the measure. A support witness, Mandy Kearns, testified about her family’s experience with severe food allergies and urged passage; there was no opposition, and the hearing closed on those bills. The committee then heard House Bill 1965, which would allow athletic trainers to be recognized for insurance reimbursement when providing covered services. The sponsor and witnesses said the bill would let athletic trainers bill for services in appropriate clinical settings, improve access in rural and underserved areas, and reflect their education and licensure under Missouri law. Committee members raised repeated concerns about overlap with physical therapy, whether school or event-based trainers were already paid through contracts, whether the bill would increase costs or amount to double billing, and whether athletic trainers should be placed in the same statutory category as physicians and physician assistants. Supporters said the bill was limited to credentialing and reimbursement in clinical settings and would not change the physician-directed nature of diagnosis; opponents from Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Missouri Insurance Coalition argued the bill would create a mandate, increase costs, and expand billing before the underlying scope-of-practice questions were resolved. The hearing on HB 1965 then concluded. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and voted do pass on House Bills 1826, 2560, 2349, and 2194 by a vote of 17-0, and also voted do pass on House Bill 1783 by 17-0. The committee then adopted a substitute for House Bill 2372, which incorporated multiple changes including updated epinephrine language and several other bills, and voted it do pass by 17-1. House Bill 1827, relating to occupational therapy and disabled placards/license plates, was also voted do pass by 18-0. The committee later resumed hearings on House Bills 1941 and 2279, which would prohibit copay accumulator adjustment programs from preventing third-party assistance from counting toward a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum on fully insured plans. Sponsors said the bills would help patients with serious conditions afford life-saving medications and noted similar laws in many other states; a rheumatologist testified in support, describing patients who lose access to needed drugs when assistance is not credited. An insurance industry representative opposed the bills, arguing they would affect only a minority of plans, raise costs in the most fragile market segment, and could worsen affordability for some consumers.

Summary: The Committee on Government Efficiency heard House Bill 2226, sponsored by Rep. Riggs, which would require fiscal notes to estimate the employee hours needed to implement new programs, in addition to costs. Riggs argued the bill would help lawmakers understand the real workload imposed by mandates, especially on schools and teachers, and said it was similar to language that previously passed committee. Several members supported the concept, citing burdens on educators and the need for better information, though some questioned the bill’s own fiscal note and suggested fiscal notes should be more accurate or grounded in facts. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was opened to public testimony but no witnesses spoke for or against before the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2330, sponsored by Rep. West, an annexation bill. West said the bill would raise the contiguity requirement for annexation from 15% to 25%, bar cities from annexing adjacent unincorporated areas within 24 months of a prior annexation, and repeal a petition-based annexation procedure in certain counties. He argued the measure would slow aggressive annexation, protect rural landowners and county zoning, and reduce strain on roads, schools, water, sewer, and emergency services. Members generally agreed the bill addressed real concerns about strip annexation and overdevelopment, though some questioned whether the 25% threshold was too restrictive and whether the bill should distinguish between voluntary and involuntary annexation. A witness from St. Charles County testified in support, while an opposition witness said the bill reflected a misunderstanding of existing annexation law and noted current procedures already include voter protections and zoning review. The hearing concluded without a vote.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for February 4, 2026 by roll call vote, 123-1. Members spent a substantial portion of the morning introducing special guests and recognizing birthdays, including visitors from Missouri Technology Corporation, educators, pediatricians, a longtime legislative photographer, and several family members and constituents. A member also delivered a lengthy personal-privilege tribute for Black History Month honoring his father’s military service, postal career, ministry, and mentorship work, and another member paid tribute to the late Donna Kramer Scott. The chamber then took up first reading of House Bills 3218, 3219, and 3220. On third reading, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1667 and 2294 was debated as a “born alive”/abortion-related measure; supporters argued it protects infants born alive and clarifies provider duties, while opponents said the issue is already covered in statute and that the House should focus on other priorities. The bill passed 103-40. The House also considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 1694, 1674, 1780, 2056, 2312, and 1755, a package centered on the Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation and related accessibility/ADA litigation concerns. Supporters described it as curbing settlement-driven lawsuits and helping businesses, while opponents and some supporters emphasized the need for real accessibility improvements. That package passed unanimously, 149-0. During announcements, members highlighted an American Idol contestant from a district, an upcoming rural health care funding informational session, a property tax reform committee executive session, a St. Charles festival, an American Heart Month photo opportunity, and several committee meetings. The House was told to be prepared to consider additional bills upon return, and it adjourned until 4 p.m. Monday, February 9, 2026.