Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first approved House Bill 3143, Representative Parker’s bill, on a 12-0 roll call vote. The committee then took up Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023, which had a committee substitute distributed in advance. The sponsor explained that the substitute combined several previously separate library-related provisions, changed the title to political subdivisions, and included a fix aimed at a Kansas City liquor-sales issue involving small bottles and beer sales; members also discussed other changes affecting library districts and county tax provisions. Several members raised concerns that the Kansas City liquor provision and other non-library items were too broad or preempted local control, while others said the language addressed carve-outs and could be improved. Representative Reedy noted a technical issue in the salary commission language and said it likely needed a floor amendment to change “assistant prosecuting attorneys” to “part-time prosecutors,” but did not think the bill should be held up. The committee adopted the substitute and then voted the resulting House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1023 do pass by an 8-4 roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met in executive session with a quorum present and took up House Bill 2379, first adopting a pre-distributed House Committee Substitute with no amendments. The sponsor explained that the substitute was revised to align with Senate language and would clarify definitions, limit applicability to certain counties, rename the fund the Early Childhood Education Fund, broaden eligible uses to include child care services, move fund custody to the county treasurer, expand eligible recipients, and prioritize children with the greatest financial need. Most of the discussion focused on how the bill would work in practice. Members asked whether the measure created a new tax; the sponsor repeatedly said it did not, but instead would govern how any local sales tax for early childhood education, if approved by voters in St. Louis City or St. Louis County, would be deposited and spent. Supporters said the bill would add transparency and ensure funds are dedicated to early childhood purposes rather than diverted to general revenue or other uses. Some members raised concerns about taxpayers, including seniors, paying a tax from which they would not directly benefit, while others said the bill simply clarifies management of already authorized local tax authority. After discussion, the committee adopted the substitute by voice vote and then voted on the bill itself. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2379 was reported do pass by a roll call vote of seven ayes and two nos. The committee then adjourned.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a 125-0 roll call vote. The chamber spent a large portion of the session on personal privileges and memorials, honoring former Representative Ken Waller and Rawls County teenager Keaton O’Neill, with a moment of silence observed for O’Neill. Members also introduced several guests, including a deployed Marine, legislative visitors, family members, and an intern who was made a page for the day. The House then considered several committee reports and Senate amendments. On House Bills 2637 and 3155, members discussed a broad criminal justice package that included technical fixes to prior sentencing legislation, sex offender registry changes, drone restrictions tied to major events, health care-related provisions, and prosecutor salary adjustments; the House voted to refuse the Senate substitute and request a conference. House Bill 2593, a bipartisan military and veterans measure, was adopted and finally passed 137-1 and 138-1 after debate highlighting cybersecurity protections, Service Members Civil Relief Act language, TRICARE protections, expanded military leave, National Guard benefits, and other support for service members and families. The House also adopted and finally passed House Bill 2974, a licensure reciprocity and telehealth bill that expands interstate practice options for certain health professionals and is intended to improve rural health access; the votes were 109-29 on adoption and 108-30 on final passage. House Bill 2108, a Jefferson City land conveyance and infrastructure bill related to the viaduct and safety improvements, was adopted and finally passed 138-1 and 138-2 after discussion of the state’s transfer of property to the city and an added land provision involving Northwest Missouri State University and Nodaway County. The chamber then received Senate messages on HB 2596 and HB 2637/3155, appointed conference committees, announced upcoming committee meetings, and adjourned until April 28, 2026.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Keywords: 959, house, all

Keywords: 959, house, all

Keywords: 959, house, all

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Budget Committee met in executive session and took up Senate Bill 1470, as amended by a House committee substitute. The bill would update statutes governing the Joint Committee on Legislative Research and its oversight functions. The chair and sponsor described several changes, including reducing the committee from 20 members to 12, adding chamber leadership and minority leaders, allowing electronic delivery of reports, updating references to public colleges and universities, and clarifying that the committee’s role is focused on revision bills rather than general bill drafting. A major point of discussion was a new provision allowing legislative oversight staff to access certain Department of Revenue tax-return information for fiscal note work, subject to confidentiality rules and criminal penalties for misuse. Supporters said this would let staff independently verify tax-policy assumptions and improve the accuracy of fiscal notes, citing past large errors in fiscal estimates. Members raised concerns about protecting taxpayer privacy and asked how the information would be used; the sponsor said only the director and authorized employees would have access, not committee members, and that existing confidentiality oaths and penalties would apply. The committee also discussed post-implementation fiscal notes, which would review whether earlier fiscal estimates matched actual results after two years. Members asked how those reports would be shared, and the sponsor said the bill leaves that to the committee to work out. Another section striking language about staff opposing or urging legislation was explained as cleanup, since the committee no longer drafts general legislation and would only draft revision bills. The committee adopted the House committee substitute and then voted the bill do pass by a roll call of 25 yes and 1 no.

