House Rules Committee uses random draw, advances six bills including limit on NDAs in child-abuse cases

The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee voted to advance six measures after the chair used a randomized draw to select which bills would be heard.

The committee, chaired by Chair Cupps, moved to “due pass” recommendations on House Bill 709 (limits on nondisclosure agreements in child sexual-abuse cases), House Bill 131 (juror compensation), House Bill 168 (STEM grants), the House committee substitute for House Bills 433 and 630 (regulation of treatment and use of gold and silver), the House committee substitute for House Bill 793 (campaign finance), and the House committee substitute for House Bill 950 (driver’s license requirements). All six measures were approved by the committee in roll-call votes reported on the record.

Chair Cupps opened the meeting by explaining the committee would try a different process to select bills for consideration, saying, “We have 22 house bills and 0 senate bills. . . . Going forward, we’re only gonna do 5 house bills for every senate bill that we get.” The chair described using a…