Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Sent to Governor
Each legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly must draft and pass a state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and we take the responsibility very seriously. On May 9, the day of our constitutional deadline, my colleagues and I passed a budget for fiscal year 2026, which funds all state functions and reflects many of the priorities set at the beginning of the legislative session. With the budget approved and on its way to the governor, we will continue to work our way through the long list of remaining bills. In the scramble to push legislation across the finish line before the final gavel falls on May 16, we must stay on task. Protecting Missouri’s Most Vulnerable Children
On May 8, the Missouri Legislature passed House Bill 121, a comprehensive package I handled in the Senate that offers compassionate, practical help to families across our state. Whether it’s a struggling mother, a family hoping to adopt or an infant in need of a safe haven, Missouri is taking bold action to ensure they are not forgotten. Key provisions in HB 121 include: - Newborn Safety Incubators: The state will now offer matching funds up to $10,000 to help facilities install newborn safety incubators, providing a secure and anonymous option for parents in crisis to safely surrender their infants.
- Maternity Home Tax Credit Expansion: The existing tax credit for maternity homes has been significantly enhanced - from a 70% to a 100% credit - and the maximum annual amount per donor increased from $50,000 to $100,000. These changes will provide more robust financial support to homes caring for pregnant women in need.
- Diaper Bank Tax Credit Enhancement: To support families with infants, the Diaper Bank Tax Credit has been raised from 50% to 100%, with the annual limit per donor increased from $50,000 to $100,000. The legislation also extends the sunset date to 2031, doubles the cumulative annual credit cap from $500,000 to $1 million and permits a carryover of unused credits, also up to $1 million. Additionally, new standardized definitions for “diaper bank” have been adopted to streamline eligibility.
- Zero-Cost Adoption Fund Act: This new initiative creates a dedicated fund to offset the high costs of adoption, ensuring more families can open their homes to children in need. A tax credit will be available to individuals who contribute to the fund, encouraging broader community support. To promote fiscal responsibility, the cumulative tax credit cap for the fund’s first year has been adjusted from $25 million to $5 million.
Several other pieces of legislation have been sent to the governor’s desk for signing since my last Capitol Report, including:
- House Bill 1041, which reduces the inspection and gauging fees imposed on barrels of malt liquor produced by American breweries.
- Senate Bill 43, which includes many of the same provisions as the bill I handled, HB 121, along with a number reforms to protect children in Children’s Division and the judicial system.
- Senate Bill 63, the Homeschoolers Sports Act, which allows homeschooled children to participate in their school districts’ sports and extra-curricular activities.
- Senate Bill 71, the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act, which provides tuition assistance for police, firefighters and other public safety personnel and their families.
- Senate Bill 81, which modifies state firework regulations.
- Senate Bill 218, which allows circuit courts to establish mental health treatment courts, providing alternatives for handling cases involving defendants with mental health or co-occurring disorders.
- House Bill 147, which modifies provisions relating to state and city retirement systems.
- House Bill 225, which permits the chief law enforcement executive in any Missouri jurisdiction to request assistance from law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions, including those outside the state. It aims to enhance interagency cooperation for improved public safety and resource sharing.
- House Bill 262, which creates the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment and Recovery Fund, which will be used to reimburse facilities that provide hyperbaric oxygen therapy to veterans diagnosed with PTSD.
- House Bill 754, which updates Missouri’s financial laws to allow banks more flexibility in reporting, protect seniors from fraud through trusted contacts and streamline how public funds are secured.
Bills third read, passed and sent to the House since my last Capitol Report include: - Senate Bill 68, which prohibits the use of cell phones and other personal electric communication devices during school hours and requires a local education agency to report school safety incidents and credible school threats to the Missouri Department of Education.
- Senate Bill 160, which protects student associations at public colleges from being denied campus access or benefits based on their political, ideological or religious beliefs, ensuring they can define their own mission and leadership standards without institutional interference.
- House Bill 145, which expands the Missouri Sunshine Law by allowing public bodies to close records containing personally identifiable information of minors and certain utility customer data, enhancing privacy protections.
- House Bill 419, which specifies that military personnel stationed in Missouri shall be considered Missouri residents for purposes of student resident status for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
- House Bill 516, which modifies certain provisions relating to the Radioactive Waste Investigation Fund.
- House Bill 595, which prohibits local governments from enacting ordinances that regulate rent prices, require landlords to accept housing vouchers or limit the use of tenant screening criteria such as credit or eviction history.
- House Bill 596, which requires designated real estate brokers enter into written agreements with buyers or tenants before performing brokerage services, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in real estate transactions.
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