Capitol Report 3.26.26
Dear Friends and Constituents,
This week the Missouri House returned from spring break and made significant progress on several important fronts. The House approved a fiscally responsible $52.27 billion state operating budget that is approximately $1.5 billion below Governor Kehoe’s proposal and lower than current-year spending levels. General revenue spending was reduced by roughly $426 million. Despite these tighter constraints, the budget fully funds the K-12 foundation formula at a record $4.28 billion, increases the Empowerment Scholarship Program to $60 million, and maintains full funding for major scholarships and higher education with a new student-centered model. It also continues strong support for public safety, veterans’ services, workforce development, and nearly $4 billion for transportation. The budget now advances to the Senate for further consideration.
In addition to the budget, the House passed several key bills addressing economic growth, education, public safety, and emerging challenges. These include legislation creating innovation districts with new tools and incentives to attract business investment and establishing a Rural Missouri Development Fund. Other measures clarify mortgage modification rules, set government liability limits based on the law in effect at the time of an incident, expand daily physical activity requirements for all K-12 students starting in 2027–2028, and strengthen school anti-bullying policies through “Sawyer’s Law,” which better protects students acting in self-defense. The House also approved new AI protections that ban marketing artificial intelligence as licensed mental health professionals and restrict the unauthorized use of a person’s likeness in explicit or AI-generated content. Finally, lawmakers strengthened property rights by limiting government surveillance cameras on private land without landowner consent or a warrant.
I am pleased to report that my bill, HB 3393, the Missouri Social Media Safety for Minors Act, was heard in committee this week and will be scheduled to be released out on Monday, advancing it toward the House floor. This legislation requires age verification for social media platforms and prohibits children under 16 from holding independent accounts. Minors aged 16 and 17 would need verified parental consent to maintain an account. The bill gives parents and guardians the ability to review account activity, request deletion of their child’s account, and limit messaging between minors and unverified adults. It also bans addictive design features targeting minors, restricts direct messaging from adults to minors unless verified by a parent, and prohibits paid advertising to users under 16.
The Missouri Supreme Court also issued important rulings this week, upholding the legislature’s authority to redraw congressional districts outside the normal census cycle and preserving Missouri’s voter ID law for in-person voting. The Court struck down overly broad restrictions on third-party voter registration and absentee ballot assistance.
Additionally, the $50 million state investment in the University of Missouri’s NextGen MURR project continues to move forward with a major engineering agreement. This new research reactor will expand the production of life-saving medical isotopes used in cancer treatment and further position Missouri as a leader in nuclear medicine and innovation.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in Jefferson City. As the legislative session enters its final stretch, I remain committed to advancing policies that promote fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity, education, public safety, and the protection of Missouri families.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact my office.
Best regards,
Don Mayhew