By Otto Fajen
MNEA Director of Legislative Policy
FOLLOW MISSOURI NEA WEEKLY UPDATES ON FRIDAYS THIS SESSION
The MNEA Weekly Legislative Update will be distributed this session on Fridays. This will allow the Weekly Update to include information regarding committee hearings posted on Friday for meetings the following week. The MNEA Legislative Update will keep you informed in a timely manner concerning developments in legislation affecting students and schools and will advise you of actions you can take to affect the legislative process.
SESSION BEGINS
The 2026 legislative session began at noon on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The first day of session included the adoption of the usual set of resolutions required to establish rules and begin business. Both chambers also read all the pre-filed legislation. The Senate convened again on January 8th, primarily to further introduce bills, while the House held a technical session on January 8th and then adjourned until January 11th.
STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Governor Mike Kehoe will deliver his second State of the State Address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House Chamber on January 13. The State of the State Address gives the Governor the opportunity to present his budget proposal for the following fiscal year and to speak to policy priorities for the legislature to consider. Declining revenues and dwindling balances mean that Kehoe's budget will need to make significant spending reductions across the budget.
Despite this difficult budget context, the Governor will also urge the legislature to eliminate the state's individual income tax. This revenue source annually generates over 60% of Missouri's general revenue. Any proposal to eliminate the income tax seems certain to drastically reduce state revenues and force massive reductions in state and local services, including K-12 public schools and public higher education. The Association opposes the elimination of the individual income tax. The timing seems even more perplexing in the context of the ongoing work of the Governor's Task Force on school funding and strong legislative interest in changes to local property taxes.
MNEA'S EDUCATION ADVOCACY
Students are at the center of Missouri NEA’s legislative advocacy. MNEA believes that every child has a basic right to attend a great public school. The Association strives to ensure that all students have the time and resources to learn, caring and qualified teachers, and an education that inspires their natural curiosity and desire to learn.
MNEA also continues to lead the fight to defeat the proposals that would harm public education. The Association’s legislative advocacy must ensure that legislators fulfill their commitments to stand up for children and public education during the legislative session.
BECOME AN MNEA EDUCATION ADVOCATE!
Commit to being an advocate in your legislative district! MNEA’s Education Advocate program seeks members who will be a contact to their respective State House or Senate members on public education issues. MNEA’s Government Relations department will pair members with their legislators and provide information and resources to conduct important legislative outreach throughout the year.
You can find more information and sign up at mnea.org/edadvocates.
Sign up to attend at least one Capitol Action Day (Wednesdays, February through May) this session. Learn more at mnea.org/CAD.