Bill > HB1641

This bill modifies the duties and responsibilities of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a legislative body that reviews rules and regulations issued by state agencies. The committee will gain new authority to review and evaluate any rule, regulation, guidance document, program manual, policy, specification, or directive from any state agency that has general applicability or binding effect outside the agency, even if it's not formally a rule under Chapter 536 of Missouri Revised Statutes (RSMo). The committee can also determine if an agency action is actually a rule or exceeds its legal authority, and can compel agencies to provide documents, data, or witnesses, including issuing subpoenas and administering oaths. If an agency fails to comply, obstructs the review, or provides false testimony, the committee can refer the matter to prosecutors or ethics commissions. The committee can initiate reviews on its own, at the request of a legislator, or from an affected party, and can investigate the validity, intent, consistency, and fiscal impact of agency actions. If a rule, policy, or directive exceeds statutory authority, should have been a formal rule, or has unapproved fiscal impacts over $250,000 annually, the committee can issue a notice of noncompliance, requiring the agency to respond within 30 days. State departments must also notify the committee of any general guidance documents or policies not formally promulgated as rules. The committee can hire staff and counsel as needed, and must submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing reviewed items, findings, agency responses, and corrective actions, which will be considered by legislative committees during budget and legislative matters concerning the agencies.

Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1641&year=2026&code=R