State of the Judiciary Abruptly Canceled:
The State of the Judiciary, which was scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th, was abruptly canceled following the overturning of SB 22. House and Senate Republicans chose to not suspend House rules to allow the Senate to enter the House chamber, effectively canceling the event. To read more on the cancelation, click here.
Senate Democrats Continue to Filibuster Gubernatorial Appointments:
This week, Senate Democrats continued to filibuster Governor Kehoe’s Gubernatorial Appointments. Democrats have insisted that they are attempting to return the Senate back to being a deliberative body. To read more on the filibuster, click here.
Income Tax Bill Heard:
Speaker of the House, Jonathan Patterson, had his bill, HJR 174, heard in committee this week. During public testimony, proponents and opponents of the bill made their case for/against the bill. To read more on the Income Tax Bill and its testimony, click here.
Bills Eligible for Floor Debate:
Next week, there are multiple bills eligible for floor debate:
1. SB948: Provides that parents shall have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children free from government interference
2. SB863: Requires the Governor to appoint a board of directors to oversee MSHSAA
3. SB937: Conveys certain state property
4. SB1020: Department of Revenue fee offices
5. SB904: Cannabis
6. SB890: Requires state departments to report on obsolete administrative entities, repeals certain administrative entities and repeals and reassigns duties for certain other administrative entities
7. SB889: Repeals expired, terminated, sunset, and obsolete sections, and portions of sections of law
8. SB994: Filing of income tax returns
1. HB1788: Modifies requirements for campaign contributions
2. HB2069: Establishes provisions to legalize to autonomous vehicles
3. HB2641: Modifies provisions relating to cannabis
4. HB1694: Abusive website access litigation
5. HB1766: Personal property assessments
6. HB1757: Testing of Gifted Students
7. HB2375: Workers’ Compensation
8. HB1667: Abortion
Committees of Interest
Several bills were heard and/or voted out of House and Senate Committees this week, including:
· Video Lottery Terminals: A bill to legalize and regulate video lottery terminals (VLTs) was heard in the House Emerging Issues Committee Tuesday evening (HB2989). Read more.
· St. Louis Regional Convention and Visitors Commission: HB2934, which would modify several provisions governmental and the Regional Convention & Visitors Commission, and the Regional Convention & Sports Complex Authority in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, was heard in the House Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Thursday morning. Read more.
· Kratom Regulations: Legislation (SB927) to impose age limits on kratom sales and ban 7-OH products was heard in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Wednesday. Read more.
Budget Hearings:
Next week, the House budget committee will conduct a review of the Governor’s budget proposals. Hearings are planned for:
· Department of Transportation (HB4)
· Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (HB2)
· Governor's Office (HB12)
· Judiciary (HB12) Hearing times and dates can be found here.
The Senate Appropriations Committee will also hear the following budget bills:
· Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (HB3)
· Department of Natural Resources (HB6)
· Department of Mental Health (HB10)
· Governor’s Office (HB12)
· Department of Economic Development (HB7) Hearing times and dates can be found here.
2026 Dates of Interest:
Monday, February 16: President’s Day (No Session in the Senate, House will still convene)
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 2026-02-03