Senate approves $1.995 billion supplemental budget; Medicaid and schools account for largest increases

The Missouri Senate on Tuesday approved House Committee Substitute for House Bill 14, a roughly $1.995 billion supplemental appropriation bill intended to cover costs through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.

Senator from Greene moved for third reading and final passage of the substitute; after debate and questions, the Senate voted 26 ayes to 8 noes to pass the measure. The bill was presented as a stopgap to ensure state obligations are paid through the end of the fiscal year and will go to the governor for signature or veto.

The bill covers a wide range of departments and programs. "What this piece of legislation is, is the essentially, gap funding between, the the the date and time of which it's passed and the end of the fiscal year," the senator from Greene said on the floor. The sponsor said the governor proposed just over $2 billion in supplemental spending, largely for Medicaid cost growth; the House reduced that figure to about $1.995 billion in its version.

Major line items the sponsor highlighted include a $941 million continuation for Medicaid costs in the Department of Social Services (about $60 million of that from general revenue), and additional funding across education and health programs:

- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: a $95 million increase for the foundation formula (sponsor said this stemmed from lower-than-expected lottery transfers), plus roughly $62 million tied to changes mentioned as "Senate Veil 7 27" and about $62 million in federal Perkins and other K–12 grants; $16 million for the First Steps program and $15 million for a high-needs fund.

- Higher education/workforce: $6 million supplemental for the Access Missouri scholarship program.

- Department of Agriculture: roughly $6 million in federal funds for resilient food system infrastructure grants and funding for an animal health disease control specialist for the final quarter of the fiscal year.

- Department of Natural Resources: about $145 million for water and wastewater loan revolving funds.

- Department of Public Safety/SEMA: funding for sports-wagering-related costs and training/enforcement line items.

- Department of Corrections: an approximately $21 million increase tied to offender health care contracts.

- Department of Mental Health: $82 million for utilization increases and $27 million for overtime compensation; separate modest increases for medication and goods/services.

- Department of Health and Senior Services: $95 million for consumer-directed in-home services and grants related to older adult services.

Senators asked for clarifications on several points during floor questions. The senator from Lawrence asked what the "high needs fund" covers; the sponsor responded that it supports students who require extra instructional services, including special education and other high-need populations. On the in-home consumer-directed services, the sponsor said hourly reimbursement for family caregivers has been increasing and that recent rates have reached roughly $17–$18 per hour.

The sponsor also summarized a roughly $62 million influx of federal funds for K–12 grants (Perkins, Title I, Title II, Title IV and special education) and a $103 million allocation for a summer EBT program for children. For the Department of Social Services the sponsor emphasized that of the supplemental Medicaid total (about $1.2 billion cited on the floor), only about $60 million would be general revenue.

After questions, the sponsor renewed the motion for final passage. The secretary read the bill title and called the roll; senators voted and the motion passed by a constitutional majority, 26–8. The sponsor noted the Senate had not made changes to the House committee substitute and described the vote as the final step before transmittal to the governor.

The transcript records the Senate’s floor statements and the roll-call outcome. Specific appropriation line items and the sponsor’s remarks can be reviewed in the House Committee Substitute for House Bill 14 fiscal document distributed to senators earlier in the day.

Votes at a glance House Committee Substitute for House Bill 14 — third reading and final passage. Motion moved by Senator from Greene. Vote: 26 ayes, 8 noes. Outcome: passed; sent to governor.

Notes: The bill text as read cites "article 4, section 28 of the Constitution of Missouri" as the authority for transfers and expenditures for the fiscal period ending June 30, 2025.

The Senate then moved on to other business; additional appropriations and operating bills were expected to follow in subsequent floor days.