JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri lawmakers this past week approved HCS HB 2014, providing additional funding to state agencies and programs for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
Supplemental budgets are used to cover costs that exceed original projections, including program expenses, grant obligations, and required fund transfers. The legislation appropriates approximately $3.1 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
The bill includes several funding reductions: A cut of just under $15 million that had been set aside to hire a representative for a proposed Missouri State Capitol expansion and renovation project.
$150,000 reduction for sending a delegation to Washington, D.C., for the American State Fair.
$972,000 reduction for building and furnishing an Attorney General’s office in Chesterfield.
Major spending items added to the bill include:
$1 billion for disaster recovery in St. Louis and other areas impacted by storms in 2025.
$635 million for the Department of Transportation Road program.
$100 million from the $216 million received for the Rural Health Transformation
Program. HCS HB 2014 now heads to Governor Mike Kehoe to be signed into law
House Advances Comprehensive Property Tax Reform
The Missouri House passed HCS HBs 2780 & 2668, legislation that changes how property taxes are assessed, adjusted, and presented to voters. The bills require clearer, standardized ballot language for property tax questions and mandate that ballot measures show the estimated dollar impact based on a property’s assessed value. Most property tax questions would also be required to appear on the November general election ballot.
The legislation updates property assessment rules, including:
Short-term rental single-family homes will remain classified as residential property.
Assessors must conduct a physical inspection before increasing a property’s assessed value by more than 15% since the last assessment.
“True money value” is defined as the replacement cost of the property and improvements. The measure also revises how local governments calculate and adjust tax rates. Political subdivisions will now set rates for each subclass of real property individually and for personal property in the aggregate, removing outdated requirements that compared multiple levies to a single-rate baseline. Levy increases must remain revenue neutral under the Missouri Constitution, and temporary levy increases will expire unless voters approve a permanent increase.
Additional provisions: Strengthen property tax credit protections for seniors receiving the Homestead Credit, eliminating the need to reapply annually.
Require counties to apply credits fairly and consistently.
Allow township counties to offer installment payment options for property taxes.
Lower the operating levy floor for school districts to receive certain state aid beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Approved by a vote of 133–13, the legislation now moves to the Senate.
Missouri House Advances Annual School Accountability Report Card Parents and the public would gain a clearer view of school performance under HCS HB 2710, which creates a new statewide school grading and accountability system for Missouri public schools and districts. The bill requires the State Board of Education to produce an annual accountability report card for each public school and district.
Reports must meet federal reporting requirements and include detailed performance data on students, staff, and finances.
Schools will receive their report by September 15, allowing time for appeals before the final publication deadline of October 31.
Under the proposal:
Schools and districts will receive scores on a 0–100 scale, converted to A–F letter grades.
Ratings will reflect academic achievement and growth in English, math, and science through the Missouri Assessment Program, a value-added growth metric, and the “Success Ready Graduate” measure developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Schools testing fewer than 95% of students must disclose their participation rate. The bill also establishes the “Show Me Success Program,” which provides performance-based funding to schools demonstrating growth, sustained improvement, or success in closing achievement gaps. Funds must be used to support teacher recruitment and retention
Special school districts and state-operated schools serving only students with disabilities are exempt from the report card requirement.
Additionally, the bill introduces a school climate rating on a 0–100 scale, based on four equally weighted factors:
Suspensions
Seclusion incidents
Restraint incidents
Surveys of parents, teachers, and students
The House approved the measure 96–53, sending it to the Senate. Criminal Expungement Changes and Justice Revisions. The House approved HCS HBs 2747 & 2047, advancing several significant criminal justice policy changes. The legislation establishes a phased-in automatic expungement process for certain eligible offenses. The Missouri State Highway Patrol will identify qualifying records on a quarterly basis before expungement occurs. Courts will retain authority to reinstate convictions if errors are discovered.
Additional provisions include:
Requiring annual reporting on expungement activity beginning in 2031
Revising procedures when juries cannot unanimously agree on punishment in first degree murder cases
Limiting how long certain criminal records may be reported by credit bureaus
Creating the Missouri Expungement Fund to support implementation
The legislation passed the House 140–7 and now heads to the Senate.
House Approves Expanded Voting Rights for Individuals on Probation or Parole
Under HCS HBs 2592, 2787 & 2834, individuals on probation or parole would be allowed to vote unless they were convicted of a crime directly related to voting.
House members approved the measure this past week, emphasizing civic reintegration and participation in government as key components of rehabilitation. Supporters note research suggesting that restoring voting rights can reduce recidivism and strengthen community engagement.
House Strengthens State Law on Unmanned Aircraft Responding to increased drone usage, the House passed HCS HB 2587, updating Missouri law regarding unmanned aircraft systems.
The bill:
Authorizes federally certified peace officers to take action when a drone poses an imminent threat to public safety or is involved in criminal activity.
Expands the offense of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft to include flying over critical infrastructure facilities. The measure seeks to address emerging public safety concerns tied to advancing drone technology.
House Revises Mental Health Detention Filing Requirements
Administrative procedures for mental health detention applications are addressed in HB 1977, which passed in the House.
The measure specifies that notarization is not required for applications or supporting documents completed by certain professionals, including:
Peace officers
Physicians
Mental health professionals
Nurses
Designated hospital employees
The update is intended to streamline the filing process while maintaining procedural safeguards.
House Advances Statewide Expansion of Agricultural Education
Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, HCS HBs 2097 & 1905 allow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to implement a statewide agriculture education program in any elementary school that chooses to participate. The legislation also eliminates the requirement to submit reports to legislative committees and instead requires updates to be posted on the department’s website, simplifying reporting while expanding program access.
House Creates Fathership Month and Establishes Fatherhood Support Initiative
Missouri will formally recognize June as “Fathership Month” under HCS HB 1948
Beyond the designation, the bill establishes the Missouri Fathership Project within the Department of Social Services, contingent on federal approval and funding. The program will partner with community, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations to help fathers strengthen relationships with their children.
Under the program:
Fathers who meet participation requirements may qualify for limited driving privileges.
Participants may also avoid the suspension of certain licenses where applicable. The legislation also creates a grant program and dedicated fund to support participating organizations. The House approved the bill 141–4, and it now awaits action in the Senate.