By Missouri State Senator Mike Henderson
JEFFERSON CITY – I hope this report finds you as excited about warmer temperatures for the upcoming weekend as I am! The 2025 legislative session is now in full swing, bills are coming to the floor for debate, and lawmakers have been busy participating in Senate committee hearings, studying numerous proposals and considering solutions for Missourians that will move our state forward.
On Wednesday, I was honored to present my Senate Bill 67 to members of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee. This bill modifies provisions relating to tax credits, allowing organizations such as food pantries to continue meeting the needs of communities.
Taxpayers donating to local food pantries and claiming Missouri’s food pantry tax credit are not getting the full value when their returns are reviewed by the Missouri Department of Revenue. After believing they have paid their taxes in full, they are receiving bills with interest and penalties. This legislation is not a tax credit. All taxes must still be paid. Senate Bill 67 just gives taxpayers a 60-day grace period to settle their balances or make arrangements to pay, after receiving notice that these capped tax credits have been disallowed. I don’t believe people should be penalized for trying to help others or discouraged from making much-needed donations to organization such as our local food pantries.
Each legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly is required to pass a balanced state operating budget for the next fiscal year, which runs July 1 through June 30. The first of several Senate Appropriation Committee meetings for this session have also begun. We will meet three times a week to begin the long process of formulating a balanced budget for our state.
The Governor’s State of the State Address
Also this week, our new governor delivered his first State of the State address to a joint session of the 103rd General Assembly, which outlined his state budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 and his administration’s policy priorities: improving public safety, economic growth, agriculture and education.
It was my honor to have the governor mention my Senate Bill 68 in his speech. This bill requires local education agencies to report all school safety incidents and credible threats, including those involving weapons, to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which will establish reporting procedures and maintain a regularly updated database of incidents and threats.
Meeting with Constituents
I have enjoyed meeting with several constituents from across the district this week, including members of the Silver Haired Legislature who visited with me about the needs of senior citizens in our area. I am very supportive of their efforts to fight for legislation benefitting seniors. If you’re ever in Jefferson City, please stop by our beautiful State Capitol and see me in Room 431.
I would like to highlight the website, my.mo.gov, which I believe is a great resource if you have questions regarding your state agencies. If I can be of any assistance with state issues, please reach out to my office at 573-751-4008.
I will continue to provide updates on my sponsored legislation in this Capitol report, which will be sent out bimonthly moving forward, unless I have something pressing to address.