JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The members of the Missouri House of Representatives approved a $46.4 billion state operating budget for fiscal year 2025, which would begin in July.
These 12 appropriation bills cover various areas such as fully funding the state’s school foundation formula, increasing funding for higher education institutions, providing additional support for law enforcement and school safety, and allocating funds for nursing homes and child care providers.
The House plan cuts nearly $2 billion from the governor’s initial proposal, while placing the primary emphasis of this year’s budget on bolstering the state’s infrastructure, including Missouri’s aging roadways.
Some of the key highlights of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget are as follows:
- $727.5 million investment for rebuilding I-44 (including six lanes at Springfield, Joplin, and Rolla)
- $100 million for rural and low volume roads
- $53 million for I-29 and I-35 improvements
- $8 million for the National Guard and Operation Lone Star to defend the southern border
- $7.5 million for an aircraft maintenance facility at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
- $2 million for grants to crisis pregnancy resource centers to support mothers in need
- $1.5 billion toward expanding broadband access
- $120.6 million increase to fully fund the K-12 education foundation formula
- $14 million increase to fully fund school transportation
- 2% increase for colleges and universities
- 2% pay raise for state employees
- Over $16 million in port infrastructure projects
House Budget Chairman Cody Smith and the committee proposed a robust plan to improve Missouri’s transportation infrastructure, recognizing its importance for interstate commerce. Missouri has over 33,000 miles of state highways, but around 5,500 miles, including 1,385 miles of interstates, bear 77% of the traffic and require attention. The plan aims to widen and reconstruct these crucial roadways to ensure long-term viability and safety without burdening future generations.
“Our priority in crafting the Missouri House budget plan is to protect taxpayers and provide for essential services. I am proud to present a balanced budget that accomplishes these goals,” Smith, R-Carthage, said. “As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to ensure our state avoids wasteful spending and prioritizes critical infrastructure for the future. This plan is a step in the right direction.”
In addition to the comprehensive fiscal plan outlined, House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, stressed the importance of prudence in managing the state’s finances, stating, “A balanced state is not just about numbers; it’s about ensuring financial resilience for the future. The House plan is fiscally responsible and maintains $1.8 billion surplus earmarked as a rainy day fund which and ensures stability and resilience in the face of persistent inflationary pressures caused by Biden’s economy.”
The bills now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration. The House and Senate will have to reach final agreement on the bills by Friday, May 10. To view the FY 2025 Appropriation documents, please visit: https://house.mo.gov/budget.aspx
Rep. Cody Smith, a Republican, represents part of Jasper County (District 163) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2016 and re-elected in 2018. For more information, please contact Rep. Smith at 573-751-5458 or via email at Cody.Smith@House.Mo.Gov.