Lawmakers wrap up 2024 legislative session
Second Regular Session of the 102nd General Assembly finishes with more than 45 measures headed to the governor's desk
Friday, May 17, marked the final day of the 2024 legislative session. Throughout the session, lawmakers introduced more than 2,500 bills and resolutions to be considered by the General Assembly. Of those measures, 46 made it through the process and reached the governor's desk for his review and consideration.
Per tradition, the members of the Missouri House of Representatives mark the end of the legislative sessions by tossing their papers in the air. Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel with House Communications.
"There were a number of things I would have liked to have gotten done, but I am actually very happy with what we were able to do," said House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Patterson, R-Lees Summit. "I think if you told us at the beginning of session that we were going to pass 46 bills, a clean FRA, a budget – we would have been very happy with that."
During the session, lawmakers passed legislation extending the state's Federal Reimbursement Allowance (FRA) program. The FRA is a series of health care provider taxes that is used to draw down federal funding to support the state's Medicaid program, commonly known as MO HealthNet. This public-private partnership generates roughly $4 billion annually and is a critical funding source for Medicaid. Senate Bill 748 extends the FRA through 2029. Additionally, the General Assembly approved legislation raising the minimum starting salary of teachers to $40,000. Senate Bill 727, a wide-ranging education measure, also expands the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship program and increases access to it.
One of the year's highlights was the passage of the state's operating budget for Fiscal Year 2025. In addition to meeting the financial needs of state government, the more than $50 billion spending plan increases funding for education and provides additional resources for infrastructure projects throughout the state.
From an education perspective, the 2025 state budget appropriates $3.78 billion to fully fund the state's K-12 education foundation formula. It also provides more than $360 million in funding for school transportation costs to help students safely make it to and from school. In terms of higher education, lawmakers gave the state's public colleges and universities a 3 percent increase in core funding.
In 2023, lawmakers approved a plan to rebuild and widen Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City. In the FY 2025 state budget, lawmakers expanded on the I-70 project and allocated more than $727 million in funding to expand and improve I-44, specifically targeting areas near Joplin, Rolla and Springfield.
"In this budget, we've made investments in communities all over the state," said Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We've made investments in teachers, education, higher education, workforce development and a whole host of infrastructure projects — things that folks back home actually expect their government to take care of."
As Gov. Mike Parson reviews the budget passed by lawmakers, he cannot add items to the state's spending plan for FY 2025 — he can only cut projects passed by lawmakers. The upcoming fiscal year begins on July 1, 2024.