August 28, 2026
COMMITTEES
*ELECTIONS
*HIGHER EDUCATION AND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
*WAYS AND MEANS
New Missouri Health Care & Human Services Laws Take Effect
Several new Missouri laws taking effect at the end of August are bringing changes to health
care access, insurance coverage, pharmacy services, maternal health, disability services,
and protections for vulnerable Missourians.
HB 2372 expands the use of community paramedics for certain non-emergency services
and modifies telehealth requirements, governing how patients may establish relationships
with health care providers. The law establishes new transparency requirements involving
prior authorization and restrictions on time limits for anesthesia coverage. Beginning in
2027, plans covering self-administered hormonal contraceptives must provide coverage
for up to a one-year supply.
The measure also includes “Nora’s Law,” requiring coverage of prescribed home blood-
pressure monitoring for pregnant and postpartum women when medically appropriate.
Other provisions address Alpha-gal syndrome, sickle cell disease, Lyme
disease, and emergency medical services.
SB 878 allows Missouri pharmacists to prescribe certain medical devices and updates
requirements for administering vaccines and providing medication therapy services. Under
protocols established by the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists will also be permitted to
dispense Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine without an individual prescription, although
the medications must remain secure behind the pharmacy counter.
The law also adds protection for health care providers participating in the federal 340B
Drug Pricing Program by restricting controversial reimbursement and coverage practices
by healthcare insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s).
SB 1019 modifies financial and service-area provisions for some municipal and hospital
district hospitals and establishes the Missouri Lyme Disease Eradication Act, which
calls for additional tracking and surveillance of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
HB 2596 updates financial reporting requirements for multiple-employer self-insured
health plans and expands eligibility to certain self-employed individuals with employees
and their dependents. The law also includes the requirement for up to a one-year supply of
covered self-administered hormonal contraceptives beginning in 2027.
Maternal, Family & Disability Services
HB 1840 creates a statewide communication program through the Missouri Commission
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and includes “Mason’s Law,” which allows individuals
with certain health conditions or disabilities that may impair communication with law
enforcement to have a designation associated with their vehicle registration that officers
can access through the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System.
It also establishes “RJ’s Law” and a Purple Alert System to help locate missing people
with developmental disabilities who may be in immediate danger and unable to return to
safety without assistance.
HB 1696 modifies Missouri’s right-of-sepulcher laws governing who has authority over the
disposition of a deceased person’s remains. It also requires criminal background checks
for adult staff and volunteers at residential camps and prohibits individuals with certain
criminal convictions or sex-offender registrations from serving in those positions.
SB 999 law expands Missouri’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board and
requires representation from each congressional district. The board will consider factors
such as prenatal and postnatal care and the presence of maternity care deserts when
reviewing maternal deaths. The law also changes criminal statutes involving domestic
violence, assault, stalking, harassment, and technological abuse, including the creation of
a cyber-harassment offense.
HB 2292 seeks to improve coordination when abuse of people and animals may be
occurring in the same household. Designated human services workers will be required to
report suspected animal abuse or neglect and receive training to recognize it. Beginning in
2028, animal control officers and humane investigators will similarly be required to report
suspected abuse or neglect of children, older adults, or adults with disabilities to
the appropriate state agency.
Leadership Changes Announced in Missouri Executive Branch
Governor Mike Kehoe has announced several leadership changes across state
government, which include transitions involving the Office of Administration, the state
budget office, and the Department of Corrections.
Office of Administration Commissioner Ken Zellers will retire Sept. 4. Zellers has served as
commissioner since 2022. He previously served as the director of the Missouri Department
of Revenue. Before joining state government, Zellers held several senior positions with
Anheuser-Busch InBev. The governor has not yet announced Zellers’ successor.
State Budget Director Dan Haug will retire Oct. 1 after 31 years in state government,
including 11 years as Missouri’s budget director. Haug has held the position since 2015
and is the longest-serving budget director in state history, serving under four governors.
