January 26, 2024 Updates

This week...

Governor Parson delivers final State of the State address

Wednesday afternoon, Governor Mike Parson (R-Boliver) delivered his final State of the State address and released his proposed budget for the 2025 fiscal year.

The speech, titled “Putting People First”, emphasized the Parson administration’s accomplishments, including boosting the state’s GDP, increasing teacher pay, funding to rebuild I-70, a record-low unemployment rate and more. 

Governor Parson proposed a nearly $53 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Some of his top priorities include:

1. Three percent core increase for public higher education.
2. Fully funding the state's K-12 education funding formula.
3. Three percent salary increase for state employees.
4. Additional investments in workforce development and infrastructure, among others.

Below is a more in-depth look at what was in the Governor's budget for UM System:

• Three percent core increase, totaling $503,127,886, an increase of $14,604,113.
• $52.3M for MU NextGen Precision Health/Research Reactor/Center for Energy Innovation.
• $20M for Missouri S&T Protoplex.
• $20M for UMKC Health Science District.
• $20M for UMSL Campus of the Future.
• $5.4M for UMSL Campus of the Future.

The Governor added $59.4M to MoExcels, including seven UM projects that total $17.9M.

• $1.8M for MU Childcare Workforce Development.
• $675K for UMSL Career Advancement Center.
• $3.4M for MU Center for Engineering Technology.
• $4M for UMKC Student Success Space.
• $1M for UMSL Center for Entrepreneurship.
• $3.7M for MU Unmanned Aircraft System Training.
• $3.2M for S&T Manufacturing Skills Gap.

Missouri Senate President President strips critical committee assignments from four Freedom Caucus members

On Tuesday, with the support of a majority of Missouri Senate Republicans, Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden stripped committee chairmanships and other critical committee assignments from Senators Bill Eigel, Denny Hoskins, Rick Brattin, and Andrew Koenig, deepening the divide in an already fractured Senate.

Tensions continued into Thursday after Freedom Caucus members relinquished the floor to allow Senate Pro Tem Caleb Rowden to refer bills for committee hearings (including their priority IP reform legislation). Sen. Bill Eigel interrogated Senate Floor Leader Cyndi O’Laughlin for alluding to a vote for his expulsion during a press conference. 

At this time, the Senate has still not taken action on the Governor’s appointments to boards and commissions.

Hearings of Interest

• Monday House Budget meets for presentations from the Office of Administration and Departments: Supplemental (HB 2015), Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund - ARPA (HB 2020). No public testimony will be taken.
• Tuesday, House Budget meets for presentations from Elementary and Secondary Education (HB 2002) and Higher Education and Workforce Development (HB 2003). No public testimony will be taken.
• Tuesday, House Subcommittee on Appropriations-Educations meets for presentations from Elementary and Secondary Education (HB 2002) and Higher Education and Workforce Development (HB 2003). No public testimony will be taken.
• Tuesday, Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environmental Committee will meet to hear SB 789-Razer Modifies provisions relating to the powers of a hospital district board of trustees.
• Wednesday, House Higher Education Committee will meet to hear HB 1533-Shields, relating to Social Workers & HB 2326-Shields relating to Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Awards.
• Ban on state funding for Planned Parenthood: Both Senate and House committees heard testimony on legislation that would make Planned Parenthood ineligible to receive reimbursements through the state's Medicaid program, despite the fact abortion remains illegal in Missouri. Read more.
• Sports betting: A House committee heard testimony once again on legislation that would legalize sports gambling. Read more.
• Anti-crime legislation: A wide-ranging anti-crime bill passed out of a Senate committee on Wednesday. The omnibus bill contains many previsions that were included in last year's bill that was vetoed by the Governor due to concerns the bill language could lead to expunging criminal records of certain sex offenders. Read more.