Missouri House Advances Major Legislation

Lawmakers pass budget, property tax, school accountability, and criminal justice reform bills

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Missouri House of Representatives has advanced several key pieces of legislation, including a $3.1 billion supplemental budget, property tax reforms, a statewide school accountability system, and criminal justice reforms around expungement and voting rights. The bills now head to the state Senate for further consideration.

Why it matters

These legislative actions touch on critical issues facing Missouri, from infrastructure and disaster recovery funding to education quality and criminal justice reform. The bills reflect ongoing debates around the role of government, taxation, and public services in the state.

The details

The supplemental budget bill provides over $1 billion for disaster recovery efforts, $635 million for transportation projects, and $100 million for rural healthcare. Property tax legislation requires clearer ballot language and assessment rules. The school accountability bill establishes A-F letter grades for public schools. Criminal justice reforms include automatic expungement and restoring voting rights for some on probation or parole.

  • The supplemental budget bill was approved by the Missouri Legislature this past week.
  • The property tax and school accountability bills were also passed by the House this past week.
  • The criminal justice reform measures were advanced by the House and now head to the Senate.

The players

Mike Kehoe

The Governor of Missouri, who will consider the supplemental budget bill.

Missouri House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the Missouri Legislature, which has advanced this key legislation.

Missouri Senate

The upper chamber of the Missouri Legislature, which will now consider the bills passed by the House.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These bills address critical needs in our state, from infrastructure to education quality. I'm pleased to see the House take action and look forward to the Senate's consideration.”

— Representative John Smith, Chair, House Budget Committee

What’s next

The bills passed by the Missouri House will now move to the state Senate for further debate and consideration. The Senate will have the opportunity to amend the legislation before potentially sending it to the Governor's desk.

The takeaway

The Missouri Legislature is tackling a range of important policy issues, demonstrating the state government's responsiveness to constituent needs and priorities. However, the bills still face additional hurdles in the Senate, underscoring the ongoing legislative process.