Senate Leader Announces Committee Assignments for the
98th General Assembly

The first full week of the 2015 legislative session concluded on Thursday, Jan. 15, with lawmakers having established the committee makeup of the 98th General Assembly, which was announced by the Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, on Monday afternoon. The rest of the legislative work week was marked by the assignment of bills to their respective panels, where public hearings will be conducted. In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee will begin work on the Fiscal Year 2016 budget next Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Committee Assignments

Before conclusion of this legislative week, members and chairmen of this session’s Senate committees were announced. There are 18 standing committees in the Senate; standing committees are continuous in their existence in which bills are referred for consideration by subject matter pursuant to chamber rules.
The Senate President Pro Tem is responsible for assigning senators to their respective committees, in addition to referring legislation to committees for members’ consideration.

Administration: Controls all financial obligations and business affairs of the Senate, as well as its offices and seats and the supervision of certain designated employees, among other duties. Members include Sen. Dempsey (chairman); Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin (vice-chairman); Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City; Minority Floor Leader Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors.

Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources: Considers legislation regarding food production, the state park system, and conservation of Missouri’s natural resources, as well as other agriculture-related issues. Serving on the panel are Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown (chairman); Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff (vice-chairman); Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby; Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar; Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg; Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City; and Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City.

Appropriations: Examines measures pertaining to general appropriations and disbursement of public money in the state. Senators serving on this panel include Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia (chairman); Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City (vice-chairman); Sen. Brown; Sen. Kehoe; Sen. Parson; Sen. Pearce; Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville; Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph; Sen. Curls; Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Walsh.

Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment: Reports on bills relating to the development of state commerce, protecting Missouri consumers, the development and conservation of energy resources, and other matters relating to environmental preservation. Members appointed to this committee include Sen. Kehoe (chairman); Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar (vice-chairman); Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Callaway County; Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington; Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan; Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau; Sen. Holsman; Sen. Keaveny; and Sen. Scott Sifton, D-St. Louis.

Education: Considers all state education-related measures, including public schools, libraries, programs and higher education institutions. Senators sitting on this committee include Sen. Pearce (chairman); Sen. Romine (vice-chairman); Sen. Brown; Sen. Emery; Sen. Libla; Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; and Sen. Holsman.

Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections: Takes up legislation relating to financial institutions in the Show-Me State; certain conditions of departments, boards, bureaus and commissions within state government; and matters regarding election law, among other pertinent issues. Those serving on this panel include Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Cunningham; Sen. Hegeman; Sen. Kraus; Sen. Riddle; Sen. Sater; Sen. Wallingford; Sen. Paul Wieland, R-Imperial; Sen. Keaveny; Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Kansas City; and Sen. Sifton.

General Laws and Pensions: Reports on all bills related to a general topic and examines legislation relating to retirement, pensions and pension plans, among other pertinent issues. Panel members include Sen. Schaaf (chairman); Sen. Wieland (vice-chairman); Sen. Hegeman; Sen. Schatz; Sen. Keaveny; and Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Couer.

Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight: Reviews bills relating to the improvement of governmental efficiency and management. The panel also considers all legislation, except regular appropriation bills, that require new appropriations or expenditures of appropriated funds in excess of $100,000, or other circumstances. Committee members include Sen. Cunningham (chairman); Sen. Silvey (vice-chairman); Sen. Kehoe; Sen. Riddle; Sen. Wasson; Sen. LeVota; and Sen. Nasheed.

Gubernatorial Appointments: Considers all gubernatorial appointments referred to the panel by the governor. Serving on the committee are Sen. Dempsey; Sen. Richard; Sen. Emery; Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Schaaf; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Schatz; Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale; Sen. Curls; Sen. LeVota; and Sen. Nasheed.

Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government: Reviews legislation relating to the promotion of economic development, the creation and retention of jobs, tourism and the promotion of tourism as a state industry, as well as other related issues. Committee members include Sen. Schmitt (chairman); Sen. Hegeman (vice-chairman); Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; Sen. Kraus; Sen. Romine; Sen. Schatz; Sen. Wasson; Sen. Wieland; Sen. Curls; Sen. Holsman; and Sen. Nasheed.

Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee: Examines bills relating to the judicial department of the state, including the practice of Missouri courts, civil procedure and criminal laws, criminal costs, probation or parole of individuals sentenced under the criminals laws of the state, and other related matters. Sitting on this panel are Sen. Dixon (chairman); Sen. Onder (vice-chairman); Sen. Emery; Sen. Schaefer; Sen. Schmitt; Sen. Keaveny; and Sen. Sifton.

Progress and Development: Takes up all bills and matters concerning the changing or maintenance of issues relating to human welfare. Members of the upper chamber serving on this committee include Sen. Keaveny (chairman); Sen. Walsh (vice-chairwoman); Sen. Schupp; Sen. Silvey; and Sen. Wallingford.

Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics: Considers rules for the government of the Senate, reviews matters relating to ethics and the conduct of public officials and employees, and examines all bills passed by the General Assembly, among other related items. Panel members include Sen. Richard (chairman); Sen. Dempsey (vice-chairman); Sen. Dixon; Sen. Libla; Sen. Wallingford; Sen. LeVota; and Sen. Walsh.

Seniors, Families and Children: Reviews bills regarding the preservation of the quality of life for senior citizens, as well as family and children’s issues. Panel members include Sen. Sater; Sen. Riddle; Sen. Kraus; Sen. Libla; Sen. Romine; Sen. Chappelle-Nadal; and Sen. Schupp.

Small Business, Insurance and Industry Committee: Examines legislation relating to the ownership and operation of small businesses; different forms of insurance; labor management, fair employment standards, workers’ compensation, and employment security within the Show-Me State; and industrial development. Committee members include Sen. Parson (chairman); Sen. Libla (vice-chairman); Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Wallingford; Sen. Wasson; Sen. Wieland; Sen. Curls; and Sen. Walsh.

Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety: Takes up all legislation concerning roads, highways, bridges, airports and aviation, railroads, port authorities and all other means of transportation; motor vehicles, motor vehicle registration and drivers’ licenses; and infrastructure across the state of Missouri. Those assigned to sit on this committee include Sen. Libla (chairman); Sen. Schatz (vice-chairman); Sen. Dixon; Sen. Kehoe; Sen. Munzlinger; Sen. Chappelle-Nadal; and Sen. Curls.

Veterans’ Affairs and Health: Considers measures pertaining to Missouri’s veterans. It also considers the state’s MO HealthNet medical services plan for certain eligible citizens, as well as other health-related issues. Members serving on this committee include Sen. Brown (chairman); Sen. Schaaf (vice-chairman); Sen. Cunningham; Sen. Onder; Sen. Sater; Sen. Schmitt; Sen. Silvey; Sen. Chappelle-Nadal; Sen. Schupp; and Sen. Sifton.

Ways and Means: Reviews bills concerning the revenue and public debt of Missouri, the assessment of real and personal property, the classification of property for taxation purposes, and gambling. Legislators serving on this committee include Sen. Kraus (chairman); Sen. Wallingford (vice-chairman); Sen. Dixon; Sen. Emery; Sen. Onder; Sen. LeVota; and Sen. Sifton.

Numerous bills have already been second read and assigned to committees. These measures will likely be heard next week as legislative panels begin meeting to consider proposed legislation. For a list of all Senate committees, and to view which bills have been assigned to those panels, click here or visit www.senate.mo.gov.

Senate Appropriations to Begin Work on Fiscal Year 2016 Budget

In late December, the governor and Legislature announced the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimate (CRE), which is used to determine the amount of general revenue funds the Legislature will appropriate to state departments, programs and services.

The key figure in the CRE is the projected general revenue collection for FY 2016, which begins July 1, 2015.  Net general revenue collections in FY 2016 are expected to be $8.673 billion. This figure represents growth of 3.6 percent over the revised estimate for the current fiscal year (FY 2015). The revised estimate for the current operating year is $8.372 billion.

The Appropriations Committee will meet next Tuesday, Jan. 20, at noon to hear testimony from various state departments on their financial needs for the next fiscal year budget. The governor will issue his annual State of the State address on Wednesday, Jan. 21, after which he will provide the Senate and House with his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2016. The Legislature will then use those recommendations as a basis for crafting the General Assembly’s version of the state’s annual spending plan.

For more information on the Senate Appropriations Committee and when it is accepting testimony,
click here or visit www.senate.mo.gov and click on the “Hearings” link on the right side of the page.

The 2015 legislative session runs until May 15, 2015. To follow these and other issues before the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation considered by the General Assembly during the 2015 session, learn more about their legislative district and listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens on the Senate floor.

The Missouri Senate’s Capitol Briefing will be distributed and posted weekly throughout session. 

For more legislative news, please visit the Senate newsroom at www.senate.mo.gov/newsroom, where you will find various audio and video programs and other informational services, such as:

• Missouri Legislative Update – A video program produced throughout the legislative session and interim that provides an overview of news in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives.  The program features news interviews with lawmakers conducted by Missourinet’s Bob Priddy and stories on issues concerning Missourians.
• This Week in the Missouri Senate – A weekly, audio program that wraps up the week’s news in the Missouri Senate.  Programs are posted online every Friday in .mp3 format.
• The Senate Minute – A condensed, one-minute audio report of current Senate news.  Programs are posted in .mp3 format and are available through podcast.
• Daily Audio/Video Clips – Throughout the year, the Senate Newsroom posts broadcast-quality audio and video highlights from Senate committee hearings, floor debate, press conferences and other legislative events.  Please note: Clips linked to this Capitol Briefing are only available for the legislative week referenced in the publication.