Date of Legislative Update: April 26, 2026

Voting Rights

Bill #: HCS HBs 2387 & 2480 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill

Short Description: Reinstates the presidential preference primary.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee on Monday, April 27 at 2:00 PM.

Talking points:  

• Voting happens anonymously through a secret ballot 

• Primaries are run by and paid for by state and local governments 

• Primaries use state-controlled election procedures 

• Primary process is a familiar one of official ballots and secure submission of votes 

• Primaries are local and more accessible than caucuses for working people, people needing child care, etc 

• Early voting is a feature of primaries, supporting their accessibility

Link to the summary of the bill: HCS HBs 2387 & 2480

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings. Members of the Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee are found HERE. Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page for their contact information.

LWV Position: The League supports open primaries rather than caucuses as a measure to increase the informed participation of Missouri citizens in the selection of presidential nominees.  (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 p. 17)

Education

Bill #: SCS SBs 971 & 906

LWVMO OPPOSES these bills

Short Description: Creates, modifies and repeals provisions relating to student transfers to nonresident districts ("open enrollment").

Status of the Bill: On Informal Calendar, up for perfection in Senate Monday, April 27.

Talking points:  

• Public schools should have accountability and transparency in matters of governance, accreditation, and funding

• Funds for public schools should not be used to support homeschooling or private schools, including religiously affiliated schools

• Open enrollment can lead to resegregation

• It is difficult for schools to plan financially

• School districts have unequal tax levies

Link to the summary of the bill: Link to information page where you can find the summary page under “Quick Links”  SCS SBs 971 & 906

Call to action: Contact your individual legislator to tell them you OPPOSE these bills. Find your Senator HERE

Links to further reading: Columbia Missourian Education Bills Tackle a Variety of Topics     

St. Louis Public Radio Open School Enrollment in Missouri Advances through Senate Committee 

From Reason Foundation, Missouri Senate bill 906 and 971 would improve open enrollment   Missouri School Boards Association Opposes Open Enrollment

LWV Position: The League supports equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 57)

Urgent Request to Legislators for Full Funding of K-12 Education and to Reinstate Library Funding.

Short Description: Missouri’s future depends on the strength of its public institutions. To set our youth up for success, we must prioritize consistent, adequate funding for our schools and libraries.

Status of the Bill: Since the House and Senate have passed different versions of the budget (specifically regarding education and library funding), the Conference Committee must resolve these differences, print final reports and get them voted on by both chambers before 6:00 PM on Friday, May 8. 

Talking points:  

• The Legislature should not use  public funds to support homeschooling or private schools and academies including religiously- affiliated schools when adequate funding is not being provided for public schools

• School districts should not be burdened with reliance on increased local property taxes 

• There should be decreased reliance on the local property tax for funding public education

• The school foundation formula should provide adequate state support for public schools and should be fully funded

• A public library system is a basic community service

•  As a major source of knowledge and information necessary for informed, active participation in a democratic society, public library services should be accessible to all persons

• Long term, assured, stable and adequate funding should be available to public libraries

• Public libraries should be funded by state, county, and local governments and other appropriate methods, but the burden should not fall just to local sources

• The state should continue to fund library technologies such as MOREnet and increase the funding as needed, not decrease it

• Public libraries should provide adequate hours of service, including evening and weekend hours; adequate funding is required for this

Call to action:  Assignments to the Budget Conference Committee have not been finalized at this time. Contact your Senator and Representative to request full funding for K-12 schools and the complete reinstatement of state aid for public libraries. Find your Senator and Representative HERE

You can also contact the following legislators that have served on the Budget Committees in the House and Senate.

Rep Dirk Deaton

Rep Bishop Davidson

Rep Betsy Fogle

Sen Rusty Black

Sen Brad Hudson

Sen Maggie Nurrenbern

LWV Position: Support for equal opportunity in education, access to quality programs, and adequate financing for pre-K through 12. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 p. 57)

Support a public library system as a basic community service including internet access, with a long-term assured, stable, and adequate funding source. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027 p. 66)