Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
The following is a legislative update from Clarkston Nelson, LLC concerning the Missouri General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session. Use the information within to develop local coverage of issues important to your readers.
Monday’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday meant that it was a short week for the General Assembly. And yet both the House and Senate seemed intent on making up for lost time, with a flurry of hearings in both chambers fitting a week’s worth of work into the remaining days of the legislative week.
In contrast to the legislature’s committee work, floor activity remained slow. The House, without any bills on its perfection calendar, met only for procedural technical sessions. In the Senate, a group of Senators, primarily from the Democrat Caucus, held the floor to hold up approval of gubernatorial appointments for the second straight week. Though such appointments are typically passed through as a matter of course, the slowing of floor activity is consistent with the stated goal of some Senators to make Senate operations proceed more deliberatively this year, in response to the Senate’s approval of past budgets that have spent down the state’s budgetary surplus and the use of the previous question cloture motion to speed legislation through the Senate during last year’s regular and special sessions.
The House Committee on Budget continued its hearings on Governor Mike Kehoe’s recommended budget, which recommends at least $600 million in cuts and relies on projected lapsed money from prior budgets and future budgetary withholds to balance the state’s budget going forward. The Committee this week continued to hear testimony from each executive department and statewide office relating to their line items in the Governor’s recommended budget.
Jefferson City was also no stranger to national politics this week, as Senator Eric Schmitt held an event for Missouri’s state legislators on Tuesday evening and a large number of protesters were present at the Capitol on Wednesday in opposition to an array of federal policies.
Joint Committee on Administrative Rules
The JCAR committee met on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and Sen. Nick Schroer (R-O’Fallon) was elected as the new chairman of the committee. Rep. Ben Keathley (R-Chesterfield) was elected vice-chairman, moving from his position as chairman for the past year.
During the meeting, proposed changes to Certificate of Need Rules (19 CSR 60-50.420 and 19 CSR 60-50.700) were discussed by a representative of the Missouri Attorney General’s staff, presenting insight on the rules and their effect on the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Rule 19 CSR 60-50.420 outlines the Review Process for Certificate of Need (CON) applications, detailing filing deadlines, analysis timelines by CON Program staff, and procedures for full vs. expedited reviews for health facilities, often involving long-term care expansions or major equipment.
Rule 19 CSR 60-50.700, titled "Post-Decision Activity," governs deadlines and conditions after a Certificate of Need (CON) is issued or deemed non-applicable, focusing on incurring capital expenditures, starting projects, and preventing forfeiture by requiring documented progress like construction plans or secured financing, ensuring CONs for LTC bed expansions meet occupancy/deficiency rules. This rule ensures projects move forward, with extensions possible but requiring reports, and outlines penalties for inaction, like making the CON void.
Among some changes to the rules are the addition of the wording, “but not limited to,” in one of the rules, which raised concerns as being controversial language, according to some JCAR members.
Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold) suggested twice in the meeting that the proposed rule changes should be pulled back and the JCAR committee should work with the Attorney General’s office on the issues.
It was noted, however, the proposed rule changes are needed by Thursday, and the JCAR committee has set a 9 a.m. Thursday meeting on the topic.
Rep. Keathley said it appears the “letter of intent” issued for a certificate of need application is sometimes used as the reason for denial of an application, before the application is submitted. The letter of intent is not supposed to be the actual application, he said.
Proposed changes to Rule 19 CSR 60-50.700 would redefine what a “capital expenditure” is. It was noted that some certificate of need applicants submit small expenditures in their applications, and other background information that is incomplete. It was noted that there are 40 to 50 projects, some involving nursing homes and health facilities in Missouri, where certificate of need applications were approved, but the projects have not moved forward in years.
At the end of the JCAR committee meeting, a presentation was shown to committee members on the new Missouri Online Rule Filing System (MORFS). Much progress has been made on the system, which will provide online rule filings by state agencies. The system is expected to be in operation in mid- to late-summer 2026.
Newspapers’ Legal Publication Requirements
The House Local Government Committee gathered on Wednesday morning and heard House Bill 1940, sponsored by Rep. Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton), legislation that changes the length of time for successor newspapers and newly established newspapers to be considered legal newspapers to publish public notices in their communities. Currently, to qualify as a newspaper to publish public notices, a newspaper must have been published regularly for a period of three years or must be the successor newspaper to a non-active newspaper that restarts publication no later than 30 days after the termination of the prior newspaper. HB 1940 reduces the time of regular publication from three years to one year and increases the time from 30 days to 90 days within which a successor newspaper must begin publication. The bill also allows a newspaper that has been purchased or newly established by another newspaper that already satisfies these conditions to qualify. Rep. McGaugh told the committee she loves newspapers and asked members to help small newspapers, especially in small towns. Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore (D-St. Louis) said she has heard the bill for six years, and she urged fellow committee members to approve the legislation. Testifying in support of the bill was Chad Stebbins, Executive Director of the Missouri Press Association, who said Missouri is likely the only state in the nation to require three years of publication before a newspaper is eligible to publish public notices. He thanked Rep. McGaugh for her support of newspapers. Also testifying in support was Shanon Hawk of the Missouri Municipal League, who said, “For our local communities, we’d like notices published in local newspapers.” There was no testimony in opposition. The committee took no action on the bill.
