House Committee Descriptions

Missouri House of Representatives
House Committees
Standing, Statutory and Special Committees
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The Speaker may appoint such special committees as he/she deems necessary. Any special committee shall have the authority and duties of a standing committee if so designated by the Speaker.

Duties of the Standing Committees.

Administration and Accounts.

(a) Duties, generally. The Committee on Administration and Accounts shall superintend and have sole and complete control of all financial obligations and business affairs of the House except those employees appointed by or assigned to the Speaker, or assigned to the Budget Committee Chair, the Speaker Pro Tem, the Majority Floor Leader, the Minority Floor Leader and the Officers of the House. The committee shall provide for the receiving and receipt of all supplies, equipment and furnishings purchased for the account of the House, and shall further provide for the use and distribution thereof.

(b) Funds for operation of members' individual offices. The committee shall also prescribe rules governing the expenditure of funds allotted to individual members for the operation of their offices. Such rules shall be applied equally to, and shall require the equal treatment of, all members with regard to the expenditure of such funds. Subject to such rules, each member shall have discretion to expend such funds, for the use of his or her office, without the approval of the committee.

(c) Allotment of offices, chamber seats, parking spaces. Each member shall be allotted his or her own office, chamber seat and parking assignment. The committee shall assign all offices, chamber seats, and parking spaces under its control and reserved for members, according to seniority within each respective party caucus, except that no member shall be forced to give up his/her offices, chamber seat or parking space that he/she currently occupies. Notwithstanding any provision of this rule to the contrary, the committee may make assignments to House officers, the floor leaders and assistant floor leaders of each party, the Budget Committee Chairman, and the chairman and ranking minority member of the accounts committee, without respect to the seniority of those members.

(d) Duties of Chief Clerk in Respect to Committee. The Chief Clerk of the House may be authorized to act for the committee, but only in the manner and to the extent as may have been previously authorized by the committee. Such authorization shall be entered in the minutes of the committee.

The Chief Clerk shall maintain financial records for the House of Representatives in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Chief Clerk of the House shall keep a detailed accounting of all transactions and shall furnish each member of the committee and the Speaker with a copy of such account on a monthly basis.

Agriculture. The Committee on Agriculture may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the protection, promotion and encouragement of agriculture and agri-business in this state.

Appropriations-General Administration. The Committee on Appropriations-General Administration shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Public Debt, Elected Officials, Office of Administration, the General Assembly, the Department of Revenue, Judiciary and the Public Defender.

Appropriations-Transportation. The Committee on Appropriations-Transportation shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money of the Department of Transportation.

Appropriations-Education. The Committee on Appropriations-Education shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education.

Appropriations-Natural and Economic Resources. The Committee on Appropriations-Natural and Economic Resources shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Insurance, the Department of Conservation and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Appropriations-Health and Mental Health. The Committee on Appropriations-Health and Mental Health shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Health and the Department of Mental Health.

Appropriations-Social Services. The Committee on Appropriations-Social Services shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Department of Social Services.

Appropriations-Corrections and Public Safety. The Committee on Appropriations-Corrections and Public Safety shall report to the Budget Committee upon all bills, measures, and questions referred to it by the Budget Committee pertaining to the appropriations and disbursements of public money for the funding of the Departments of Corrections and Public Safety.

Banks and Financial Institutions. The Committee on Banks and Financial Institutions may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to banks, banking, savings and loans and other financial institutions.

Budget. The Committee on Budget shall have the responsibility of filing all appropriation bills, assigning of those bills to the appropriate appropriations committees and shall report upon all bills recommended to it by the respective appropriation committee and any other bills, measures, or questions referred to it pertaining to the appropriation and disbursement of public money.

Children, Families and Health. The Committee on Public Health, Children and Families may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the health of the people of the State of Missouri; consider, report upon and conduct ongoing study of bills and matters referred to it concerning the problems of children and families including but not limited to income maintenance, health (including medical and child development research), nutrition, education, welfare, employment and recreation.

Civil and Administrative Law. The Committee on Civil and Administrative Law may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to civil and administrative laws and procedure.

Commerce and Economic Development. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to commerce, industrial growth, expansion and development.

Conservation, State Parks and Mining. The Committee on Conservation, State Parks and Mining shall consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the Department of Conservation, state parks, fish and game, forestry, natural resources and mining.

Correctional and State Institutions. The Committee on Correctional and State Institutions may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to adult and juvenile penal and correctional problems, the administration of correctional institutions, the state penitentiary, state hospitals, charitable institutions, and other state properties.

Criminal Law. The Committee on Criminal Law may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to criminal laws and procedures.

Critical Issues, Consumer Protection and Housing. The Committee on Critical Issues and Consumer Protection may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to issues of a critical nature to State Government. The Committee will identify those issues and the options available that are most important to citizens and lawmakers and formulate legislation in a systematic and comprehensive manner and provide future planning and direction for a regular structured plan. The Committee shall consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to retail sales and practices, credit unions, consumers and housing.

Education- Elementary and Secondary. The Committee on Education-Elementary and Secondary may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to elementary and secondary education in this state, including teachers, financing, property, indebtedness and curriculum.

