Missouri Legislature Begins New Session

The first session of the 98th General Assembly convened on January 7 at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve the 100th district for another term. During the upcoming legislative session, your Missouri House will continue to prioritize oversight and accountability for all government programs.

Committee assignments were finalized last week, and I have been appointed Chair of the Committee on Fiscal Review and the Select Committee on Social Services. I will also serve on the Committee on Employment Security. The Fiscal Review Committee and Select Committee on Social Services are tasked with scrutinizing pieces of legislation moving through the House.

To ensure that bills are thoroughly vetted based on their cost, impact, and potential unintended consequences, Speaker John Diehl reorganized the House’s committee structure for this year. Bills will be referred to regular standing committees after they are filed. These committees can amend bills and, if members believe they are good public policy, vote them out of the committee. Bills will then be referred to a select standing committee for further review. Each select committee will examine legislation passed by three regular committees. The Select Committee on Social Services, which I chair, will hear legislation referred by the committees on Health and Mental Health Policy, Children and Families, and Veterans.

Select Committees will make any necessary adjustments to the language and vote on whether or not to pass out the bill so it can move to the floor for consideration by the entire House. This extra layer of oversight and transparency will help members be better informed about bills and ensure that we pass the best language possible out of the House.

The Fiscal Review Committee examines legislation that is expected to cost the state over $100,000 before the House takes a final vote on the measure. This committee reviews the anticipated impact on Missouri’s revenue, which is outlined in a fiscal note, and checks the fiscal note for accuracy. The select committees and the Fiscal Review Committee will communicate regularly with the House Budget Committee to determine whether or not the state can afford policies proposed in legislation. It would be fiscally imprudent to add more programs to the books if Missouri does not have the revenue to pay for them.

I will also remain heavily involved in the budget process as a member of the House Budget Committee. The Governor will outline his spending priorities during the State of the State Address on January 21, and the Budget Committee held its first meeting this morning. Per the Constitution, the budget bills will begin in the House, move to the Senate, and the differences will be resolved in conference committees. The General Assembly plans to have the final budget on the Governor’s desk by April 17. This will allow the legislature to examine, and potentially override, any budget vetoes by the end of the legislative session, which is May 15.

In last year’s budget, the General Assembly funded crucial Medicaid reforms, including asthma education for children and dental coverage for adults, but Governor Nixon chose to withhold the money for these initiatives. He has continued to withhold funding even after the General Assembly overrode many of his budget vetoes in September. I hope that the Governor will allow these programs to move forward, but I will work closely with the Appropriations – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Committee to include Medicaid reforms in this year’s budget. Improved healthcare services for current Medicaid recipients are a wise investment for the state because they generate financial returns while improving the healthcare available to vulnerable Missourians.

In addition to these committee responsibilities, I have filed legislation that would require schools to enact more comprehensive bullying policies, modify licensing standards for dental hygienists, and reform Missouri’s welfare program.

If you are interested in bills that have been filed in the House, visit www.house.mo.gov. On this website you can track legislation by bill number or keyword and look up the committee schedule.

I am looking forward to working with Speaker Diehl and my other colleagues in the House, both new and returning members, this session. I am committed to mentoring new members to help them build the institutional knowledge necessary to oversee departments and craft quality legislation. Due to term limits, legislators can only serve in the House for eight years, which is not enough time to understand the nuances of complex policies or the structures of department bureaucracies. Passing down knowledge is the only way to build on lessons from past sessions and serve Missourians as effectively as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns about any issues discussed by the House this year, please feel free to email me at sue.allen@house.mo.gov.