Mike Henderson, Missouri State Senator
JEFFERSON CITY – As we wrap up another year, my wife, Cheri, and I want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the kindness, conversations and hospitality we’ve experienced throughout the 3rd District over the past several months. We truly enjoyed being out and about, visiting community events, stopping by local gatherings and meeting so many of you. Every handshake, every story told and every concern shared has helped me better understand what matters most to the people I proudly serve in the Missouri Senate.
My staff and I have continued to be hard at work over the interim. With the 2026 legislative session set to officially kick off on Jan. 7, we are preparing for a busy and productive session ahead. In this report, I’ll highlight some of the legislation I submitted and outline what I expect to be the major focus areas during the upcoming legislative session.
December 1 marked the first day to pre-file legislation, and many of the bills I filed are rooted directly in thoughtful conversations I had with constituents. Your input helps shape my legislative priorities, and I’m grateful for the time so many of you took to speak with me.
I pre-filed Senate Bill 901 to require adult websites (any site where more than one-third of the content is sexual material harmful to minors) to verify that users are 18 or older before allowing access. Sites may use reasonable age-verification methods, but they are not allowed to keep or store any personal information from that process. They must also post clear notices explaining the age-verification requirement.
The act does not apply to legitimate news organizations or public-interest media, and it does not hold internet providers, search engines or cloud services responsible for content they don’t control. The attorney general is responsible for enforcing these rules and may take legal action when violations occur.
Many other states are now regulating adult websites, and our language mirrors provisions that have already passed in Texas and been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. Missouri’s attorney general currently has rules in place addressing this issue, and we plan to work closely with that office in the coming year to turn those rules into state law.
I pre-filed Senate Bill 902 to make sure health insurance plans cannot push patients toward opioid medications when a non-opioid option is available. Plans may not deny coverage for a non-opioid drug, require someone to try an opioid first or charge higher copays for a non-opioid alternative. These rules would apply to all health plans in Missouri starting Jan. 1, 2027. This bill is similar to my Senate Bill 158 from 2025.
I also pre-filed Senate Bill 993 to regulate hemp-based beverages in Missouri. When the federal government passed the Farm Bill in 2018, it unintentionally deregulated a wide range of hemp products, including some that contain THC. As a result, these products are being sold in certain vape shops and convenience stores, sometimes without any age restrictions.
At the same time, a new drug known as 7-OH has begun appearing in some products, creating additional risks. My goal with this legislation is to put commonsense regulations in place for both 7-OH and hemp drinks and, most importantly, to ensure they are kept out of the hands of children.
This legislation establishes a licensing framework to regulate the hemp beverage industry and prohibits the sale of the beverage to anyone under the age of 21, and the groups cannot advertise or use marketing techniques targeted to people under the age of 21.
Additionally, legislation Congress passed in November to reopen the federal government included a provision banning intoxicating products made from hemp plants. Because federal law supersedes state law, these new federal rules will override any conflicting state-level regulations on these products.
You can find the complete list of pre-filed Senate bills and joint resolutions at senate.mo.gov.
A couple major things to expect this session:
The governor will be unveiling his plan to eliminate Missouri’s state income tax. I support moving in that direction, as long as we do it responsibly and protect the essential services Missourians rely on, like providing quality education, caring for our seniors and maintaining our roads and bridges. Any plan will likely be phased in over several years, with safeguards that only reduce the tax rate when Missouri’s economy is strong enough to support it.
The state budget will also be a major focus this session. With most ARPA funds now spent or committed, the budget picture is shifting. The good news is that November revenues are up 4.3%, and our overall outlook continues to improve month by month. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will keep a close eye on our financial trends and work to ensure Missouri stays on a stable, sustainable path.
Thank you again for your engagement and support. Please continue to contact my office at 573-751-4008 or senate.mo.gov with your concerns, questions and com