Speaker Patterson opened the Joint Committee on Tax Policy’s organizational meeting and announced that six members were present, establishing a quorum. By voice votes of members in the room, the committee elected Speaker Patterson as chair and Senator Nicola as vice chair.

The committee’s purpose at the meeting, Speaker Patterson said, was to organize so members can “be a part of a more robust conversation leading into session over tax policy.” He said he had printed the relevant statute for members and that the committee could reconvene if discussions about tax policy accelerate or if a special session is called.

Representative Simmons welcomed the organization and urged the committee to pursue detailed work on income and other taxes, referencing past discussions and documents from an ALEC meeting and earlier proposals, including House Bill 100 and HJR 1. “I was excited that you had done a lot of legwork … and then I was unfortunately disappointed that we pivoted,” Simmons said, adding that he looks forward to “putting pen to paper and actually coming up with something that will make Missouri competitive.”

Committee members discussed timing for future meetings; Speaker Patterson said he had spoken with Senator McCreery about scheduling a meeting around veto session to prepare for next year’s work. The chair also thanked members who called in and noted that senators assigned to the committee would allow for broader participation in interim conversations.

No formal policy proposals, budget figures, or statutory changes were considered or adopted at the meeting. The proceedings were organizational: nominations, seconds, roll-call confirmations of the chair and vice chair, and general remarks about the committee’s intended focus during the interim.

So there being no further business, the Joint Committee on Tax Policy adjourned.