But, Kehoe added he would not support spending state money on the project until the state has figured out how to fund its current backlog of road and bridge projects.

Other members of the panel include Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, and University of Missouri President Mun Choi.

Talks about bringing the technology to Missouri has been in the public eye since the state unveiled its now-failed bid to lure Amazon's second headquarters to the state in 2017.

As part of the package, state officials said Amazon could build in both St. Louis and Kansas City and be linked by the hyperloop.

The seed for the committee was apparently planted in December by the St. Louis Regional Chamber, which is spearheading the effort. In emails obtained by the Post-Dispatch, Austin Walker, director of governmental affairs for the chamber, sought to enlist Gov. Mike Parson to attend a January meeting at the hyperloop testing grounds in Nevada.

“Obviously, the governor’s participation would be incredibly helpful,” Walker wrote.