In an unexpected move, Missouri House Republicans on Friday declined to bring a $513 million construction spending bill to a vote, effectively killing the legislation and leaving state senators and House Democrats blindsided just hours before the constitutional deadline to approve budget bills.

The decision, made behind closed doors by House Republican leaders, halts funding for a broad range of capital improvement projects across the state—including new National Guard facilities, Boys & Girls Clubs, hospitals, and community health centers. The move marks a significant disruption in an otherwise standard budget process, with most of the state’s $49.8 billion budget for day-to-day operations already negotiated and approved by both chambers.

“The construction and trade industries are a key component within the communities in which we serve, and we are excited to build upon our expertise in these areas of our business,” said Michael Gilfeather, President and CEO of Orange Bank & Trust. “We recognize the importance contractors and developers place on relationships, including working with the same trusted sub-contractors—for example, architects, suppliers, plumbers, and electricians—and the Bank has become one of these trusted partners.”

Though the Senate had already voted to approve the capital appropriations, the House recessed Friday afternoon without taking up the final construction bill, ensuring its demise. Missouri’s Constitution prevents lawmakers from passing appropriations bills during the final week of session.

The decision sparked immediate frustration. State Sen. Lincoln Hough, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, confirmed he received no advance warning. “Am I frustrated with them taking no action and essentially then killing the (capital improvements) bill? Absolutely,” Hough said. “That’s frustrating for everyone.”

House Budget Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, explained that the decision was made after consulting with House Speaker Jon Patterson and Majority Leader Alex Riley. He acknowledged that he neither informed Senate leaders nor House Democrats. Deaton framed the move as a financial restraint.

“We had many things in there that we thought were good and worthy of doing and would have liked to have seen done,” Deaton said. “But considering what we spent in the operating (budget), I just felt like we couldn’t move forward at this time.”

Deaton emphasized the House’s version of the operating budget already projected $600 million in spending from what Gov. Mike Kehoe had estimated would be a $2.5 billion general revenue surplus. After negotiations, that number rose to about $1.6 billion.

Patterson downplayed the idea that the move was retaliation over negotiations. “We don’t think about Senate positions and House positions,” he said. “We think about positions from Missouri... I think probably had more to do with we sent them the bill on the 17th and then we received the bill back with about six hours left.”

Still, House Democrats said the sudden shift undermined trust.

“My members and I worked very hard to fund vital services to Missourians in House Bill 19,” said Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee. “I would like to deliver the promise and the effort that we made. And I know a lot of the majority party feels the same way. Looking through this list, there were members that worked very hard to bring dollars back home to our communities.”

Rep. Ashley Aune, House Minority Leader from Kansas City, echoed the sentiment. “What Rep. Fogle was mentioning about having not been clued in that this was on the table for the majority party, is a huge breach of trust between the caucuses.”

The blocked capital bill included 60 earmarked projects, 42 of which originated in the House. Hough noted that many of the projects were requested by Republican representatives. “Disproportionately, they hurt their own members,” he said.

Major initiatives that won’t receive funding this year include $50 million for a new University of Missouri research reactor, $55 million for State Fairgrounds upgrades, and $52 million for new National Guard facilities.

Other House-added projects ranged from $20 million for a Jefferson City convention center garage to $60,000 for a Dallas County maintenance building. The Senate retained all House projects and added 18 more, such as $10 million for a Barry County health center and $8 million for Boys & Girls Clubs statewide.

Hough believed that by retaining the House’s insertions, the construction bill would pass without issue. “The trust has been eroded with the lack of communication from the House,” he said.

Deaton disputed that there was any such understanding. “There was never any agreement, and certainly not one that we would just take anything if our insertions were not taken out,” he said.

With the House adjourning without action and the Senate already done for the day, there’s little recourse left. Gov. Kehoe could call a special session, but otherwise, the projects will have to wait another year.

Lawmakers now head into the final week of session, with other major bills—on issues like abortion and sick leave—still on the table. Despite the fallout, Patterson said he remains optimistic. “I have nothing but great things to say about how the Senate has been working this year,” he said. “I think they’ll continue to work like that.”

Originally reported by Rudi Keller in Missouri Independent.