This Week At The Capitol

 

Missouri Senators returned to Jefferson City on Monday to begin the special legislative session called by Governor Mike Kehoe. While debate was initially scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, proceedings were delayed due to continued discussions surrounding the legislation under consideration.

Later that afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., Governor Kehoe issued a press release amending his call for the special session. The revised call expands the scope of the session to include measures related to disaster relief funding, new property tax relief initiatives, economic development incentives, and additional funding for critical budget appropriations.

The Senate eventually convened around 5:00 p.m. and worked into the early hours of Thursday morning before adjourning.
 

Key funding increases in Governor Kehoe’s amended call include:

  • Raising the storm relief tax credit for insurance deductibles to $135 million
  • Increasing the disaster relief fund to $100 million
  • Allocating $50 million for Mizzou’s Research Reactor (MURR)
  • Boosting capital project funding from HB 2019 (including MURR) to $360 million
     

Three major bills were passed by the Senate:

  • SB 3, which passed 19-13, establishes the Show-Me Sports Investment Act to retain the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, extends the Missouri Amateur Sports Tax Credit to August 28, 2032, and includes tax credits for 2025 homestead damage. It also requires certain counties to ask voters by April 2026 whether to provide property tax credits to eligible residents.
  • SB 1, which covers capital projects from HB 2019, passed 23-10.
  • SB 4, focused on disaster relief, passed 29-4. It includes an emergency clause, meaning it will take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature.
     

The bills now head to the Missouri House of Representatives, which is expected to convene next Monday.

The Senate plans to adjourn until June 16, provided the House passes SCR 1, which authorizes an adjournment of more than ten days. If SCR 1 is not adopted, the Senate will reconvene on June 11.