As the Missouri General Assembly enters its final week of session, the stakes are high for Missouri employers and job creators. With limited time remaining before adjournment, lawmakers are making critical decisions that could shape Missouri’s business climate for years to come.
The Missouri Chamber team is working around the clock at the Capitol to fight for business, advocate for pro-growth policies, kill any new business mandates, and push key priorities across the finish line. Here are the top five issues we are fighting for in the final days of session:
1. Expanding Affordable Health Coverage Options for Employers
One of the Missouri Chamber’s top priorities this session is HB 2596 (Rep. McGaugh), legislation that would expand access to Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs), including the Chamber Benefit Plan. This would give small and mid-sized employers more affordable and flexible health coverage options.
The bill is now in conference committee — one of the final steps before it can head to the governor’s desk. Our team has been actively involved in negotiations to ensure the proposal stays on track and continues moving forward.
Call to Action – Please contact conference committee members and ask them to advance this critical piece of legislation: Sen. Sandy Crawford, Sen. Kurtis Gregory, Sen. Curtis Trent, Sen. Tracy McCreery, Sen. Patty Lewis, Rep. Peggy McGaugh, Rep. Scott Miller, Rep. Dane Diehl, Rep. Ian Mackey, Rep. Greg Bush.
2. Attracting Investment to Spur Community Revitalization and Innovation
HB 3231 (Rep. Christ) would establish several economic development tools designed to support innovation, encourage private investment and revitalize Missouri communities.
The Missouri Chamber strongly supports the legislation because it would help strengthen Missouri’s long-term competitiveness and create opportunities for business growth across the state. Negotiations surrounding the inclusion of an additional economic development tool in this package are ongoing. The Missouri Chamber supports an all-of-the-above approach to economic development, including additional tools.
Call to Action – Please contact your Senator and urge them to support HB 3231 to enhance investment in Missouri’s communities.
3. Legal Reform to Improve Business Certainty
The Missouri Chamber is continuing to push for HB 1664 (Rep. Seitz, Rep. Mackey, Rep. Billington, Rep. Overcast), legislation aimed at creating a more fair legal environment for Missouri employers. Action is needed to ensure Missouri’s legal climate does not hinder economic growth. According to the Missouri Chamber’s annual CEO Survey, one third of business leaders believe the state’s legal environment is getting worse.
This bill reduces the statute of limitations for personal injury cases from five years to three years, aligning Missouri more closely with the rest of the country.
Call to Action – Please contact your House member and Senator and urge them to support HB 1664 to modify the statute of limitations.
4. Increasing Access to High-Quality, Affordable Child Care
The Missouri Chamber has long supported an innovative legislative package, HB 2409 (Rep. Shields) which would increase the capacity of child care providers and help businesses offer child care benefits to support the retention and recruitment of employees.
Despite this bill having wide bipartisan support, this issue has hit roadblocks in the Senate in recent legislative sessions. The Missouri Chamber remains committed to fighting for this issue as it is an economic issue that impacts every region in our state. Missouri’s child care network is critical infrastructure, and this bill will strengthen this infrastructure that serves as the backbone for all industries.
Call to Action – Please contact your Senator and ask them to take urgent action on HB 2409.
5. Fighting Efforts to Expand Illegal Slot Machines
During the final days of session, lawmakers may attempt to revive efforts to legalize video lottery terminals (VLTs) by attaching the language to unrelated legislation.
The Missouri Chamber remains strongly opposed to legislation that would retroactively legalize video lottery terminals, or VLTs, operating illegally in Missouri. Proposals would create an uneven playing field and penalize businesses that have invested significant resources to comply with Missouri’s regulatory framework.
While the final week of session often brings long days and fast-moving negotiations, employers can rest assured that the Missouri Chamber is in the Capitol every day fighting to protect your interests, strengthen our economy and keep Missouri moving forward.