Website Access Litigation
The House Committee on Commerce convened Wednesday morning to receive public testimony on HB 2150 and HB 1842, sponsored by Representatives Travis Wilson (R-St. Charles) and Sherri Gallick (R-Belton). The bills are similar and create the “Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation,” which seeks to prevent abusive litigation practices from those filing lawsuits claiming a website is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and seek to recover damages. A small business owner supported the bill and informed committee members of her personal story and thousands of dollars she had to spend in costs to fight the frivolous lawsuit. Additional supporting testimony was presented by NFIB, MSW Interactive Design, Missouri Civil Justice Reform Coalition, Associated Industries of Missouri, Missouri Association of Sheltered Workshop Managers, the Callaway Chamber of Commerce and Industry, several other small business owners, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. No opposing testimony was presented to the committee.
The House Committee on General Laws also convened Wednesday to consider passage of six house companions to HB 2150 and HB 1842, highlighted above. Specifically, house bills 1674, 1694, 1755, 1780, 2056 and 2312, sponsored by Representatives Brian Seitz (R-Branson), Mazzie Christiansen (R-Bethany), Carolyn Caton (R-Blue Springs), John Voss (R-Cape Girardeau), Jeff Vernetti (R-Camdenton) and Mike Costlow (R-Dardenne Prairie), also creates the “Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation.” During committee discussion, a committee substitute was adopted to combine all six bills into one legislative vehicle. Once modified, the committee passed the bill by a 14-0 vote.
Accountability for MSHSAA
On Thursday morning, the House Government Efficiency Committee conducted a hearing on House Bill 2278, sponsored by Rep. Bennie Cook (R-Houston), a bill that would require any statewide activities association that facilitates interscholastic activities for high school students to be overseen by a five-member board of directors appointed by the Governor and with the consent of the Senate. The bill focuses on oversight for the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA), although the board would oversee all high school-related organizations, such as the Missouri Future Farmers of America, which was mentioned during the hearing. Rep. Cook focused on the need for transparency and accountability for MSHSAA and noted several instances when high school athletes and teams lost opportunities to move forward during end-of-season playoffs and championship games because of MSHSAA orders that were challenged. Rep. Cook has filed this legislation for three years. He said the legislation would add a layer – people outside of MSHSAA – who would be involved with appeals processes and oversee MSHSAA, but not eliminate MSHSAA. There was no testimony presented in favor of HB 2278. Testimony in opposition was offered by Dr. Jennifer Rukstad, Executive Director of MSHSAA. She presented a background on MSHSAA, which is nearly 100 years old. The constitution and bylaws of MSHSAA can only be changed by a vote of membership. Without fail, she said, the rules can be changed every year. Each of the sports has advisory committees to make recommendations to the board of directors. After lengthy questioning, Dr. Rukstad said there are too many unanswered questions as to the way the bill is written. A Senate bill is in the process of moving, also. She seeks to work with legislators on the issues raised. “We will absolutely take the topic to our members to add some sort of additional accountability,” she said. “Our mission is for participation, leadership, competitiveness, and to serve the schools that serve our students.” The committee took no action on the bill.
The Senate Committee on Education convened on Thursday morning to discuss Senate Bill 863, sponsored by Senator Jason Bean (R-Holcomb). This bill requires the governor to appoint a board of directors to oversee any statewide activities for secondary schools also known as Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA). A proponent of the bill was Nick Parler, a Missouri wrestling coach. Missouri Council School Administrators, Missouri Association and Career in Technical Education, Armor Vine, and Missouri State High School Activities Association testified in opposition of the bill. Brandon Lexander, Chief of Staff for the Office of Missouri State Auditor, Scott Fitzpatrick, shared information with the committee on the background of a specific whistleblower complaint their office received, what their office gleaned from their back and forth with MSHSAA, and then ultimately determined best course of action was to refer to the attorney general to pursue and communicate.
MO Safeguarding Personal Expression Act
The House Committee on General Laws convened Wednesday to discuss HB 2682, sponsored by Representative Darin Chappell (R-Rogersville). The bill is the House companion to SB 909, sponsored by Senator Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair) and renames the existing “Missouri Student Religious Liberties Act” to the “Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act” and seeks to expand the scope of protections in school settings to cover not only religious expression but also political and ideological expression by students. Freedom Principle MO, and Americans for Prosperity supported the bill. PROMO Missouri, MO NAACP, a private citizen, and the Missouri NEA opposed the bill.
Establishes Sexual Offenses Against Youth
Senate Bill 893, sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter (R-Granby), was heard by the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee on Wednesday morning. The bill establishes and modifies certain sexual offenses, including the offense of grooming and offenses involving sexual material. The bill establishes Sophie’s Law, which provides for the offense of grooming a minor for sexual purposes. A person commits the offense when he or she is 18 years or older and engages in a pattern of conduct with at least one overtly sexual act directed towards a person who is younger than 18 years old. The bill sets penalties for people convicted of the grooming offense. The bill also establishes the offenses of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images and threatening the nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images, and modifies such offenses by removing the element that the victim be at least 18 years of age. Penalties are set for people convicted of such offenses. SB 893 also provides that the offenders shall pay at least $500, but not more than $5,000, to the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.
