Save the date! In 2026, we will celebrate Phelps, Maries, and Texas Counties Day at the Capitol—an opportunity for our communities to learn more about the legislative process and highlight the counties we proudly represent. This year, we’re planning something a little different to shine a brighter spotlight on our local businesses and the people who make our region strong. We will be working hard with our local leaders to showcase the best of our area and share why our counties stand out across Missouri. From our Main Streets to the Capitol — our counties matter.

Governor’s State of the State Address Set for January 13th

Governor Mike Kehoe will deliver his 2026 State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in the House Chamber at the Missouri State Capitol. The address will outline the governor’s legislative priorities and present his Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal. 

The speech will be livestreamed on the governor’s Facebook page, the State of Missouri’s Facebook page, mo.gov/live, and the Missouri House website. A full schedule of the day’s events will be released at a later date.

State Board of Education Signals Openness to Public School Open Enrollment

The Missouri State Board of Education has approved its legislative priorities for 2026, including language supporting “voluntary public school open enrollment.” The move indicates the board wants to be involved in shaping any legislation on the issue, though members expressed differing views on what open enrollment should look like.

Open enrollment proposals—allowing students to attend school in neighboring districts—have passed the House repeatedly in recent years but have stalled in the Senate. Board President Mary Schrag said including the topic in the board’s priorities ensures the department remains part of discussions as lawmakers consider how such a system would operate.

Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told the board she wants the department to help guide policy details if lawmakers advance open enrollment, noting that the legislature continues to debate how best to structure choice within the public system.

Some board members raised concerns about potential impacts on smaller districts and said they want clearer policy language, with one board member cast a vote against adopting the priorities, citing unanswered questions about what the board is endorsing.

Alongside open enrollment, the board’s priorities include fully funding the state’s K-12 foundation formula and creating a statewide initiative to strengthen math instruction.

State Announces New Funding for Pregnancy Resource Centers

The Missouri Department of Social Services announced a new funding opportunity to support Pregnancy Resource Centers, Maternity Homes, and Diaper Banks across the state. Through the Office of Workforce and Community Initiatives, qualifying organizations may apply for up to $14,135 each to help expand services for Missouri families. The funding is intended to strengthen family well-being and improve access to essential resources, including prenatal care referrals, parenting education, diapers, formula, and other support services. Organizations may apply through the department’s bidding portal under Solicitation No. SDA549262, with the potential for additional funding if all eligible agencies do not apply.

USDA Approves Missouri Waiver to Restrict Certain SNAP Purchases

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved Missouri’s request to limit the use of SNAP benefits for purchasing certain junk food items beginning in 2026. Under the waiver, SNAP benefits will no longer be permitted for the purchase of candy, prepared desserts, soda, beverage mixes, and select juice products containing 50 percent or less natural fruit or vegetable juice.

The Missouri Department of Social Services submitted the waiver in September, with implementation anticipated on October 1, 2026. The approval was announced by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Missouri is one of six states receiving approval for similar changes, joining Hawaii, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The waivers modify the federal definition of “food for purchase” under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

State Releases November General Revenue Report

Missouri’s net general revenue collections for November 2025 increased 16.2 percent over November 2024, rising from $931.7 million to $1.08 billion. Year-to-date collections for FY26 are also up 4.3 percent, reaching $5.05 billion compared to $4.84 billion at this point last fiscal year.

Individual income tax collections rose 5.5 percent for the year and 9.4 percent for the month. Pass-through entity tax collections, while down 15.6 percent year-to-date, saw a strong monthly increase of 77.3 percent. Sales and use taxes continued modest growth, up 1.8 percent for the year and 5.2 percent for the month. Corporate income and franchise taxes remained down 23.9 percent for the year but improved 20.7 percent in November. All other revenue collections increased 7.1 percent year-to-date and 80.7 percent for the month. Refunds issued by the state declined 17.6 percent for the year and 19.5 percent for the month.