Missouri State Budget Update from Rep. McCaherty

The Missouri budget bills the House of Representatives approved the week after our legislative Spring Break have now made their way through the Senate and are headed back to the House. The 13 bills make up a spending plan of nearly $25 billion. That total includes a $66 million increase in funding to our public schools and a $34 million increase in state funding to our colleges and universities. Both are increases I support wholeheartedly.

The House now has the option to approve the bills as they currently stand, which would send them on to the governor to be signed into law, or send them to conference.  In conference, selected members from the Senate and House will meet to hash out the differences we may have with the goal of reaching an agreeable compromise.

It is likely that most of the bills will be sent to conference where negotiators from both chambers will have until Friday, May 10 to come to an agreement.