Missouri House Update:
While the Senate observed Presidents Day and operated on a shortened schedule, the House used the full week to push forward several significant policy priorities including regulatory reform measures dealing with juvenile justice, hemp and video lottery terminals, respectively.
The House advanced one of the session’s most closely watched (and lobbied) policy debates — regulating video lottery terminals (VLTs). After extended floor discussion, the bill (HB2989) was perfected Monday and third read Wednesday, passing by a vote of 83–66. The proposal now moves to the Senate for consideration where the Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin has signaled her distaste for the measure.
The House also third read and passed Rep. Dave Hinman’s HB2641, which mirrors federal law and disallows the sale of intoxicating hemp by a vote of 109–34.
Finally, the House gave third read and passed HB2498 (100-44), which elevates penalty provisions in Missouri statute involving juveniles committing serious crimes.
Missouri Senate Update:
The Missouri Senate was not in session on Monday due to Presidents Day, which limited Senate floor action, but the Senate was still able to rattle off one of its most productive weeks of the session. Senators third read and passed SB835, which modifies provisions relating to attachment, execution, and garnishment in civil proceedings, as well as SB953, regarding the expenditure of certain funds by the Department of Natural Resources. Both measures now head to the House for consideration.
SB1233, relating to the licensing of accountants, reached perfection following adoption of a “no AI for CPA” amendment. SB1000, concerning the Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund, was also perfected. Both bills now await a final third read vote before being sent to the House.
Outside of floor action, property tax policy continued to draw attention in the Senate. The Select Committee on Property Taxes and the State Tax Commission, chaired by Sen. Sandy Crawford, convened to hear four pieces of legislation (SB919, SB1301, SJR102, and SJR111). The sustained focus signals that property tax reform remains a central and politically sensitive issue likely to generate continued debate as the session moves forward.
Budget Update:
The House Budget Committee formally closed out department presentations from Department of Corrections (HB2009), the Department of the National Guard (HB2008), the Department of Conservation (HB2006), and several statewide offices and agencies contained within HB2012, including the Office of the State Treasurer, the Public Defender Commission, and the General Assembly finishing with the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (HB2003).
Public testimony was taken on multiple remaining appropriations bills, allowing stakeholders one final opportunity to weigh in before subcommittees meet informally to suggest changes to their respective budget bills prior to the full committee mark up.
The Committee also found time to mark up (amend) HB2014, the supplemental budget bill, adopting primarily technical corrections before perfecting the bill on the House floor on Wednesday.
With department presentations now largely complete, attention will now shift from information-gathering to decision-making. The best staff estimates suggest that the committee will likely conduct mark-up on the budget the week of March 9th, just before Spring Break.
2026 Dates of Interest:
Thursday, February 26: Last Day to File Bills in the House and Senate
March 12-22: Legislative Spring Break (No Session)
Monday, April 6: Easter Holiday (No Session)
Friday, May 8: Deadline to Pass a Balanced Budget for FY 2027
Friday, May 15: Last Day of Session
Wednesday, September 16: Veto Session
Reviewed 2026-03-10