Missouri House adopts committee substitute to roll back select energy mandates and speed permits to lower housing costs

The Missouri House advanced a package aimed at lowering housing costs, adopting a House Committee substitute for HB 2384 after floor debate and a recorded vote.

Representative (Gentleman from Platt), the sponsor, said Missouri faces a shortage of more than 115,000 housing units and argued the bill targets three cost drivers: excessive energy mandates, long permitting delays, and design rules that add expense without safety benefit. He said limiting certain local energy mandates would reduce construction costs and expand supply.

The bill would allow municipalities to adopt a preemptive state standard — effectively setting a ceiling at 2009 code provisions in key areas cited by the sponsor — establish clearer permitting timelines, and permit some multifamily buildings up to six stories to be served by a single stair in prescribed designs. Supporters pointed to jurisdictions that have adopted similar measures, while opponents — including members who cited concerns from local fire chiefs — warned that preempting local codes would strip municipal control and could create public-safety risks in some contexts.

The chamber adopted a floor amendment to reduce hard‑copy ordinance requirements for municipalities (one hard copy required if ordinances are online). The House moved the previous question and, on a roll call, the clerk reported 91 yea and 43 nay; the committee substitute for HB 2384 was adopted, perfected and printed as amended.

What happens next: The perfected and printed committee substitute will proceed through the legislative process for further consideration and potential enrollment.