BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 2020 2/17/2026 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: BLYE MOORE BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: Written 2/12/2026 4:33 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. We must support our families and not abandon consistent and reliable help! MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 2020 2/17/2026 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: SARAH BERRY BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: Written 2/13/2026 11:34 AM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. 1) Earmarking by population bracket (functionally special legislation).
HB 2020 repeatedly directs appropriations to a single locality or a narrow set of localities by using highly specific population ranges (“more than X but fewer than Y,” sometimes with county seat ranges). This is a common technique to avoid naming a recipient while still selecting one. That approach undermines statewide neutrality and transparency and invites special-law concerns when classifications are not rationally related to a statewide purpose.
2) Preferential waiver of local match = unequal treatment.
The bill toggles between required match (90/10, 70/30, 50/50, 60/40) and explicit “no local match” carve- outs for selected projects (e.g., certain transit/streetcar/port authority items and specific local projects). If the policy rationale is “local buy-in,” waiving it for favored recipients defeats the stated fiscal discipline principle and creates fairness and equal-access problems for similarly situated communities.
3) Appropriation language collapses distinct authorities into lump-sum discretion.
Many sections combine planning, design, construction, renovation, upgrades, and property acquisition in single line items. That structure reduces the General Assembly’s ability to control scope, sequencing, and cost ceilings—especially where land acquisition and new construction create predictable ongoing operating liabilities.
4) Fund integrity and transparency risks in large inter-fund transfers.
HB 2020 authorizes major intra-SRF transfers (e.g., $150,000,000 between “various” Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery funds and $230,000,000 moved to the Revenue Replacement Fund). Regardless of legality, that scale of movement should be paired with tight reporting and purpose limitations; the bill largely relies on broad categories instead of project-level controls.
5) Non-germane policy rider risk.
The clause stating “no funds shall be expended to the World Health Organization” is a substantive policy restriction inside an appropriations act. Whatever one’s view of WHO, this reads as a policy rider rather than an appropriation condition tethered to Missouri program administration. Legislative Notice:
HB 2020’s repeated use of narrow population brackets and selective waiver of local match requirements predictably operates as de facto earmarking, reducing transparency and creating foreseeable challenges that the measure functions as special-purpose legislation rather than generally applicable appropriations. The bill also consolidates planning, acquisition, and construction authorities within broad line items and authorizes large inter-fund transfers with limited project-level constraints, which foreseeably increases discretion, weakens traceable legislative intent, and amplifies lifecycle cost exposure beyond the fiscal year.
For these reasons, I oppose HB 2020. MISSOURI HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITNESS APPEARANCE FORM
BILL NUMBER: DATE: HB 2020 2/17/2026 COMMITTEE: Budget TESTIFYING: IN SUPPORT OF IN OPPOSITION TO FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
WITNESS NAME INDIVIDUAL: WITNESS NAME: PHONE NUMBER: ARNIE "HONEST-ABE" DIENOFF-STATE PUBLIC ADVOCATE BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION NAME: TITLE:
ADDRESS:
CITY: STATE: ZIP:
EMAIL: ATTENDANCE: SUBMIT DATE: In-Person 2/17/2026 11:29 PM THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM IS PUBLIC RECORD UNDER CHAPTER 610, RSMo. Cut all unnecessary expenses and waste.
Statutes affected: