House Elections Committee adopts substitute combining HB575 and HB551; passes 8-4

The Missouri House Elections Committee in executive session adopted a House committee substitute for House Bill 575 and combined House Bill 551 into the measure, approving the substitute and passing the combined substitute by a roll-call vote of 8 yes and 4 no.

Representative Vanderman told the committee he had distributed a substitute and apologized to members for omissions found during prior testimony. “Last week when we testified, Representative Woods brought up the fact that a section of this and Representative McGaugh wasn't in the original bill that we heard in committee and they were correct,” Vanderman said. He told members the House Committee sub removed three sections and said he wanted time to research them further: “I would just like to do some more research on all 3 of these sections.”

Vanderman identified the three removed passages by reference to the original bill text: page 6, lines 18–24; page 7, lines 1–14 (which he said concerned a penalty provision for elected officials); and page 12, lines 13–18 (a provision about “substantial change”), and offered himself for questions from the committee on the adjustment.

Committee members thanked Vanderman for the revisions. Representative Christensen said removing the page 7 provision addressed a particular concern about petitioners having to hire counsel to challenge signature validity. Representative Woods and others said the changes improved the bill though some members continued to have reservations.

After discussion, the committee voted to adopt the House committee substitute. Chairman Reedy then moved that the House committee substitute for House Bill 575 (with House Bill 551 combined) be passed. On the roll call the following recorded votes were announced: Reedy — aye; Waller — aye; Vanderman — aye; Burns — aye; Christensen — aye; McGaugh — aye; Simmons — aye; Wright — aye; and Woods — no; Barnes — no; Bosley — no; Smith — no. By the committee tally of 8 yeses and 4 noes, the substitute for HB575 (with HB551 combined) passed.

The committee returned to public hearings after the vote and proceeded to take up other bills on the agenda.

Ending: The committee record shows the substitute was adopted in executive session and the combined bill advanced; members noted the three deleted sections would need further vetting if reinserted later during floor consideration.