Legislative Update: Legislature completes first full week, committee assignments announced
The first full legislative week of the 2023 Regular Session was primarily dominated by organizational matters. The Senate and the House of Representatives have each approved the procedural rules for their respective chambers, including the reorganization of committees. In addition, the Senate has started its review of gubernatorial nominations made during the legislative interim.
2023 Introduced Legislation
To date, legislators have introduced approximately 753 House bills, 493 Senate bills, and 83 joint resolutions (proposed constitutional amendments). The final day for the introduction of regular legislation for the present session will be Wednesday, March 1, 2023.
To see more bills of interest, organized by subject or practice area, visit The Missouri Bar’s Legislative Engagement Center (and bookmark the page). These bills of interest feeds are automatically updated with the latest status of the bills listed and provide links to individual bill webpages. The bills of interest listed at the end of this update are just a sample of those already introduced this year, many of which could significantly impact the administration of justice, the integrity of the judiciary, or the dignity of the profession of law. If you have any questions or comments about specific legislation, please contact Government Relations staff at 573-659-2280 or govrel@mobar.org for more information.
Committees of Interest
House Judiciary | Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence |
Lawyer-Legislators – Committee Assignments
On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, President Pro Tempore Rowden and Minority Floor Leader Rizzo submitted Senate committee appointments. Senate lawyer-legislators will be serving on the following committees:
| Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R – Jefferson) | Health and Welfare, Chair Fiscal Oversight Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Local Government and Elections |
| Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer (R – Platte) | Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence, Chair Appropriations, Vice Chair Gubernatorial Appointments Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions, and Ethics |
| Sen. Steven Roberts (D – St. Louis City) | Economic Development and Tax Policy Fiscal Oversight Insurance and Banking Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Veterans, Military Affairs, and Pensions |
| Sen. Nick Schroer (R – St. Charles) | Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence, Vice Chair Education and Workforce Development Emerging Issues Transportation, Infrastructure, and Public Safety Veterans, Military Affairs, and Pensions |
| Sen. Curtis Trent (R – Greene) | Insurance and Banking, Vice Chair Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and the Environment Education and Workforce Development Governmental Accountability Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence |
| Sen. Barbara Anne Washington (D – Jackson) | Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources Appropriations Health and Welfare Local Government and Elections |
On Wednesday, January 11, 2023, Speaker Dean Plocher submitted House majority party committee appointments, and minority party committee assignments will follow. House lawyer-legislators will be serving on the following committees:
| Rep. Marlon Anderson (D – St. Louis) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. John F. Black (R – Marshfield) | Appropriations Subcommittee – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services, Chair Budget Ethics Judiciary Utilities |
| Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R – St. Peters) | Insurance Policy, Chair Appropriations Subcommittee – Education Elementary and Secondary Education |
| Rep. Anthony T. Ealy (D – Grandview) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. David P. Evans (R – West Plains) | Judiciary, Chair Appropriations Subcommittee – Public Safety, Corrections, Transportation, and Revenue, Vice Chair Rules – Regulatory Oversight Consent and House Procedure Budget Ethics |
| Rep. Bill Hardwick (R – Waynesville) | Emerging Issues, Chair Veterans Workforce and Infrastructure Development Crime Prevention and Public Safety |
| Rep. Justin Hicks (R – Lake St. Louis) | General Laws, Vice Chair Judiciary Ways and Means Crime Prevention and Public Safety |
| Rep. Ben Keathley (R – Chesterfield) | Utilities, Vice Chair Appropriations Subcommittee – General Administration Healthcare Reform Professional Registration and Licensing |
| Rep. Ian Mackey (D – St. Louis) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. Doug Mann (D – Columbia) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. Peter J. Merideth (D – St. Louis) | Consent and House Procedure, Ranking Minority Member Other committee assignments forthcoming |
| Rep. Cameron Parker (R – Campbell) | Professional Registration and Licensing, Vice Chair Agriculture Policy Insurance Policy Judiciary |
| Speaker Dean Plocher (R – Des Peres) | Ex office member of all House committees |
| Rep. Renee M. Reuter (R – Imperial) | Budget General Laws Pensions Appropriations Subcommittee – General Administration |
| Rep. Louis Riggs (R – Hannibal) | Workforce and Infrastructure Development, Chair Appropriations Subcommittee – General Administration, Vice Chair Appropriations Subcommittee – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Budget Government Efficiency and Downsizing |
| Rep. Alex Riley (R – Springfield) | General Laws, Chair Rules – Regulatory Oversight Election Contests (special committee) Crime Prevention and Public Safety Elections and Elected Officials |
| Rep. Robert Sauls (D – Independence) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. David Tyson Smith (D – Columbia) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. Sarah Unsicker (D – Shrewsbury) | Forthcoming |
| Rep. Rudy Veit (R – Wardsville) | Corrections and Public Institutions, Chair Judiciary, Vice Chair Legislative Review Transportation Accountability |
Legislative Dates to Remember
First Regular Session
| Pre-filing of legislation begins | December 1, 2022 |
| Session convenes (first Wednesday following first Monday in January) | January 4, 2022 |
| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – No Session | January 16, 2023 |
| Governor’s State of the State Address | January 18, 2023 |
| Chief Justice’s State of the Judiciary Address | February 8, 2023 |
| President’s Day – No Session | February 20, 2023 |
| Final day to introduce legislation | March 1, 2023 |
| Legislative Spring Break | March 13–17, 2023 |
| Easter Break – No Session | April 10, 2023 |
| Final day for floor action on appropriations bills (first Fri. following first Mon. in May) | May 5, 2023 |
| Final day for floor action on bills (first Fri. following second Mon. in May) | May 12, 2023 |
| Session adjourns pursuant to constitution | May 30, 2023 |
| Final day for governor to act on appropriations bills | June 30, 2022 |
| Final day for governor to act on bills passed during regular session | July 14, 2023 |
| Effective date of enacted bills from regular session (unless bill provides otherwise) | August 28, 2023 |
Veto Session
| Session convenes to reconsider vetoed bills (first Wed. following second Mon. in September) | September 13, 2023 |
| Effective date of bills passed over veto (unless bill provides otherwise or veto session lasts more than a single day) | October 13, 2023 |
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