House advances FY2026 operating budget amid disputes over school funding and childcare payments

Gentleman from McDonald, the budget chair, presented the House Committee substitute for House Bill 2, the operating budget for fiscal year 2026, saying the measure totals about $47,900,000,000 and “includes over $4,000,000,000 of funding to public education.”

The bill’s backers emphasized increased investment in K‑12 education: “200,000,000 into the foundation formula is what our ... house bill 2 provides,” the budget chair said, and noted recent multi‑year increases in education and transportation funding.

The matter drew extended floor debate over how the budget funds schools and early‑childhood care. Representative Boone offered a pair of linked amendments to reallocate $2,500,000 from the Mo QPK program to the state’s “grow your own” teacher recruitment grants and to set that grant funding at roughly half of past levels. The House adopted both amendments (House Amendment 1 and House Amendment 2) after discussion and floor…