Missouri House approves package to phase out routine vehicle safety inspections

The Missouri House on Feb. 12 approved a committee substitute including House Bill 18‑38 that would remove mandatory vehicle safety inspections in many circumstances, a move proponents said would reduce cost and regulatory burdens on drivers.

Sponsor Representative (lady from Barton County) told colleagues the inspections date to mid‑20th‑century federal initiatives and do not reflect modern vehicle safety systems. "Eliminating unnecessary inspections will not only ease the financial and logistical pressures faced by vehicle owners, but also reflect our commitment to a more efficient and responsive government," she said.

Opponents pressed the floor with safety concerns. A representative from Saint Louis County argued that removing inspections could increase risk: "To do away with these vehicle inspections ... would make our children, our families, our neighbors ... more at risk," he said, urging colleagues to consider lives on the road.

Transportation and law‑enforcement perspectives were raised during debate: some members cited studies and personal consultations indicating inspections yield measurable reductions in serious crashes, while backers pointed to 38 other states that have ended such programs with no clear net loss in road safety.

The House closed debate and voted the committee substitute passed on third reading. The clerk announced the tally as yeas 104, nays 43. The measure now proceeds according to the legislative calendar and any committee referrals indicated in the text of the substitute.