Education- Higher [Education]. The Committee on Education- Higher may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to higher education in the state, including teachers, financing, property, indebtedness and curriculum.

Elections. The Committee on Elections may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to elections and election contests involving members of the House.

Environment and Energy. The Committee on Environment and Energy may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the development, use and conservation of energy and other energy related concerns; environmental impact and pollution, including natural resources such as air, water, solid waste; recovery of natural resources of all types and by all means, including environmental impact and public health and safety as it relates to these issues.

Ethics The Committee may consider and report upon complaints referred to it relating to a member of the House of Representatives involving the commission of a crime, misconduct, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office or other complaints relating to the ethical conduct of a member.

Fiscal Review and Government Reform. (a) The Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform shall consider any bill, except appropriations bills, which requires net additional expenditure of state money in excess of $100,000 or which reduces net state revenue by more than $100,000 in any of the four fiscal years immediately following the effective date of the bill. Any such House bill, after having been perfected and ordered printed by the House shall be referred to the Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform for its consideration prior to the bill's submission to the House for third reading and final passage. Any House bill with Senate amendment(s) or any House bill with a Senate substitute which requires net additional expenditure of state money in excess of $100,000 or which reduces net state revenue by more than $100,000 in any of the four fiscal years immediately following the effective dates of the bill shall be referred to the Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform for its consideration prior to the bill's submission to the House. Any such Senate bill, after having been approved by the regular standing committee to which it was referred, shall be referred to the Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform for its consideration prior to the bill's submission to the House for third reading and final passage. Any Senate or House bill amended so as to increase net expenditures or reduce net revenues shall, upon timely motion, be re-referred to the Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform. The primary sponsor or, in the case of a Senate bill, the floor handler, of a bill referred to the Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform shall be entitled to a hearing on the bill but such hearing shall be limited to the reception of testimony by the primary sponsor or floor handler, as the case may be, in person and none other. For the purpose of this rule, "net" is defined as the sum of revenues and expenditures, after reductions and increases brought about by a bill have been calculated. The Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform may, with the consent of the House Sponsor or Floor Handler, amend an effective date onto any bill referred to the Committee.

(b) The Committee on Fiscal Review and Government Reform shall report on any other bills, including those with unknown fiscal notes, measures or questions referred to it by the Speaker.

(c) The Committee may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the reorganization, consolidation and abolition of boards, bureaus, commissions and other offices and departments of the state and local governments; the public buildings of the state, including the Division of Design and Construction, the Division of Facilities Management, the capitol grounds and the state and legislative library. The Committee is empowered to study and investigate the efficiency and economy of all branches of government including the possible existence of fraud, misfeasance, malfeasance, collusion, mismanagement, incompetence, corruption, waste, conflicts of interests and the improper expenditure of government funds in transactions, contracts and activities of government or government officials and employees. The Committee is authorized to hold hearings, sit and act at any time or place within the State of Missouri during the recess and adjournment periods of the House, administer oaths, and take testimony, either orally or by sworn written statement. If the Committee, after hearing, and upon findings incorporated in a report, deems that a particular activity, bureau, agency, committee, commission, department or any other entity of state government should be discontinued, it shall report such finding to the House for further action by the House. The Committee shall also consider and report on such bills and matters related to the efficiency of government in the state that may be referred to it.

Insurance. The Committee on Insurance may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to insurance and the improvement of insurance laws and the efficiency of the Department of Insurance.

Joint Committee on Administrative Rules The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Chapter 536, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Capital Improvements The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Sections 21.530 through 21.537, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Correctional Institutions and Problems The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Sections 21.440 through 21.465, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Economic Development, Policy and Planning The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Chapter 536, Section 620.602, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Section 313.001.

Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Section 21.795, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Job Training The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Section 620.481, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Legislative Research The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Chapter 23, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Sections 21.550 through 21.564, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Joint Committee on Wetlands The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Section 21.475, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Judiciary. The Committee on Judiciary may consider and report upon all bills and matters referred to it relating to the judicial branch of the state, the practices and procedures of the courts of this state, and the ethics of public officials.

Labor. The Committee on Labor may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the conditions and interest of labor.

Legislative Research, Oversight Committee The Committee operates under the authority granted it by Sections 21.150 through 21.195, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

Local Government and Related Matters. The Committee on Local Government and Related Matters may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to county courts and local government generally.

Miscellaneous Bills and Resolutions. The Committee on Miscellaneous Bills and Resolutions may consider and report upon resolutions referred to it and upon any bill which, in the opinion of the Speaker, merits special consideration. Any resolution that is not a courtesy resolution will require action by the House as provided for by the House Rules.

Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulations. The Committee on Motor Vehicle and Traffic Regulations may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to motor vehicles and traffic regulations.

Municipal Corporations. The Committee on Municipal Corporations may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the organization, government and improvement of cities, towns, villages and other questions concerning municipal bodies.

Professional Registration and Licensing. The Committee on Professional Registration and Licensing may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to boards, bureaus, and commissions that examine the qualifications of persons engaged in certain professions and occupations and the duties of such agencies and the persons registered by them.

