House Committee on Government Efficiency advances SSSB 889 after executive-session vote

The House Committee on Government Efficiency voted in executive session to give SSSB 889, sponsored by Senator Coleman, a do-pass recommendation after a roll call that produced 9 ayes, 6 no and 2 present.

A representative who spoke during debate said they had drafted amendments they believed would change health benefits and "allow the state of Missouri to save about 80 or $90,000,000 and offer the same care to everyone," but said they declined to offer the changes out of respect for the bill sponsor. The chair said the bill's main purpose was to "eliminate some things that are expired, terminated, sunsetted, and obsolete" as part of periodic statutory cleanup the legislature has not performed in several years.

Committee members exchanged brief remarks before the vote. One member said she had proposed removing a portion of the bill but was unable to persuade the sponsor and therefore would record a "present" vote rather than a for-or-against vote. Another member made a jocular remark about the possibility of permitting horse-racing language, which a speaker had mentioned as an illustrative amendment idea but did not pursue.

The motion to recommend that SSSB 889 be given a do-pass recommendation was moved from the floor during the executive session by the committee chair and then put to roll call. The clerk called the roll and members registered ayes, noes and present votes; the chair announced the final tally as 9 ayes, 6 no, and 2 present, and declared that SSSB 889 had been voted do pass.

The committee concluded the day's business and adjourned. The action sends SSSB 889 on with a committee recommendation; any further amendments or floor action would occur in subsequent legislative proceedings.