Date of Legislative Update: March 29, 2026

Voting Rights

Bill #: HB 2125 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO OPPOSES this bill

Short Description:This bill requires the Secretary of State and the Director of the Department of Revenue to enter into an agreement to match information pertaining to the citizenship status of individuals in the voter registration database with information in the motor vehicle system; reinstates SOS's investigation and subpoena power. 

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on Monday, March 30 at 2:00 PM in the Local Government, Elections, and Pensions Committee.

Talking Points:

• Voters are already required to show identification in order to vote 

• If used nefariously, the bill could make it harder for eligible Missourians to cast their vote

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2125

Links to further reading:   LWV challenges recent voter roll purges in Virginia preventing eligible voters from voting

LWV Position: The State of Missouri should provide uniform, transparent and non discriminatory data reporting tools and resources to help local election authorities to accurately maintain their voter registration rolls. Data from 3rd party organizations used in voter registration list maintenance should use strict criteria (strong matches) and be tested for accuracy prior to use, with an objective of minimizing disenfranchising eligible voters. (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 18) 

Education

Bill #: HB 2061 (House bill now in the Senate)

LWVMO This bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled to be taken up for a Third Read in the Senate on Monday, March 30 at 9:00 AM.

Link to the summary of the bill: HB2061

Bill #: HCR 31

LWVMO This bill is FOR INFORMATION ONLY

Short Description: Establishes a Seal of Civic Recognition for certain graduating high school seniors.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday, April 1 at 12:00 PM.

Link to the summary of the bill: HCR31

Climate and Environment

Bill #: HB 3362 & 3364

LWVMO SUPPORTS these bills

Short Description: These bills require large industrial users, such as AI data centers, to pay upfront for their energy infrastructure costs and obtain water use permits, protecting everyday consumers from having those expenses shifted onto their utility bills.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Monday, March 30 at 1:00 PM in the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.

Talking points:  

• Missouri residential customers are already struggling with rising utility costs — from March 2024 to December 2025, Missouri utilities disconnected more than 330,000 customers, and 211 received over 31,000 utility-related calls in 2025 alone; these bills help prevent further cost-shifting onto households

• Large industrial users, not everyday ratepayers, should pay for the infrastructure they require — the bills ensure that data centers and other high-demand customers cover upfront costs for grid upgrades, closing the door on residential subsidization of corporate energy needs

• Ratepayers face real financial risk if data center projects are abandoned — the Consumers Council of Missouri warns that ratepayers could be left "holding the bag" if a data center fails to materialize or abandons a planned project after infrastructure costs have already been incurred Mobar; these bills address that risk directly

• Water is a shared public resource that demands strong state oversight — requiring permits for facilities drawing 2 million or more gallons per day ensures transparency, accountability, and protection of Missouri's water supply for communities, agriculture, and future economic growth

• Proactive regulation now prevents larger consumer harms later — states that have failed to act on data center energy demand have seen capacity auction prices spike dramatically, with one national estimate projecting a potential $70-per-month increase for average households by 2028 without meaningful reform

Link to the summary of the bill: HB3362 & HB3364

Call to action: Submit testimony to SUPPORT HB 3362 & 3364 HERE.   Make sure to mark “In Support of” under reason in testimony form.

Links to further reading: Missouri lawmakers propose water and power usage requirements for data centers

LWV Position:   League supports a comprehensive water policy for Missouri, one that includes the public trust doctrine (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 52)

Bill #: SB 953 (Senate bill now in the House)

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Relocates Department of Natural Resources excess funds to go solely to air pollution control program.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the House on Monday, March 30 at 1:00 PM in the Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.

Talking points:  

• Dedicated funding for air quality protection helps to improve the health & well-being of all Missourians.  

• Air quality is directly related to the health and well-being of Missourians, especially those with compromised medical conditions.

• To relocate excess funds in DNR protection fund guarantees the money will dedicated to the air pollution control program and not lost in the general fund

Link to the information page where you can find the summary of the bill under “quick links”: SB 953

Call to action: Submit testimony to SUPPORT SB 953 HERE. Make sure to mark “In Support of” under reason in testimony form.

Links to further reading:  MCE Supports Sierra Club

LWV Position: Air quality in Missouri should be protected from pollution caused by motor vehicles,  power plants, factory farming, waste disposal, and other challenges to the environment (LWVMO Guide to State Action 2025-2027, p. 40)

Social Justice

Bill #: HCS HB 2747 & 2047 (House bills now in the Senate)

LWVMO SUPPORTS this bill 

Short Description: Voting right to be reinstated on release from incarceration.

Status of the Bill: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on Wednesday, April 1 at 8:15 AM in the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.

Talking points:  

• a person returning to the community has a better chance not returning if they have the tools to return to or create a successful life.

• having a "clean" record allows for better jobs, those which pay more than the minimum wage

• having a better income lessens the need for social services and generates higher tax revenue

• if family members are working and contributing to the success of their families, their children have a better chance of being good members of their communities

• Missouri needs workers able to fulfill jobs with better skills and better pay

• Clean Slate will allow better access to housing in particular, and many other things

• a similar bill has been introduced the last several years, let's pass this improved bill NOW

Link to summary of the bill: HCS HB 2747 & 2047

Call to action: Only in person testimony is allowed at Senate hearings.   Please contact committee members and let them know you SUPPORT this bill. Members of the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee can be found HERE Click on the Senator’s picture and you will be taken to their information page with their contact information.

LWV Position: Support a criminal justice system that is just, effective, equitable, transparent, and that fosters public trust at all stages, including policing practices, pre-trial procedures, sentencing, incarceration, and re-entry. (LWVUS Impact on Issues 2024-2026, p. 15)