Commerce Committee adopts substitute and backs House Bill 2,085 9–1 after amendments

The Missouri House Commerce Committee voted to adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 2,085 and recommended the measure 'do pass' following two committee amendments and a roll-call vote of 9 ayes to 1 nay.

Chairman Castillo moved that the bill be voted 'do pass' and Representative Wilson offered the first amendment to clarify the bill's language so it would apply to retail sales, removing ambiguous references to 'alternative nicotine products.' The committee adopted that amendment by voice. Wilson then offered a second amendment that adds a grandfather clause: "This section shall not apply to any local laws, ordinances, orders, rules, or regulations enacted by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision prior to January 1, 2026," a provision supporters said protects existing local ordinances from preemption.

Sponsor Representative Keithley described the changes as clarifying the bill's intent and limiting its reach to statutes governing retail sales and related enforcement provisions. "There are no state laws regarding zoning related to tobacco sales," Keithley said, and the amendment is intended to ensure the bill would not invalidate local zoning or restaurant smoking bans that already exist.

After adopting both amendments, the committee rolled them into a new House committee substitute and adopted the substitute. The clerk then called the roll. Recorded votes were: Chairman Castillo — Aye; Vice Chair Wilson — "Enthusiastically, yes"; Ranking Member Kimball — Aye; Representative Butts — Aye; Greg — Aye; Manser — No; Mayhew — Aye; Miller — Aye; Peters — Aye; Sites — Aye. The chair announced, "By your vote of 9 ayes and 1 nay, the ayes have it," and the committee reported the substitute for HB 2,085 with a do-pass recommendation.

The committee took no further public testimony on HB 2,085 at this session. The committee then proceeded to public hearings on other bills on its agenda.