JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson cast doubt Thursday on the fate of a contentious immigration bill, which proposes paying people a $1,000 bounty for turning in undocumented migrants in the state.

Senate Bill 72, sponsored by Missouri State Sen. David Gregory (R-St. Louis County), calls for developing an information system that allows “bounty hunters” to report immigrants who have trespassed illegally through a toll-free telephone hotline, email, and an online reporting portal. Under the bill, a “bounty hunter” who makes a report could receive a reward of $1,000.

During a news conference Thursday, Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) suggested that while House Republicans support enforcing immigration laws, the proposed bounty system goes a step too far.

“We are committed to making sure that we have legal immigration but that we don’t tolerate illegal immigration,” said Patterson, according to the Missouri Independent and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I have not heard any enthusiasm from our members about doing any sort of bounty. I don’t think that’s something that you’re going to see on this side.”

The bill also seeks to create a new criminal offense of “trespass by an illegal alien,” propsing felony charges and imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole for undocumented immigrants who enter and remain in Missouri.

On Monday, dozens waited outside a packed Senate committee room to testify in opposition to the legislation, a measure largely opposed by House Democrats.

Some supporters who testified, including Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish, argued the bill would give law enforcement more tools to address immigration concerns and stay focused on community safety.

The bill has had two Senate readings and has been referred to the Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee, though no further action is scheduled at this time, according to the Senate’s online bill tracker.