Summary: The Commerce Committee first met in executive session on Senate Bill 1020, adopting an amendment and then a House Committee substitute before voting the bill do pass unanimously, 9-0. The amendment combined language from several other measures and policy changes, including removing a vehicle-inspection requirement for private passenger vehicles, preserving highway patrol authority to stop unsafe vehicles, addressing salvage titles and flood-damaged vehicles, changing online document submission language to make electronic filing optional, shortening a registration renewal option from five years to three, and removing a Montana LLC/property-tax workaround. Members briefly discussed how troopers would determine unsafe vehicles and whether the patrol’s authority was being codified or expanded. The committee then moved to the public hearing on Senate Bill 1576, which would reestablish a Missouri-Ireland commission with three gubernatorial appointees and three appointees each from the House and Senate to study and strengthen ties with Ireland. Senator Travis Fitzwater said the bill was intended to deepen an already growing relationship and support future economic and cultural cooperation, and several members voiced support, including comments about Irish heritage and economic development. One member clarified that the committee was hearing SB 1576 rather than a misidentified bill number on the fiscal note. After no opposition testimony, the committee returned to executive session and voted Senate Bill 1576 do pass unanimously, 8-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Summary: The Rules Administrative Committee met with eight members present, establishing a quorum and moving into executive session. The committee then considered and advanced several bills, all on do-pass motions. Senate Bill 973, sponsored by Senator Trent, passed 7-1; Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 903, related to copper wire and sponsored by Senator Henderson, passed 9-0; Senate Bill 834, sponsored by Senator Crawford and carried in the House by Representative Owens, passed 9-0; and Senate Bill 938, sponsored by Senator Bernskelder and carried by Representative Haley, passed 9-0. The committee also heard discussion on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3304, sponsored by Representative Justice. Members discussed changes to the bill’s dog-bite provisions, including removing “serious emotional injury,” restoring original language so a first bite is not automatically a misdemeanor, and combining it with animal neglect language from a separate bill sponsored by Representative Sharp. Representative Justice explained the bill was intended to address serious attacks without criminalizing minor incidents, and members praised the work on revisions. After discussion, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 3304 passed 9-0. No other business was raised, and the committee adjourned.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health heard public testimony on House Concurrent Resolution 42, Senate Bill 878, House Resolution 538, and House Resolution 4661. HCR 42 would urge Congress to support programs intended to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicaid and Medicare patients; the sponsor said it would help elderly and low-income residents, while an opponent argued the referenced program can cost more than alternatives like GoodRx or local pharmacy pricing. No votes were taken on HCR 42, and the hearing closed after no one appeared in support, opposition, or for information. Senate Bill 878, a pharmacist practice act bill, drew the most discussion. The sponsor said it would codify pandemic-era flexibilities for pharmacists, including administering certain vaccines, providing medication therapy services, dispensing some medical devices, and allowing over-the-counter access to ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine with warning labels and standardized procedures. Supporters from pharmacy chains and the Missouri Pharmacy Association said the bill improves access, especially in rural areas, and keeps pharmacists working at the top of their training. Opponents raised concerns about vaccine authority shifting from the governor to boards, the safety and efficacy of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, and the adequacy of warning labels. The committee heard testimony but did not take a vote. The committee also heard two awareness resolutions. House Resolution 538 would designate May 2026 as ALS Awareness Month and call for support of ALS research and advocacy; members spoke in favor, citing the severity of the disease and the need for early access to communication technology and support services. House Resolution 4661 would encourage screening and public education about chronic kidney disease, especially for high-risk patients such as those with diabetes or hypertension, and would ask the Department of Health and Senior Services to consider public-private education efforts. Both resolutions were presented as nonbinding awareness measures, and no votes were taken before the committee adjourned.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the 56th day by a roll call vote of 131-2. The Speaker also signed several measures, including House Bill 1768, House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1866, Senate Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1870, Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2180, and Senate Substitute for Senate Committee Substitute for House Committee Substitute for House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174. Members then offered a point of personal privilege recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week and shared a constituent’s testimony in support of HCR 28, followed by numerous introductions of student groups, guests, and legislative announcements such as Hat Day and Ken Waller Day. The House received Senate messages on a series of budget bills and other measures, including House Bills 2002 through 2013, and then adopted motions on each of the budget bills to refuse the Senate substitutes and send the bills to conference committees. During discussion, members highlighted major budget differences, including child care subsidies, transportation funding, higher education funding, and a large broadband-related funding shift that would affect the apparent size of the operating budget. The budget chair said he had not yet seen all of the Senate’s printed changes but supported going to conference and expressed hope for compromise on disputed items. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 975, relating to ambulance districts and emergency medical services. After adopting a House committee substitute and a House amendment that restored compromise language on community paramedics and made a minor change to first responder mental health services, the bill passed 136-7. Supporters said it would help struggling ambulance districts, improve emergency response, and keep patients out of emergency rooms when appropriate; one member noted the bill was the same language as a previously passed House bill. The House also considered a property tax reform package in Senate Bills 1066 and 1088, adopting two technical and policy amendments on assessor training, electronic notices, protest payments, levy uniformity, and timing of voter-approved tax increases. Despite support from several members, concerns were raised that the bill could limit local control and create legal or fiscal issues for counties and taxing districts. The combined bill ultimately passed 83-61, and the House adjourned until April 27, 2026.