Capitol report from Representative Keith Elliott.
It’s a busy stretch, but that’s a good sign. Things are getting lively across the district, and I always appreciate the opportunity to visit with neighbors, community leaders, and local organizations that help keep our region moving forward. I look forward to seeing many of you along the way and sharing updates from around the District in the weeks ahead.
Measures
The Missouri General Assembly capped off its 2026 session by passing several major measures, which now await final action from Governor Mike Kehoe:
- Public Safety & Enforcement (SB 1421): Increases penalties for illegally passing school buses, restricts drones near critical infrastructure, addresses gift card fraud, and creates automatic expungement for eligible offenses.
- School Security (SB 905): Establishes the Missouri Rangers program, providing specialized active-threat training for school personnel and allowing authorized staff to carry firearms.
- Vulnerable Persons & Victims (HB 1840, SB 999): Creates the “Purple Alert” system for missing persons with developmental disabilities, and “Mason’s Law” for voluntary vehicle-linked disability designations. It also stiffens penalties for cyberstalking, domestic violence, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
- Bentley and Mason’s Law (HB 1740/SB 1135): Requires drunk drivers convicted of killing a parent or guardian to pay court-ordered child maintenance to surviving children.
- Court & Civil Reforms (SBs 835, 1111, & 916): Boosts debtor protections (raising the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $40,000) and modifies sovereign immunity laws for specific MoDOT transportation projects.
- Free Speech & Age Verification (SB 1067, HBs 1839/2921/3015): Protects First Amendment rights via the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act to quickly dismiss retaliatory lawsuits. It also mandates age verification for adult websites, overseen by the Attorney General.
- Abuse Reporting (HB 2292): Cross-mandates animal control officers and human service professionals to report suspected abuse across both human and animal populations.
Amendments on the Ballot
Governor Kehoe announced that four lawmaker-referred amendments will appear on the August 4, 2026, primary election ballot:
- Amendment 1: Renews the 0.1% sales tax for state parks and soil/water conservation for 10 years.
- Amendment 2: Mandates elected county assessors and standardized training for all charter counties.
- Amendment 4: Tightens the initiative petition process, requiring a constitutional amendment to win both a statewide majority and a majority in every congressional district.
- Amendment 5: Phases out individual income tax based on revenue growth while adjusting local taxes and preserving school funding.
State Revenue
Missouri’s net general revenue collections totaled $11.9 billion through the first 11 months of Fiscal Year 2026—a 2.1% decrease compared to last year. In May, collections took an 11.1% dip compared to May 2025. While consumer spending drove a 4.3% increase in sales tax collections, corporate income tax plummeted 20.8%, and individual income taxes remained flat. Officials emphasize this is a temporary snapshot and is subject to economic fluctuations.