Public Safety, Law Enforcement and Veteran Affairs. The Committee on Public Safety, Law Enforcement and Veteran Affairs may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the safety of the people of the State of Missouri and to law enforcement; veteran affairs; and the promotion and strengthening of states rights and military and naval affairs of the state.

Retirement. The Committee on Retirement may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the retirement and pensions of state and local officials and employees.

Rules, Joint Rules, and Bills Perfected and Printed.

(a) Duties, generally. The Committee on Rules, Joint Rules, and Bills Perfected and Printed shall formulate and present for consideration the rules of the House; shall consider and report upon all propositions to amend or change the rules, which propositions shall stand referred without reading or consideration and without discussion, explanation, or debate to the Committee on Rules, Joint Rules, and Bills Perfected and Printed, and upon any bill which merits special consideration.

(b) Duties related to printing and proofing bills. The Committee shall supervise the printing of all bills ordered perfected and printed, insuring that procedures are followed in which all amendments to every such bill are incorporated therein before the bill is printed and the printed copies of the bill on the desks of the members are true and correct copies of the bill as ordered perfected and printed. The Committee shall also supervise the printing of all bills which are truly agreed to and finally passed, insuring that procedures are followed in which every truly agreed to and finally passed bill is a true copy of the bill as passed with clerical errors corrected. The Committee shall report to the House when any perfected or any truly agreed to and finally passed bill is printed under its supervision.

(c) Duties relating to the issuance of courtesy resolutions. A courtesy resolution is a non-controversial resolution in the nature of congratulations on the birth of a child, celebration of a wedding anniversary, sympathy on the death of an individual, congratulations on an outstanding citizen achievement or a similar event which is in the practice and procedure of the House to consider as a courtesy resolution. The Committee shall supervise the offering and issuance of all courtesy resolutions. While the House is in session, the resolutions that have been issued under the supervision of the Committee shall be printed in the House Journal by number and sponsor.

(d) Petition to remove from perfection calendar. Upon petition of two-thirds of the standing committee chairmen recommending a House Bill or Joint Resolution be removed from the regular perfection calendar and placed on the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed, the Committee on Rules and Joint Rules shall have authority to consider and remove any House Bill or Joint Resolution from the regular perfection calendar and place it upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed. And any bill so placed upon said calendar shall, after being perfected and printed be placed upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage.

(e) Petition to remove from third-reading calendar. Upon petition of two-thirds of the standing committee chairmen, the Committee on Rules, Joint Rules and Bills Perfected and Printed shall have the authority to consider and remove, any Senate bill or Joint Resolution from the regular third reading calendar and place it upon the Rules Committee Calendar, Senate Bills or Joint Resolutions to be agreed to and placed upon third reading and final passage. The Committee has the privilege of reporting at any time and the consideration of its report shall have precedence over all other business. Any bill placed upon the Rules Committee Calendar, House Bills or Joint Resolutions to be perfected and printed, by the Committee on Rules and Joint Rules, may be recommitted to the Committee on Rules and Joint Rules by a Constitutional majority of the elected members, and if this occurs the bill shall be returned to its place on the Perfection Calendar from which it had been removed.

(f) The Committee may consider and report upon resolutions referred to it and upon any bill which, in the opinion of the Speaker, merits special consideration. Any resolution that is not a courtesy resolution will require action by the House as provided for by the House Rules.

Social Services, Medicaid and the Elderly. The Committee on Social Services, Medicaid and the Elderly may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to [social services Medicaid, children's aid and the elderly] the Department of Social Services.

Special Committee on Missouri Tobacco Settlement A special committee established by the Speaker to deal with matters related to the tobacco settlement.

Special Committee on Public-Private Partnerships A special committee established by the Speaker to deal with matters related to public-private partnerships.

Special Committee on Redistricting A special committee established by the Speaker to deal with matters related to redistricting, especially Congressional redistricting.

Special Committee on Sportsmanship, Safety and Firearms A special committee established by the Speaker to deal with matters related to sportsmanship, safety and firearms.

Transportation. The Committee on Transportation may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the Department of Transportation; all means of transportation including but not limited to roads, highways, bridges, ferries, airports, and railroads.

Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. The Committee on Tourism, Recreation and Cultural Affairs may consider and report upon all matters referred to it pertaining to the development and promotion of travel, tourism, recreation, the arts and cultural affairs.

Urban Affairs. The Committee on Urban Affairs may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to city planning and other urban issues.

Utilities Regulation. The Committee on Utilities Regulation may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to incorporation and regulations of utilities, including gas, electric, water, heating, sewer, cable television, and telephone and telegraph companies, as well as rural electric cooperatives.

Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the revenue and public debt of the state, and the interest thereon, and the administration of taxation and revenue laws. The Committee may also inquire into and suggest to the House such changes, if any, that should be made in respect to existing sources of revenues and such new sources of revenue, if any, that in the judgment of the Committee should be considered by the House.

Workers Compensation and Employment Security. The Committee on Workers Compensation and Employment Security may consider and report upon bills and matters referred to it relating to the Workmen's Compensation Act, unemployment compensation and employment security.

Missouri House of Representatives