Missouri House Budget Committee sets schedule, rules and deadlines for 2025 budget hearings

Chair Dayton opened the Missouri House Budget Committee’s organizational meeting and confirmed a quorum of 27 members, then outlined staffing, subcommittee assignments, hearing logistics and information deadlines ahead of the 2025 budget process.

The meeting matters because the committee sets the procedures and timetable that guide department testimony, follow-up inquiries and the preparation of the House budget proposal.

Chair Dayton said the committee will operate with five subcommittees and named subcommittee leadership: Representative Chappell will chair agriculture, conservation, natural resources and economic development; Representative Davidson will chair the subcommittee handling House Bills 2 and 3; Representative Voss will chair education and general administration; Representative Hausman will chair health, mental health and social services; and Representative Brown will chair public safety, corrections, transportation and revenue. The chair asked members to rely on the budget book posted on the House website for decision-item page numbers and to cite page and item numbers during presentations.

The chair introduced his staff: Chris Dunn as chief of staff, Miranda Burke as budget coordinator and Gina (last name not specified) as legislative assistant, and noted House Appropriations staff led by Director Glenn Fitzgerald and Assistant Director Helen Jaco would support the committee. He urged members and witnesses to use microphones during testimony because hearings are livestreamed and archived, and he repeated that anyone offering testimony must complete a signed witness form.

On deadlines and follow-up, the committee requested that departments answer committee inquiries within 72 hours when possible. Chair Dayton said, “If those could be provided within 72 hours, that would be much appreciated.” He also asked departments to submit impact statements at each House and Senate stage of the budget, and said a five-day turnaround is sufficient once budget items reach House floor stages. Members were told to submit handouts to the committee administrative assistant, Kimberly O'Connor (kimberly.o'connor@house.mo.gov), or to call the chairman's office at 751-9801 to schedule meetings.

The committee discussed technical and procedural changes this year. The state will use a new budget accounting ERP system called Movers for budget work; Chair Dayton said, “As I understand it, we burn the ships and we can't go back to the old system.” He encouraged staff and departments to be prepared for related growing pains and said the committee will address problems if they arise.

Chair Dayton described how departments should present their material: identify the core or new decision item by name, give a brief overview, show the governor’s recommendation and the department request when they differ, and flag any statute or policy changes that a decision item would require. He asked departments to note when funding represents a partial year and to point out corresponding supplementals.

Public testimony will be taken later and the chair said subcommittee chairs will manage lists for witnesses tied to particular bills; he directed people who want to testify to contact the relevant subcommittee chair. Amendment training for committee members was tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 20, after session. The chair said hearings will generally begin at 8:15 a.m. and that schedule and hearing notices remain subject to change.

Representative Mayhew asked whether the committee would provide the podium microphone used in prior years to speed departmental responses; Mayhew said, “In years past, we had the podium with the extra microphone for when division members would come up and answer questions. Is that still gonna be available?” Chair Dayton replied that he expected to continue that practice and would ensure an additional microphone is available when needed.

The meeting closed with the chair asking members to do homework in advance because the timeline is compressed and to avoid relying on repeated offline follow-ups when answers can be provided during hearings. With no formal votes or motions recorded at the organizational meeting, the committee adjourned to begin scheduled hearings.