Legislators reflect on first half of session before their spring break begins

By Kennedy Voss, Jack Schouten, Emily Skidmore and Anika Austvold, Missourian News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A resolution calling on voters to eliminate the state income tax was passed by the Missouri House of Representatives on Thursday as legislators headed for a weeklong break.
Republican leaders in both chambers speaking at the halfpoint of the annual legislative session hailed the steps they are taking to provide economic relief to Missourians. Democrats raised concerns about how to fund state operations if the income tax disappears.
The talk reflected much of the discussion during the legislature’s first two months. Work resumes March 23.

House priorities
House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, said lawmakers have advanced several bipartisan bills and GOP priorities at the midpoint of the 2026 legislative session.
“In terms of what we’re doing in the chamber, it has been the best I’ve seen in my eight years here,” Patterson said. “We’ve passed a number of pieces of bipartisan legislation that’s gone in the Senate that I think has a good chance of passing.”
One piece of partisan legislation is combined House Bills 1908 and 2337, sponsored by Rep. Cecelie Williams, R-Dittmer, and Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson. The bills clarify Missouri law to allow pregnant women to get a divorce, which is commonly stalled by state judges.
Similar bills had widespread support last year but died when the Senate adjourned early. Passed by wide bipartisan margins, the bills head to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk to be signed into law.
House Democratic Leader Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, said she agrees there has been more bipartisanship this session but added there also was a large focus on dividing issues as well.
“When the speaker points to bipartisanship, I just can’t help but remind everyone that there is another side to that point, and the other side to that is hyper-partisanship,” Aune said. “That is most of what we spend our time on in this building, which is unfortunate and does a huge disservice to the average Missourian.”
One Republican triumph was the House passage of House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174, which would eventually fade out individual income tax in the state. Senators will take up the issue when they return.
“If you look at what people are talking about back home ... taxes are probably the number one thing people talk about, especially people in Jackson County,” Patterson said.
Democrats said they worry the elimination of income tax would leave a large hole in the state’s $50 billion-plus budget, as more than two thirds of Missouri’s general revenue is from individual income taxes.
The bill language that would appear in front of voters in November currently lists “the modernization of sales tax” as one of the provisions. Critics say this language is confusing and the raising of sales tax will increase overall taxes on Missourians.
“The income tax elimination will come first, but that sales tax hike is the only solution to recoup those dollars,” Aune said.
As lawmakers return for the second half of the session, Patterson emphasized that the House’s main priorities will be finalizing the state budget and working with the Senate to pass legislation that has been approved by the House.
“The budget environment that we’re experiencing now going forward is much different than the environment that we’ve been under for the past five years,” Patterson said. “We’ve only known surpluses.”
“Our budget chair and the governor have made cuts, but you will need future cuts to make sure that in two years, we still have a balanced budget,” Patterson said.

Senate priorities
Senate Republican leaders said they feel they have been “focused” and moved “meaningful” legislation through the first half of the session.
“Our caucus remains united around a clear set of priorities and we’re going to see them through,” Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina said.
Much of the first half of the session has featured Democrats filibustering most bills. That prompted an angry outburst on the Senate floor Wednesday by one of the chamber’s most conservative members, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville.
According to O’Laughlin, the biggest priority for the Senate Republicans continues to be tax relief for Missouri families.
“Missourians work hard for their money, and we believe they should keep as much of it as they can,” O’Laughlin said.
Senate leadership pointed to the approval of five members of the St. Louis Board of Police and legislation passed Tuesday that allows pregnant women to file for divorce as successes from the session so far.
One thing not on the list of priorities for Senate Republicans in the second half of the session is education reform.
“I don’t think we have any major overhauls of education that we’re trying to achieve this year,” O’Laughlin said.
Sen. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, received praise from Republican leadership for his work so far this session.
“Senator Webber has really been good to work with, and he has helped us, you know, reach across the aisle and try to find common ground,” O’Laughlin said.
Democratic senators emphasized their continued priorities in passing legislation focused on public education and affordability.
Democrats said they remain open to negotiations as members of the House and Senate push legislation to reform property tax.
“(Our caucus) recognizes that no person should be taxed out of their home,” said Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City.
However, concerns were raised by the minority caucus regarding income tax breaks.
Nurrenbern said the budget of the state is in trouble and passing legislation like HJR 173 will hurt Missourians further.
“We’re very concerned about affordability in the state,” Nurrenbern said.
Democrats are seeking more legislation passed in the Senate after the break and emphasized a need for every senator to be heard on bills.
Leadership noted the absence of Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, from the passage of criminal justice bill SB 888, despite Roberts’ prominence in criminal justice reform with the minority caucus. He was serving overseas with Missouri’s Air Force National Guard when Republicans brought the bill up for a vote.
“We all are here, and we have priorities that we want to advance for our constituents, for the good of Missouri,” said Nurrenbern, who took the brunt of Brattin’s anger about Democratic tactics on the floor Wednesday.