Mid-session capitol report 3.19.2026
As your State Representative for Missouri's 124th District, covering parts of Miller and Pulaski counties, I am proud to share this midway update on my legislative efforts during the Second Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly. The session began on January 7, 2026, and we're now well into the work, around mid-March, with many bills moving through committees, hearings, and early votes as we head toward the May 15 adjournment.
My priorities remain focused on delivering practical, conservative solutions for rural Missouri: providing meaningful tax relief for veterans, retirees, and military families; promoting freedom and competition in key sectors like energy; enhancing public safety; protecting our outdoor heritage; and ensuring efficient, accountable government. As Chairman of the Corrections and Public Institutions Committee and a member of key budget and commerce committees, I've been actively involved in advancing these goals.
Here are the key bills and resolutions I have introduced or sponsored this session, grouped by theme:
Tax Relief and Economic Freedom
I continue to push for lower taxes and returning more control to Missourians and our state.
HB 2205 — Modifies income tax provisions on retirement income from private and public sources to ease the burden on our seniors.
HJR 131 — Proposes a constitutional amendment relating to taxation.
HJR 132 — Proposes exempting buildings under construction from property taxation to encourage development.
HCR 39 — Urges states to compel Congress to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment and return taxation authority to the states.
Veterans, Military, and Outdoor Access
Supporting those who serve and preserving Missouri's hunting and fishing traditions are core to my district.
HB 2202 — Modifies hunting and fishing permit provisions, including free or reduced-fee options and lifetime permits for military personnel, disabled veterans, and their dependents.
HB 2535 — Authorizes a homestead tax exemption for certain veterans, with revenue offsets through targeted increases on cigarettes and excise taxes on alternative nicotine, vapor, tobacco paraphernalia, and hemp-derived products.
HB 3294 — Authorizes an income tax subtraction for all military income to better support our service members.
HJR 172 — Proposes changes to the Conservation Commission's membership, the conservation sales tax, and property tax exemptions for the Department of Conservation.
Energy Choice and Competition
Missourians deserve more options and lower costs in utilities.
HB 2207 — Creates provisions for electrical choice and competition to introduce market-driven alternatives.
Public Safety and Transportation
From fighting crime to modernizing travel, these bills address real concerns.
HB 2208 — Establishes provisions relating to autonomous vehicles (noting it was replaced with a substitute in some proceedings—I'm monitoring closely).
HB 2902 — Modifies provisions relating to automobile theft.
HB 3531 — Requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol to host a public website to check if a firearm's serial number has been reported stolen.
HB 3538 — Establishes the "Motor Fuel Tax Fund of 2021."
HB 3539 — Modifies motor fuel tax exemptions.
HB 2206 — Modifies commercial practices, including stronger measures against catalytic converter theft and organized retail crime (this one advanced positively through committee with strong support from law enforcement).
Government Efficiency, Local Control, and Other Reforms
I'm working to reduce overreach, protect communities, and address everyday issues.
HB 2203 — Requires physical copies of municipal codes to be kept on file by clerks for better transparency.
HB 2204 — Requires reporting of expenditures intended to influence public opinion.
HB 2903 — Modifies hospital provisions.
HB 2904 — Strengthens the offense of animal abuse.
HB 2905 — Addresses federally managed lands within Missouri to protect state interests.
HB 2906 — Creates master agreements for architecture, engineering, or land-surveying with the Office of Administration.
HB 2907 — Modifies outdoor advertising rules.
HB 3064 — Designates the Ozark Mountain Daredevils as Missouri's official state band—a fun nod to our cultural heritage.
HB 3086 — Adds an associate circuit judge to Miller County in the 26th Judicial Circuit to improve court access.
HB 3326 — Provides civil immunity for charitable organizations disclosing sexual misconduct allegations.
HB 3370 — Modifies court-ordered treatment provisions.
HB 3393 — Establishes the "Missouri Social Media Safety for Minors Act" to protect children online.
HB 3491 — Modifies commercial drivers' license requirements for foreign applicants.
HJR 177 — Modifies highway user revenue deposited into the state road fund.
HJR 178 — Creates new requirements for the General Assembly when regulating local governments.
As we move forward, several of these bills have seen committee progress, public hearings, or votes, such as advancements on theft-related measures and veteran support. I'm grateful for the input from constituents, law enforcement, veterans' groups, and others who've testified or reached out. My office remains open to your thoughts as we work to pass meaningful legislation.
For the latest status on any bill, visit house.mo.gov or contact my office at 573-751-3604. Thank you for your continued support. I'm committed to fighting for lower taxes, safer communities, and a stronger Missouri.
Sincerely,
Don Mayhew
Representative for the 124th District