March 5th, 2026 Local News
Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Senate has approved its version of a supplemental state budget following several hours of debate on the chamber floor Tuesday.
Senators voted 24-6 to pass the measure, known as House Bill 2014. Because the Senate made changes to the version previously approved by the Missouri House, the legislation now returns to the House for consideration. If representatives pass it without additional changes, the bill will be sent to Governor Mike Kehoe for final approval.
The supplemental budget serves as a financial bridge to maintain state government operations through the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.
Several changes were made in the Senate version of the bill. Lawmakers adjusted funding related to Medicaid matching dollars after updated financial and enrollment figures were provided to the legislature.
The Senate also removed nearly $15 million that had been included for improvements to the Missouri Capitol Building, deciding to delay that spending for further discussion.
Funding for disaster recovery remains in the proposal, including $86 million in general revenue for tornado relief efforts in the St. Louis area. That funding is in addition to the $100 million previously approved by lawmakers during a special legislative session last year.
During debate, some senators raised concerns about certain spending items they believed did not belong in a supplemental budget, which traditionally addresses immediate funding needs rather than new initiatives.
As a result, lawmakers removed two provisions from the legislation. One would have allocated $150,000 for Missouri’s participation in the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. Another proposal that was eliminated would have provided nearly $1 million to the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to establish a solicitor general’s office in Chesterfield.
The revised legislation will now move back to the Missouri House for further consideration before it can advance to the governor’s desk.