John Rizzo

State lawmakers see this session as a greater opportunity to pass some of their priorities.

Both Senate bills now go to the House. In addition to the special session, the annual veto session ended on Wednesday, with no legislation overridden by lawmakers this year.

Gov. Mike Parson wanted a starting date of Sept. 6 for a special session on an income tax cut and agriculture tax credits. However, Republican leadership in a joint statement said they intend to use this week for further negotiations.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he has no plans to call a special legislative session to protect access to contraceptives and address ectopic pregnancies. Parson’s comments come days after Democratic leaders called on the governor to hold a special session now that the state has banned nearly all abortions.

The new map passed by the House likely would keep Missouri’s current congressional delegation of six Republicans and two Democrats. It now goes to the Missouri Senate with only four days left in the legislative session.

The budget includes raising the minimum pay for teachers, fully funding the state’s Medicaid program, including its expansion population, and income tax credits, as well as close to $3 billion in federal funding for projects across the state.

Unlike the House version, the Senate substitute uses state money to fund charter schools. The bill now goes back to the House, where it would need to pass to reach the governor.

Despite passing a more than $46.5 billion budget, the House left about $1.8 billion in general revenue unspent. Senate leaders have indicated they plan to spend at least some of that leftover money.

The budget bills come as the Missouri Senate is expected to make changes to the House’s legislation. Senators have expressed frustration at the House taking what they believe is longer than normal on the budget with only six weeks left in the 2022 session.

The House vote against the map comes after the Senate rejected the House’s request for a conference committee to find a compromise on the bill. If the stalemate doesn’t break, the task of drawing the maps would likely go to the courts.