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Committee approves pediatric disease task force in House Committee substitute for House Bill 27 40, adds bipartisan membership rule

Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development · February 24, 2026

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Summary

The committee approved a House Committee substitute for House Bill 27 40 to establish a pediatric disease task force, adopted an amendment (0.03 h) requiring that the two House and two Senate members be of different parties, and voted the substitute 'do pass' (9 ayes, 0 nos, 1 present).

The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development approved a House Committee substitute for House Bill 27 40 that creates a pediatric disease task force and adopted an amendment to require bipartisan representation among the elected members.

Chairman Brown introduced the House Committee substitute (labeled in the transcript as ending in '0.02 c') and summarized the substitute’s provisions: the substitute establishes a 'pediatric disease task force' with membership drawn from the House and Senate, higher education, the Department of Health, an entity recorded in the transcript as 'Bridal and Public Health Care and Research,' Missouri University, nonprofits and a patient advocacy group. According to the transcript, the task force "shall meet quarterly beginning in January 27," submit an annual report relating to research outcomes, funding and legislative recommendations, and the task force "shall expire December 2030" (transcript wording).

Representative Hein introduced a House Committee amendment ending in '0.03 h' and summarized it: "the 2 members of the Senate cannot be from the same party. The 2 members of the House of the Representatives cannot be from the same party." Hein said the language was taken from the career and technical education advisory council to avoid making the task force political.

The committee adopted the amendment by voice, rolled it into a new House Committee substitute and then voted the substitute 'do pass.' The clerk called the roll and the committee approved the House Committee substitute by a recorded vote of 9 ayes, 0 nos and 1 present. Chairman Brown announced the substitute do pass. The transcript does not include the complete text of the substitute or detail on the precise departmental office referenced as "Bridal and Public Health Care and Research," which appears in the record as spoken and may reflect a transcription error.

Next steps (not specified in the transcript) would typically include transmission of the committee substitute and recommendation to the full House for further consideration.