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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED]
SENATE BILL NO. 1576
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
2026
6797S.01T
AN ACT
To amend chapter 620, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a commission for the
study of trade with Ireland.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 620, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 620.4100, to read as 2
follows:3
620.4100. 1. There is hereby established in the 1
department of economic development the "Missouri Ireland 2
Trade Commission", which shall be composed of the following 3
nine members: 4
(1) Three members of the senate, appointed by the 5
president pro tempore of the senate, who shall have 6
knowledge of, or current or past involvement in, 7
organizations that promote Irish affairs, or have interest 8
in the well-being of trade relations between this state and 9
Ireland; 10
(2) Three members of the house of representatives, 11
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, 12
who have knowledge of, or current or past involvement in, 13
organizations that promote Irish affairs, or have interest 14
in the well-being of trade relations between this state and 15
Ireland; and 16
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(3) Three members appointed by the governor, with the 17
advice and consent of the senate, who shall include the 18
following: 19
(a) One member who represents a public institution of 20
higher education in this state; 21
(b) One member who represents a statewide organization 22
that advances business interests in this state; and 23
(c) One member who represents Irish-American 24
communities or interest in this state. 25
2. The commission shall study potential means of 26
advancing the following: 27
(1) Bilateral trade and investment between this state 28
and Ireland; 29
(2) Policy issues of mutual interest to this state and 30
Ireland; 31
(3) Business and academic exchanges between this state 32
and Ireland; 33
(4) Mutual economic support between this state and 34
Ireland; 35
(5) Mutual investment in the infrastructure of this 36
state and Ireland; and 37
(6) Any other issues as determined by the commission. 38
3. Members of the commission shall be appointed not 39
later than ninety days after the effective date of this 40
section. Members of the commission appointed from the 41
general assembly shall serve terms of two years or for the 42
remainder of the member's term, whichever is less. Members 43
of the commission appointed by the governor shall serve 44
terms of four years. Any vacancy on the commission shall be 45
filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 46
4. Members of the commission shall serve without 47
compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually 48
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incurred in the performance of their duties, within the 49
limits of funds available to the commission for such 50
purposes. 51
5. The commission shall meet and hold hearings at the 52
places it designates throughout the state. The commission 53
shall elect a chairperson from among the members of the 54
commission. The chairperson may appoint from the commission 55
members of subcommittees and subcommittee chairpersons at 56
the chairperson's discretion. A majority of the members of 57
the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction 58
of the business of the commission. 59
6. Not later than fifteen months after the effective 60
date of this section, and annually thereafter, the 61
commission shall issue a report of its activities during the 62
preceding year and any associated findings and 63
recommendations to the governor, the president pro tempore 64
of the senate, and the speaker of the house of 65
representatives. 66
7. The commission may raise funds through direct 67
solicitation or other fundraising events alone, or with 68
other groups, and accept gifts, grants, and bequests from 69
individuals, corporations, foundations, governmental 70
agencies, and public and private organizations and 71
institutions. The funds, gifts, grants, or bequests 72
received pursuant to this section shall be deposited to the 73
"Missouri Ireland Trade Commission Fund", which is hereby 74
created in the state treasury. The state treasurer shall be 75
custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 76
and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements. 77
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the 78
contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the 79
biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general 80
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revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in 81
the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. 82
Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 83
credited to the fund. The commission shall use the fund to 84
defray the commission's administrative expenses and to carry 85
out its purposes as provided in this section. 86
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