There was no testimony offered in opposition to the bill. Testimony in support of the bill was presented by the father of daughters who are victims of sexual grooming; a mother and father of a 16-year-old son who committed suicide; the CEO of the Lafayette House in Joplin, who discussed the compensation required in the bill; the chief clinical officer for Rolf International, noting the outpatient medical center in Joplin for children who are molested, and said the crimes should require higher penalties; the Chief of Police for the Aurora, MO police department; the Cole County Prosecutor; representatives of the Missouri Network Against Child Abuse, the Missourians for Child Protection, and the Missouri State Council of Emergency Nurses Association; a witness who shared her story of being groomed; a mother of a victim; an advocate from Stone and Taney counties and a founder of a survivors’ support coalition; the founder of the Pathways Project of the Ozarks, a coalition to help end sex trafficking in Stone and Taney counties; a member of a vulnerable youth advisory board in southwest Missouri; a mother of a daughter who was groomed sexually by her father from ages six months to two years; and a representative of the Stop Trafficking Project. Near the end of the hearing, Sen. David Gregory (R-St. Louis) expressed frustration as he read some current state statutes and said it is “absolute B.S. that prosecutors aren’t prosecuting” under current law. The committee took no action on the bill.
Anti-SLAPP Bill
On Wednesday morning, the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee gathered to conduct a hearing on Senate Bill 1067, sponsored by Sen. Mike Henderson (R-Desloge), a bill that establishes the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act” or anti-SLAPP (strategic lawsuit against public participation). Sen. Henderson said the bill is to protect speakers at public meetings from meritless lawsuits. Currently, any action against a person for conduct or speech made in connection with a public hearing or meeting in a quasi-judicial proceeding before a tribunal or decision-making body of the state or a political subdivision is subject to a special motion to dismiss, a motion for judgment on the pleadings, or motion for summary judgment and any such motion shall be considered by the court on a priority or expedited basis. HB 1067 repeals this provision and creates procedures for dismissal of causes of action asserted in a civil action based on a person's: (1) Communication in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; (2) Communication on an issue under consideration or review in a legislative, executive, judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding; or (3) Exercise of the right of freedom of speech or of the press, the right to assemble or petition, or the right of association, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or the Missouri Constitution, on a matter of public concern. However, this legislation shall not apply to a cause of action asserted: (1) Against a governmental unit, as described in the bill, or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity; (2) By a governmental unit or an employee or agent of a governmental unit acting in an official capacity to enforce a law to protect against an imminent threat to public health or safety; or (3) Against a person primarily engaged in the business of selling or leasing goods or services if the cause of action arises out of a communication related to the sale or lease of such goods or services. Testimony in favor of the bill was provided by James Harris of the Institute for Free Speech and Chad Stebbins, Executive Director of the Missouri Press Association, who also represented the Missouri Broadcasters Association and other new media. Stebbins said the bill would protect journalists and others against frivolous lawsuits that would interfere with their First Amendment rights. News organizations and journalists across the country are frequent targets of such lawsuits that aim to silence reporting through expensive, protracted litigation. There was no testimony in opposition to SB 1067. The committee took no action on the bill.
House-Corrections and Public Institutions
1/26/26 12:00 PM
Committee Hearing, HR 5
HB2751 Perkins - Modifies provisions relating to public safety
Senate-Local Government, Elections, and Pensions
1/26/26 2:00 PM
Committee Hearing, Senate Lounge
SB836 Crawford - Modifies provisions relating to elections
House-Elections
1/27/26 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 5
Executive Session:
HB1871 McGaugh - Modifies provisions relating to elections
Senate-Education
1/27/26 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, Senate Lounge
SB971 Trent - Creates, modifies, and repeals provisions relating to student transfers to nonresident districts
House-Children and Families
1/27/26 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 6
Executive Session:
HB1946 Myers - Modifies and establishes provisions relating to anti-trafficking efforts
HB2273 Lewis - Modifies and establishes provisions relating to anti-trafficking efforts
House-Children and Families
1/27/26 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 6
Executive Session:
HB1946 Myers - Modifies and establishes provisions relating to anti-trafficking efforts
HB2273 Lewis - Modifies and establishes provisions relating to anti-trafficking efforts
House-Economic Development
1/27/26 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 1
HB2047 Terry - Creates provisions relating to expungement
HB2747 Davidson - Modifies provisions relating to proceedings resulting from criminal conduct
House-Commerce
1/27/26 12:00 PM
Committee Hearing, HR 1
Executive Session:
HB1842 Gallick - Establishes the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation"
HB2150 Wilson - Establishes the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation"
House-General Laws
1/28/26 4:00 PM
Committee Hearing, HR 7
Executive Session:
HB2682 Chappell - Renames the "Missouri Student Religious Liberties Act" the "Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act" and creates provisions safeguarding students' political and ideological expression at public schools
