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Missouri Senate gives first-round approval to bill letting Farm Bureau sell health coverage to members
Summary
The Missouri Senate gave first-round approval to Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Sen. Curtis Gregory, a measure that would allow the Missouri Farm Bureau to sell health coverage to its members; some senators sought added guardrails and changes before further consideration.
Senator Curtis Gregory of Marshall sponsored Senate Bill 79, which the Missouri Senate approved on first-round passage Tuesday evening; another favorable vote would send the measure to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration.
The bill would permit the Missouri Farm Bureau to sell health coverage to its members, a proposal similar to measures introduced in prior years. Senator Tracy McCreery of St. Louis County said she would like to see additions made to the legislation before it advances.
During discussion, some senators raised concerns about oversight and consumer protections, noting that private insurers operate for profit and suggesting the need for guardrails to ensure consistent parameters in any marketplace changes. The transcript did not specify particular amendments or the precise content of proposed guardrails.
Missouri senators gave first-round approval to Senate Bill 79 on Tuesday. The upper chamber is continuing work through the eleventh week of the legislative session and is roughly one month from receiving the fiscal year 2026 state operating budget, which must be delivered to the governor no later than 6 p.m. on Friday, May 9.
Reporting from the state capital, Dean Morgan.
