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JEFFERSON CITY — Senate floor action on Wednesday (1-12) included Senate President Pro Tem Robert N. Mayer’s, R-Dexter, announcement regarding who would serve on 15 of the Senate’s standing committees and preside as chair of those respective panels. Three standing committees, Administration, Gubernatorial Appointments, and Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics, were announced on Tuesday (1-11).
The Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee is responsible for considering legislation relating to animals, animal disease, pest control, agriculture, food production, Missouri’s park system, conservation of the state’s natural resources, soil and water, wildlife, and game refuges. Senator Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, serves as chair of the panel. Other committee members include Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar (vice-chair); Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield; Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton; Sen. Victor Callahan, D-Independence; and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is charged with considering and reporting on all bills and matters pertaining to general appropriations and disbursement of public money. Members include Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia (chair); Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville (vice-chair); Sen. Brown; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis; Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake; and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.
Members of the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee include Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah (chair); Sen. John Lamping, R-St. Louis (vice-chair); Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City; Sen. Lembke; Sen. Parson; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Stouffer; Sen. Green; and Sen. Justus. The panel is responsible for considering legislation regarding the development of state commerce, the commercial sector, consumer protection, telecommunications and cable issues, the development and conservation of energy resources, as well as the disposal of solid, hazardous and nuclear wastes and other matters relating to environmental preservation.
The Senate Committee on Education considers and reports on measures and matters pertaining to education in Missouri, including areas regarding public schools, libraries, and programs and institutions of higher learning. Senators serving on the panel include Sen. Pearce (chair); Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington (vice-chair); Sen. Brown; Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield; Sen. Kehoe; Sen. Rupp; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis.
Senator Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, serves as chair of the Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee. This committee is charged with considering legislation regarding banks and banking, savings and loan associations, and other financial institutions in Missouri. In addition, the panel addresses the reorganization, establishment, consolidation or abolition of departments, boards, bureaus, and commissions within state government, as well as issues pertaining to election law. Other members on the committee include Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa (vice-chair); Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau; Sen. Cunningham; Sen. Pearce; Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville; Sen. Stouffer; Sen. Justus; and Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis.
The Senate General Laws Committee considers legislation relating to general topics in Missouri. Those serving on the committee include Sen. Cunningham (chair); Sen. Nieves (vice-chair); Sen. Purgason; Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin; Sen. Ridgeway; Sen. Rupp; Sen. Schaaf; Sen. McKenna; and Sen. Wright-Jones.
Members on the Senate Government Accountability Committee consider measures regarding the application, administration, execution and effectiveness of all state laws and programs. The committee is also responsible for the organization and operation of state agencies and other entities that are in charge of the administration and execution of state laws and programs. Those serving on the panel include Sen. Lembke (chair); Sen. Crowell (vice-chair); Sen. Kraus; Sen. Lager; and Sen. Chappelle-Nadal.
The Senate Health, Mental Health, Seniors and Families Committee is responsible for considering legislation regarding health, Mo HealthNet, alternative health care delivery system proposals, mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse and addiction. In addition, it also examines matters concerning senior citizens in Missouri, as well as income maintenance, social services, child support enforcement, public health, disease control, and hospital operations. Senators serving on the committee include Sen. Ridgeway (chair); Sen. Schaaf (vice-chair); Sen. Cunningham; Sen. Lamping; Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale; Sen. Chappelle-Nadal; and Sen. Justus.
Senator Schmitt serves as chair of the Senate Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government Committee, which is responsible for examining legislation relating to the promotion of economic development, the creation and retention of jobs, tourism and promotion of tourism as a state industry, community and business development, county government, township organizations and political subdivisions. Other members named to the committee include Sen. Richard (vice-chair), Sen. Dixon; Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon; Sen. Lamping; Sen. Nieves; Sen. Ridgeway; Sen. Callahan; and Sen. McKenna.
The Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee considers measures relating to the judicial department of the state, including the practice of the courts, civil procedure and criminal laws, criminal costs and other related matters. The panel also examines legislation regarding probation or parole of individuals who are sentenced under the criminal laws of Missouri. Members serving on the committee include Sen. Goodman (chair); Sen. Schmitt (vice-chair); Sen. Dixon; Sen. Kraus; Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Justus; and Sen. Keaveny.
The only Senate committee chaired by a member of the Democratic party is the Senate Progress and Development Committee, which is in charge of considering bills concerning the changing or maintenance of issues relating to human welfare. Those assigned to the committee include Sen. Callahan (chair); Sen. Keaveny (vice-chair); Sen. Chappelle-Nadal; Sen. Schaaf; and Sen. Wasson.
The Senate Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee in responsible for considering measures relating to the ownership and operation of small businesses as well as life, accident, indemnity and other forms of insurance. The committee also examines labor management, fair employment standards, workers’ compensation and employment security with the state, in addition to bills regarding industrial development. Senators named to this committee include Sen. Rupp (chair); Sen. Parson (vice-chair); Sen. Crowell; Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Wasson; Sen. Callahan; and Sen. Green.
Members serving on the Senate Transportation Committee include Sen. Stouffer (chair); Sen. Kehoe (vice-chair); Sen. Engler; Sen. Goodman; Sen. Lamping; Sen. Richard; Sen. Wasson; Sen. McKenna; and Sen. Wright-Jones. The committee is charged with considering legislation regarding roads, highways, bridges, airports and aviation, railroads, port authorities and other means of transportation. The panel also considers issues relating to motor vehicles, motor vehicle registration, and drivers’ licenses.
Senator Crowell serves as chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs, Emerging Issues, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee, which is responsible for examining legislation regarding all matters concerning veterans’ affairs and issues of statewide or immediate concern in Missouri. In addition, the committee considers the issues of retirement, pensions and pension plans, as well as urban renewal, housing, and other matters relating to urban areas. Other members serving on the committee include Sen. Brown (vice-chair); Sen. Engler; Sen. Lamping; Sen. Pearce; Sen. Wright-Jones; and Sen. Keaveny.
Finally, the Senate Ways and Means and Fiscal Oversight Committee is charged with considering legislation regarding Missouri revenue and public debt, the assessment of real and personal property, and the classification of property for taxation purposes and gaming. The committee also considers all bills, except regular appropriation measures, that require new funding or expenditures in excess of $100,000. Those serving on the panel include Sen. Purgason (chair); Sen. Kraus (vice-chair); Sen. Lager; Sen. Richard; and Sen. Chappelle-Nadal.
After bills are introduced in the Senate, the pro tem must assign them to their respective committees, which will begin meeting as early as next week. A complete list of Senate committees can be found under the “Committee” tab on the Missouri Senate website (www.senate.mo.gov).
For more information about the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. To contact the Senate Newsroom, call (573) 751-3824 or e-mail newsroom@senate.mo.gov.
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