Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for March 13, 2026
Mid-Term Report
The Senate adjourned on March 12, marking the start of the annual spring break and the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session. I am pleased with the progress the Legislature has made so far, but I am ready to spend a week in Kansas City and catch up on my to-do list if Mother Nature cooperates.
Before adjournment, I presented my legislation to provide tax credits for youth police initiatives to the Economic and Workforce Development Committee. Senate Bill 1808 authorizes a taxpayer to claim a 100% tax credit for contributions made to eligible entities, like nonprofits and other organizations that operate youth police initiatives in urban settings. Juvenile justice remains a topic of concern in Missouri, and I believe prevention is key to raising resilient kids and fostering safe communities. My goals with this tax credit are to create healthy alternatives for at-risk youth, engage them in dialogues and activities with police officers, increase trust, and break down the stereotypes and misconceptions that hinder progress. I believe incentivizing the private sector to invest in these initiatives will have a lasting impact in the urban core, reduce the costs of incarceration and recidivism, and enhance public safety in our streets. As one facilitator of the Kansas City Youth Police Initiative testified during the hearing, “Programs such as this, where there are non-enforcement related interactions with youth, is crime prevention.”
My agricultural education bill is on the Senate calendar for perfection awaiting floor debate. Senate Bill 1383 will replace the current pilot program with an open invitation to all school districts that want to offer this important class. Under SB 1383, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will establish a process for elementary schools to participate, collaborate with Missouri agricultural commodity groups to develop instructional models, evaluate the success and impact of the program, and report the results on DESE’s website.
Bills Passed by Senate
At the session’s halfway point, the Senate had sent 23 bills to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration. These bills range from updating the licensing process for certain professionals and supporting veterans benefits to raising the speed limit and improving telecommunications infrastructure.
On the Governor’s Desk
Two bills have been “truly agreed to and finally passed” by the Legislature to date. House Bill 1908 passed on March 10 and prohibits judges from denying pregnant women a divorce. The current policy passed in 1974 to ensure child custody and support arrangements were in place before the child is born. I hope the governor signs HB 1908 into law to allow pregnant women to escape abusive or toxic relationships and protect men who are dealing with their wife’s infidelity. The other measure is a supplemental spending bill to fill in the gaps left in last year’s operating budget, which was signed by the governor on March 11.
Visitor Highlights
I was delighted to welcome constituents, advocates and some aspiring young leaders to the Capitol this week. Below are a few of this week’s highlights.
Senator Washington meets with advocates from Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
University of Missouri-Kansas City students, Amgad Benkhadra and his science partner, Mohammad Jarrad, receive resolutions from Sen. Washington in honor of the projects displayed at MU Undergraduate Research Day.
Senator Washington visits with her intern, Trevor Cecini, and Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal from UMKC.
News for the 9th
Senior Service Award Nominations
If you know a deserving senior citizen from District 9 who has volunteered or gone above and beyond to improve Kansas City, please consider nominating them for a Lieutenant Governor’s Senior Service Award before the March 17 deadline.
Check out these Scholarship Opportunities!
Senator Washington’s Sponsored Legislation for 2026
Bill Number | Description | Status |
Modifies the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board | Passed by Progress and Development Committee | |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for supplies needed to care for infants. | Passed by Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing housing to victims of domestic violence. | Passed by Progress and Development | |
Requires state-funded schools to give students excused absences for attending elections with their parents. | Amended to SB 1351, passed Senate March 5 | |
Requires school districts and charter schools to offer students who are 17 and ½ years old the opportunity to register to vote. | Referred to Education | |
Modifies provisions relating to community paramedics. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Creates the offense of unlawful possession of a handgun by a minor. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Creates the criminal offense of masked intimidation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Authorizes a tax credit for providing services to homeless persons. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Modifies the composition of the State Tax Commission. | Referred to the Select Committee on Property Taxes and State Tax Commission | |
Increases the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $50,000 in bankruptcy law. | Combined with SB 853 and passed Senate 2.19 | |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for breast pump supplies. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Creates the offense of community endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Establishes the “Cronkite New Voices Act” to protect the freedom of press in school-sponsored media. | Referred to Education | |
Modifies the number of hours of racial profiling training required during the basic training for licensed peace officers. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Enacts provisions relating to criminal proceedings. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. | Referred to Education | |
Enacts provisions relating to health insurance coverage of maternity services. | Hearing conducted 2.24, Insurance and Banking | |
Modifies provisions relating to the filing of false documents. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Requires public schools and charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in grades 4-12. | Referred to Education | |
Creates and modifies provisions relating to lactation accommodations in public and charter schools. | Referred to Education | |
Modifies provisions relating to the carrying of firearms or weapons into polling places on election days. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Creates a health advocate program in the Department of Health and Senior Services. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Modifies provisions relating to the use of marijuana by family court participants. | Referred to Families, Seniors and Health | |
Creates provisions relating to parole eligibility. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Authorizes a tax credit for the purchase of certain homes. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Creates provisions relating to firearms. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Modifies provisions relating to criminal records. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to earned discharge from probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to terms of probation. | Referred to Judiciary | |
Modifies provisions relating to voter registration. | Referred to Local Government, Elections and Pensions | |
Includes “Class EA – esthetics and manicuring” as a new classification of licensure for cosmetologists. | Referred to Emerging Issues and Professional Registration | |
Creates new provisions relating to state contracts for minority and women’s business enterprises. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Prohibits the carrying of concealed firearms in any public library. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Requires the agriculture education pilot program to be implemented at all elementary schools statewide. | Perfection Calendar 3.10 | |
Creates and modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. | Referred to Education | |
Authorizes a sales tax exemption for diabetic supplies. | Referred to Economic and Workforce Development | |
Authorizes a tax credit for certain firearm safety training courses. | Referred to Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety | |
Increases the size of the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission from 3 to 5 members. | Referred to Government Efficiency | |
Modifies provisions relating to special elections to fill vacancies in the General Assembly. | Referred to Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics | |
Authorizes a tax credit for contributions made to certain youth police initiatives. | Hearing conducted 3.11 Economic and Workforce Development | |
Modifies provisions relating to eligibility for unemployment benefits. | Referred to General Laws | |
Creates the Laison for Postsecondary Education for Homeless Pupils within the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development | Referred to Education | |
Establishes the Missouri Urban and Local Food Systems Apprenticeship Act | Referred to Education | |
Creates the Success for Homeless and Foster Youth in Higher Education Act | Referred to Education | |
Establishes the Sickle Cell Committee | First read | |
Modifies the calculation of state aid for certain school districts | First read | |
Creates the offense of tampering with an elected official | First read | |
Creates provisions relating to solicitations to buy real property | First read | |
Creates a mobile device pilot program implemented by DSS | First read | |
Modifies provisions relating to rental protections for victims of domestic violence | First read | |
Preempts local regulation of intoxicating liquor in original packages | First read | |
Modifies provisions relating to automated expungement | First read | |
Places limits on increases of the assessment of certain properties. | Referred to Select Committee on Property Taxes | |
Modifies the statutes of limitations for civil actions based on certain sexual offenses. | Hearing cancelled 2/11 Judiciary |
It is an honor representing the great people of Jackson County’s 9th Senatorial District. If you need assistance navigating state government or understanding the legislative process, please contact me by calling 573-751-3158 or emailing Barbara.Washington@senate.mo.gov. My team is here for you!