Proposal to change Conservation Commission governance and redirect sales-tax surplus draws broad opposition at committee hearing

Representative Don Mayhew introduced House Joint Resolution 43, proposing changes to the Missouri Conservation Commission’s composition and to how conservation sales-tax revenues are used.

Mayhew said the resolution would allow the legislature to require a commission composition that includes representation from each congressional district (and ownership to rotate seats by district), add gift restrictions for commissioners, and direct portions of the conservation sales-tax revenue — he proposed 10% for state parks and 10% to counties with conservation land — to other public uses. Mayhew said the commission had accumulated very large reserves (he cited a 97% fund balance figure for 2022 in his materials) and argued that excess funds should be used for related public purposes or returned to the people.

Supporters who testified included Arnie C. ACDinoff, State Public Advocate, who urged more accountability and suggested electing commissioners from each congressional district. He also urged an amendment to elect commissioners and criticized perceived "country club" transparency at some meetings, describing a past meeting held at a private residence.

Multiple conservation organizations and the Missouri Department of Conservation opposed the resolution. Tyler Schwartz, executive director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and David Graber of Ducks Unlimited testified that Missouri’s conservation system is widely regarded as a national model, that the commission’s statewide perspective supports consistent, science-based decisions, and that regional commissions tend to produce parochial results. Elizabeth Smith, a registered lobbyist for The Nature Conservancy, said decisions should remain science driven and nonpolitical.

Aaron Jeffries, deputy director for the Missouri Department of Conservation, provided informational testimony and clarified several points the committee raised. Jeffries said the department uses payment-in-lieu-of-tax arrangements with counties at acquisition and inspects assessments every five years; the department already provides roughly $1.3 million annually in a cart program that assists counties with roads leading to conservation areas. Jeffries also said the commission has spent down large capital balances recently: the department expended tens of millions of dollars on major projects (he cited Bennett Springs hatchery and a planned Montauk hatchery project) and expects the fund balance to decline to normal reserve levels by fiscal year 2028 under the current construction plan. Jeffries noted the conservation sales-tax funds are not general-revenue funds and that the agency surveys residents and reports high public trust (he quoted about 76% saying they trust the department and 67% rating it "good" or "excellent").

Committee members asked about accountability, whether the governor’s appointment authority would be curtailed, and how the proposed revenue redirection would be administered. Several committee members said they support oversight but raised concerns about raising constitutional questions and unintended impacts on conservation programs.

No committee vote was recorded in the transcript segment. Testimony reflected a sharp split: proponents seeking changes to governance and reallocation of perceived surplus; conservation organizations and the department urging preservation of the current, science-based structure and warning of practical and programmatic impacts.