Missouri Department of Corrections Director Trevor Foley will succeed Haug as budget
director. Foley has more than two decades of experience in state budget analysis and
management, including work with the Department of Corrections and Missouri Senate
Appropriations staff. He has served as Corrections director since December of 2023.
Foley’s move will result in new leadership at the Department of
Corrections. Governor Kehoe has appointed current Deputy Director Valarie Moseley to
become the department’s next director effective Oct. 1, subject to confirmation by the
Missouri Senate. Moseley has served as deputy director since December 2023 and
previously led the Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services, where she helped launch
Missouri’s participation in Reentry 2030, a national initiative focused on improving
outcomes for people leaving correctional facilities and reducing recidivism.
State Leaders Review Missouri Child Welfare System
The Joint Committee on Government Accountability met recently to review issues involving
Children’s Division policies, placement of children with relatives, child fatalities and
reunification rates, and the Department of Social Services’ implementation of laws passed
by the General Assembly since 2020.
The legislative review comes amid concerns about child abuse and neglect investigation
backlogs in some parts of the state. Recent reporting found that investigators in St. Louis
County were carrying an average of 97 open cases at the end of July, compared with a state
goal of no more than 15. The average investigation there has been open 144 days, while
state law generally calls for investigations to be completed within 45 days.
Missouri has faced a backlog of more than 10,000 child abuse and neglect investigations,
along with a high turnover rate among frontline
workers. Governor Kehoe has also established the Missouri Child Welfare Task
Force made up of representatives from the Children’s Division, the courts, juvenile offices,
law enforcement, the General Assembly, private providers,
attorneys, advocates and state child welfare experts.
The task force is charged with developing statewide standards for determining child safety,
reviewing existing laws and policies for potential deficiencies, recommending protocols for
child welfare cases, developing training, and establishing consistent standards across the
state.
Recommendations are due to the governor, legislative leaders and chief justice of the
Missouri Supreme Court by Nov. 15, ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
General Assembly to Return for Annual Veto Session
Members of the Missouri General Assembly will return to the State Capitol on Wednesday,
Sept. 16, for the annual veto session.
The Missouri Constitution gives lawmakers an opportunity during veto session to
reconsider measures rejected by the governor. Overriding a gubernatorial veto requires a
two-third vote of the elected members in both the House and Senate.
Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed policy bills passed during the 2026 regular session, while
issuing several line-item vetoes to the state operating and capital improvement
budgets. Currently, lawmakers have not indicated plans to attempt an override of the
governor’s vetoes when we return to Jefferson City.
Missouri MAP Scores Show Improvement
Missouri students showed improvement across several subjects in preliminary results
from the 2025-26 Missouri Assessment Program released by the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education.
Statewide results show gains in English language arts, mathematics, science and
government assessments. Among the largest increases, sixth-grade math proficiency rose
three percentage points to 48.9%, while eighth-grade science increased more than four
points to 43.9%.
At the high school level, English II proficiency increased more than five points to 58.4%,
and biology increased more than three points to 40.6%.
MDC Announces Changes for 2026 Deer Season
The Missouri Department of Conservation has reduced the antlered buck limit
for most non-resident hunters from two to one, citing a 50% increase over the past decade
and concerns from resident hunters about hunting pressure and land access.
Non-residents who own land with qualifying landowner permits will retain a two-buck limit
The Early Youth Portion has been moved to Oct. 24–25, one week earlier than usual. MDC
has also eliminated antler-point restrictions in the final 18 counties where they remained.
MDC has also eliminated the CWD Management Zone and separate CWD Portion of
firearms season, while mandatory CWD sampling will move to a four-year county rotation.
Sampling will be required in 28 counties during Nov. 14–15 this season. Restrictions on
placing feed and minerals will remain in counties near confirmed CWD cases.
If you have any questions regarding any of the legislation that has been passed, please feel free to
contact my office via email or by phone at 573-751-3455.
My best to You!