With just two weeks left in the legislative session, Missouri House and Senate lawmakers are working to finalize the state’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The Senate passed its version of the budget last week, proposing to spend $49.5 billion, about $1.6 billion more than the House plan and $575 million less than Governor Mike Kehoe’s recommendation.

Some of the key differences between the House and Senate budget proposals include:

K-12 education funding: The Senate plan includes nearly $300 million more than the Governor requested for the public-school foundation formula, but removes $50 million that the Governor wanted for private school scholarships.

State workers’ pay raises: The Senate and the Governor propose a raise of 1% for every two years of service (up to 10%). The House version caps raises at 5%.

Childcare funding: The Senate supports the Governor’s $107 million plan to reform how childcare subsidies are paid. The House did not include this funding.

Higher education: The Governor and House support a 1.5% increase for colleges and universities, while the Senate proposes a 3% ongoing increase.

Earmarks: The House added $295 million across 149 projects. The Senate removed 57 of them (worth $126 million) and added 169 new ones, totaling $441 million.

Members from both chambers will meet in a conference committee this week to negotiate and resolve the differences. The Missouri Constitution requires the General Assembly to pass a finalized budget by Friday, May 9.

Bills Passed by the House

Strengthening Emergency Services and Expanding Health Care Access

SB7 is a sweeping health care omnibus passed by the Missouri House this week that significantly reforms and updates state policies across a wide range of health services, with a strong focus on emergency medical services and patient access. Originally centered on ambulance district oversight, the bill evolved in the House to become a comprehensive legislative package impacting hospitals, pharmacies, emergency responders, health care providers, and patients statewide.

At its core, SB 7 enhances accountability within ambulance districts by requiring board members to complete continuing education or be automatically disqualified. It also mandates that each district undergo a financial audit every three years, with results made publicly available. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) gains new regulatory authority to oversee ambulance administrators, ensure their training, and take corrective action in cases of financial insolvency or service disruptions. When ambulance services fail, DHSS must notify affected parties and coordinate with other providers to maintain emergency coverage, with provisions for compensating assisting license holders.

The bill also clarifies that specialty hospitals—facilities not classified as general acute care hospitals—are exempt from certain requirements for handling sexual assault cases, as long as they have policies to transfer patients to appropriate facilities. Additionally, it broadens legal protections for individuals providing emergency care at the scene of an accident or crisis, shielding them from civil liability except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

Amendments added by the House further expand the scope of the bill. These include provisions allowing certain hospitals to invest up to 50% of their funds in mutual funds or bonds, and authorization for counties to create public hospitals. It introduces a certification process for “community paramedics” who provide non-emergent care and expands Missouri’s State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services.

SB 7 makes significant changes to health record access, emergency medical licensing, and provider liability. It requires emergency care records to be accessible to authorized parties and mandates transparency in ambulance service operations. The bill also repeals a tax exemption for state-owned ambulance services, bringing them in line with private providers.

The legislation includes several patient-focused policies, such as expanding expedited partner therapy to more sexually transmitted infections, requiring MO HealthNet coverage for cochlear implants and hearing aids, mandating prenatal testing for hepatitis C and HIV, and increasing access to epinephrine devices in schools and childcare centers through “Elijah’s Law.”

SB 7 also modernizes telehealth by allowing audio-only visits, expands the Missouri State Loan Repayment Program to cover more health professionals, and creates the “Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact” to ease interstate licensure barriers. It ensures non-opioid drugs are covered equally by insurers and mandates up to a one-year supply of hormonal contraceptives be covered without extra cost to patients.

With these provisions, SB 7 positions Missouri to improve healthcare quality, transparency, and access across both rural and urban communities. With changes made in the House, it now returns to the Senate for consideration and will either be accepted or the legislation will go to a conference between the two chambers to work out a compromise on the language.

Expanding Housing Tax Credits, Simplifying Tax Filings, and Supporting Farmers

The Missouri House has passed SB67, legislation that makes targeted reforms to the state’s tax code, with a focus on affordable housing, agriculture, and taxpayer relief.

The bill allows for more flexible use of existing Neighborhood Assistance Program tax credits by permitting up to $1 million in unused credits for direct affordable housing assistance to be reallocated to support community-based housing contributions. This change maintains a cap of $11 million annually but ensures greater utilization of available credits in support of distressed communities.

SB 67 also improves the Beginning Farmer Income Tax Deduction by clarifying who qualifies as a taxpayer and expanding eligibility to include trusts. These changes aim to make it easier for new farmers to access tax relief when acquiring or leasing farmland.

The legislation further aligns Missouri’s income tax filing deadline with the federal deadline. Any changes at the federal level will now automatically apply to state returns, reducing confusion for taxpayers.

Additionally, the bill ensures taxpayers are not penalized with interest or fees if they receive a balance-due notice due to prorated or denied tax credits caused by limited state funds—so long as the balance is paid within 60 days.

House amendments to the bill also added provisions to create a capital gains tax deduction, expand the circuit breaker property tax credit for low-income seniors and disabled individuals, and adjust rules on estate and trust taxation. While the bill reduces overall state revenue, its goal is to offer balanced tax relief across income levels and address longstanding administrative inefficiencies. SB 67 now awaits final approval in the Senate before heading to the Governor’s desk.

Expanding Access to Extracurricular Activities for Home and Virtual School Students

The Missouri House passed SB63, expanding access to extracurricular activities for students in home schools, full-time virtual schools, and Family Personal Education (FPE) schools. The bill prohibits school districts and charter schools from participating in statewide activity associations that restrict these students’ participation or require them to enroll in classes to take part in events. Schools must apply the same behavioral and performance standards to all students and cannot impose separate disciplinary or attendance rules based on educational setting. Students ineligible at the time of withdrawal from a public school must wait 12 months before participating in school activities.

To qualify, nontraditional students must reside in the district and follow the same rules as enrolled students, with parents responsible for academic standards. Schools may set policies for practices and required components tied to the activity but can decide whether to include these students in non-extracurricular programs. The bill also simplifies the home school notification process and allows entities beyond public schools, including DESE and private schools, to establish recovery high schools for students with substance use disorders. The bill now awaits final approval from the Senate before it can be sent to the Governor for signature.

Missouri Department of Revenue Warns Residents About Fraudulent Messages

The Missouri Department of Revenue is alerting residents about a wave of scam text messages being sent across the state. These fake messages may claim to be from the Department of Revenue or Department of Motor Vehicles and often include threats about unpaid traffic tickets, tolls, or other fines.

These messages are not real. The Department of Revenue does not send payment requests or ask for personal information via text message.

If you receive one of these texts:

Don’t click any links

Don’t respond

Delete the message immediately

The Department is working closely with law enforcement to stop these scams. Stay safe and spread the word—let’s protect each other from fraud.

REAL ID Requirement Begins May 7, 2025

Missouri residents must present a REAL ID-compliant license or TSA-approved identification to fly domestically or access certain federal facilities starting May 7, 2025. REAL IDs are available at license offices statewide and take 10–15 days to arrive. Residents are encouraged to apply early to avoid delays.

Coming to the State Capitol

If you are planning a trip to the Missouri State Capitol, I am happy to help make your visit informative and enjoyable. Whether you are a school group, organization, or individual, we can assist with scheduling tours, arranging meetings with legislators, and providing information on the legislative process. Visitors can explore the historic Capitol building, observe committee hearings and floor sessions, and learn more about Missouri’s government in action. To plan your visit, please call me at 573-751-2264 or email me at Bennie.Cook@house.mo.gov.