The members of the Missouri House of Representatives this week approved a $45.6 billion state operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year that begins in July. The 13 appropriations bills passed by the House include full funding for the state’s school foundation formula, funding increases for institutions of higher learning, additional support for law enforcement and school safety, and new funding for nursing homes and child care providers.

With the FY 2024 state budget plan, House members are making an enormous investment in the both the K-12 and higher education systems. The House allocated approximately $9.7 billion for the state’s elementary and secondary education system. That number includes full funding for the state’s foundation formula that is used to fund K-12 public schools. It also includes an additional $233 million to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years. The House Budget Chairman included another $55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.

The budget includes approximately $1.4 billion for higher education and workforce development. Included in that figure is a 7 percent funding increase for community colleges and a 5 percent increase for four-year universities. The spending plan also includes an additional 2 percent increase for four-year institutions that will be allocated through a performance-based system. The FY 2024 budget also includes full funding for the state’s scholarship program such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and the A+ Scholarship Program.

With the approval of the state budget, House members also showed their strong support for law enforcement and public safety. The spending plan now on its way to the Senate would provide a 20 percent pay increase for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police. The budget also includes $50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings. Additionally, the budget provides an additional $2 million to the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.

The version of the budget approved on the House floor also includes funding for some of the governor’s top priorities. The plan has an additional $78.5 million to expand childcare access, improve facilities, and help employers increase staff wages. The House-approved budget also sets aside $56 million recommended by the governor to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost. The funding for the pre-kindergarten expansion is tied to legislation that must be approved by the General Assembly.

The bills now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration. The House and Senate will have to reach final agreement on the bills by Friday, May 5.

Budget Highlights

$9.7 billion in funding for the state’s system of K-12 education which includes full funding ($3.6 billion) for the school foundation formula.

$233 million increase to provide a total of $347 million to fully fund school transportation for the second time in as many years.

$31.9 million to expand the Teacher Career Ladder Program.

$1.3 million for a Curriculum Transparency Portal.

$2 million for Classroom Support Grants.

$55.1 million in funding for Close the Gap grants that will help Missouri families address the learning loss that occurred as a result of the pandemic.

$56 million recommended by the governor to expand pre-kindergarten options to all four-year-old children eligible for free and reduced priced lunch at no cost.

$1.4 billion in total funding for higher education and workforce development.

$70.8 million to increase funding for state colleges and universities. Community Colleges will receive a 7 percent increase while four-year institutions will receive a 5 percent increase and an additional 2 percent boost based on a performance-funding system.

$35.5 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses.

Full funding for state scholarship programs such as Bright Flight, Access Missouri, and A+.

20 percent pay increases for the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Capitol Police to help attract and retain quality officers.

$50 million for school safety grants for Missouri schools to make physical security investments on their campuses, develop safety plans, establish school resource officer programs, and increase active threat trainings.

$2 million for the Missouri National Guard to assist with recruitment.

$1 million increase for Blue Scholarships to help attract more Missourians to law enforcement careers and address officer shortages.

$20 million to support Missouri’s veterans homes.

$72.9 million in new funding for nursing home rate increases to help ensure homes can continue to provide quality care to some of the state’s most vulnerable Missourians.

$78.5 million to expand childcare access, improve facilities, and help employers increase staff wages.

$24.8 million to reform and rebuild the Children’s Division including adding caseworkers and adding prevention workers to keep children out of foster care.

$4.3 million to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to implement its new maternal mortality plan.

$1.3 million for grants to increase access to drug addiction treatment.

$700,000 to develop a Master Plan on Aging.

$10 million for autism research.

$35 million to update railway crossings all across the state to modern day safety standards.

$1 million to fund the recently-created Targeted Industrial Manufacturing Enterprise Zones.

$247.7 million to continue broadband expansion efforts.