The Missouri Legislature has passed a roughly $52 billion state budget proposal that begins in July. With about three hours to spare on Friday, state lawmakers passed the budget plan for Fiscal Year 2026.
Key budget items include:
*$4.2 billion to fully fund the formula used to bankroll K-12 public schools
*$375.5 million to fully fund K-12 public school transportation costs
*$170 million in additional funding for childcare payment upgrades
*$84 million for Access Missouri scholarships for low-income students
*$72 million for early childhood education
*$68.5 million to boost pay for experienced teachers doing extra work through the Career Ladder Program
*$60 million for A+ merit-based scholarships
*$50 million for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program to send K-12 public school students to private schools
*$20 million for preparations of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City
*$10 million for a new Blue Shield grant program to incentivize local law enforcement agencies to improve crime-fighting efforts
*$8 million for Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program
*$3 million to test wastewater for fentanyl around K-12 public schools
*$650,000 to provide pads and tampons at all K-12 public schools with students in grades 6-12
*3% increase in higher education core funding
*Up to a 10% pay raise for long-term state workers
*Stipend for Department of Corrections employees working hard-to-fill night shifts in maximum security prisons
Lawmakers also included millions in the budget plan to improve low-volume roads, help crime victims and refugees resettle, develop semiconductor chips, for scholarships to recruit law enforcement officers, and the Truman Library and Museum.
Another budget move by state lawmakers was to cut 25 job vacancies within the Secretary of State’s budget.
Now the proposal heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe to decide what will stay and what will go. He has until the end of June to take action.
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