Missouri House Prepares for New Legislative Session Following November 3rd Election
Following the general election, the Missouri House of Representatives is preparing to
welcome newly elected members for the 2027 legislative session. The 163-member House
will consist of 95 Republicans and 68 Democrats when the General Assembly convenes in
January. Republicans will retain the majority, while the new composition marks the first
time since 2012 that they will hold fewer than the 109 seats needed for a two-thirds
supermajority.
The House is expected to welcome 64 incoming members, representing nearly 40% of the
chamber. This includes 33 newly elected Republicans, three former Republican
representatives returning to the House and 28 newly elected Democrats. This past
Wednesday, members of both parties gathered at the State Capitol to hold caucus
meetings and elect their leadership teams for the next General Assembly. In the coming
weeks, incoming representatives will come to the Capitol for orientation and training, will
meet with House staff and learn about the legislative process and the resources available
to them to support their work.
The First Regular Session of the 104th General Assembly will convene in January 2027
Voters Decide Five Statewide Ballot Measures
Voters approved Amendment 6 which requires approval from at least 80% of each
legislative chamber before proposed changes to voter-approved laws can be submitted to
voters for final approval, which means at least 131 votes will be required in the House and
28 votes will be required in the Senate.
Voters also approved Amendment 8, which adds to the Missouri Constitution, provisions
concerning the election, duties and removal of county sheriffs.
Voters rejected Amendment 3, which would have changed constitutional provisions
concerning reproductive healthcare and gender transition procedures for minors, and
Amendment 7, which would have established the Show-Me Prosperity Fund.
Voters also rejected Proposition A, which asked voters to approve the congressional
district boundaries enacted by the General Assembly during a special session in 2025. The
result leaves the congressional boundaries which were adopted in 2022 in place.
Complete unofficial election results are available through the Missouri Secretary of State’s
Office at enr.sos.mo.gov.
Governor Kehoe Announces Initiative to Combat Fraud in Public Benefit Programs
Gov. Mike Kehoe announced a new state and federal partnership aimed at identifying,
investigating and prosecuting fraud involving taxpayer-funded benefit programs during an
Oct. 22 press conference at the State Capitol. The initiative, known as Operation Show-Me
the Money, brings together the Governor’s Office, Missouri Attorney General’s Office and
U.S. Department of Justice to strengthen oversight of state-administered programs that
distribute federal funds.
The program will focus on three areas: 1) reviewing referrals from existing investigations
and state agency employees, 2) conducting targeted examinations of individual benefit
programs and 3) analyzing data across state agencies to identify potential fraud. Initial
program reviews will focus on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The initiative will also seek to identify improvements needed in existing programs as well as
opportunities to improve oversight. According to the Governor’s Office, findings could lead
to administrative changes, program improvements or future legislative proposals intended
to prevent fraud and safeguard public funds.
Missouri Awards $39.4 Million to Improve Rural Healthcare Services
The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) has awarded $39.4 million to 26 rural
healthcare providers to modernize facilities and expand access to medical services. The
funding, awarded through Missouri’s Rural Health Transformation Program, will support
improvements to maternal healthcare, behavioral health treatment, diagnostic services,
outpatient care and chronic disease management.
Projects include renovations and expansions of existing healthcare facilities, new labor
and delivery rooms, expanded behavioral health treatment areas, upgraded MRI and
imaging equipment, and additional primary care services. The funding is intended to help
rural providers modernize aging infrastructure, expand services closer to patients’ homes
and improve access to preventive and coordinated care.
The awards were made following a competitive review process. All awards remain
contingent upon approval by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services before
funding can be finalized. A complete list of recipients and additional information about the
program are available at dss.mo.gov/mhd/rhtp-modernize-rural-healthcare-services.
Missouri Department of Revenue Transitions to Flat License Plate
The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) has begun transitioning from traditional
raised-letter license plates to flat license plates in an effort to modernize vehicle
registrations. The change will reduce production costs and prepare for the state’s
transition from six-digit to seven-digit license plate numbers, by utilizing the new FUSION
system in February 2027.
According to DOR, Missouri is running out of available six-digit license plate combinations,
making the transition necessary to accommodate future registrations. With the exception
of motorcycles and certain specialty plates, motorists requesting replacement plates, for
vehicles or trailers, will receive six-digit flat plates until the launch of FUSION in February
2027, when the seven-digit flat plates will begin being distributed.
For more information about Missouri license plates, vehicle registration and renewals, visit
dor.mo.gov.