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At Health Forward, we are keeping the pulse on state policy developments that will impact the well-being of our communities.
In the last month, there has been substantial movement on bills that could affect the lives of Missourians and Kansans. The purpose of this update is to inform our advocacy partners about the important developments in Jefferson City and Topeka, and the work we are doing to build inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities.
Thank you for your commitment to a healthier region.
Missouri lawmakers are back from spring break, and facing a May 15 adjournment deadline with several major bills already approved by the legislature and sent to the governor’s desk.
The House passed a $50 billion state operating budget that use the state’s remaining surplus to address an estimated $2 billion deficit. The House restored $80 million to self-directed services for Missourians with disabilities, but included a controversial overhaul of higher education funding that could drastically cut funding for some state universities, including Missouri’s only historically Black colleges and universities.
We’re monitoring House Joint Resolution 173, which paves the road for the elimination of state income tax. This bill was approved by the House last month and remains a major point of contention. Swapping out the income tax for a greatly expanded sales tax is a lose-lose proposal for Missourians. Increasing costs for average Missourians by taxing the products and services they use every day will make it more difficult for Missouri families to get ahead.
We are keeping an eye on both the legislative and judicial branches, monitoring actions that will impact how Missourians engage civically and shape policies that affect our health and well-being. Also on our radar is the omnibus health bill, covering telemedicine, doula services, and “food as medicine” programs, broadband grant programs, property tax assessments, and more.
Legislation we’re tracking:
The Kansas Legislature reached its first adjournment on March 27, marking the end of the regular session. Before adjourning, the legislature passed a $27 billion budget for fiscal year 2026. Beyond the budget, a number of bills related to our policy agenda and purpose strategies were introduced and advanced.
Health Forward supported the work of our partners by submitting testimony on many of the bills that would impact our Black, brown, and rural prioritized communities of focus. While we did not submit testimony on all legislation affecting our communities, you can find updates on many other bills on our legislative tracker.
The Kansas Legislature is now in veto session, and we are monitoring updates. One piece of legislation we are watching is House Bill 2731. If passed, the bill could reduce participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whether intentionally or unintentionally, and negatively affect the health of Kansans.
