Senator Ben Brown’s Capitol Report for March 20, 2026
Marathon of Hearings
These past few weeks have been a marathon of hearings in the Missouri Senate leading up to the halfway point of session and the annual legislative spring break. I have presented about a half dozen pieces of legislation in committee, several of which have passed and may now be brought up for floor debate. If you are interested in learning more about the details and goals of the bills I present in committee, you may watch the recordings under the “Current Media” tab on my website, senate.mo.gov/Brown.
Expanding Access to Health Care
On March 3, I presented Senate Bill 897 to the Insurance and Banking Committee. Putting an end to the requirement of outdated, ineffective prior authorizations for health care services has been a priority of mine for a while. Initially intended as a cost-control measure to prevent unnecessary procedures and reduce waste, I believe prior authorizations have evolved into an administrative obstacle that delays procedures, overburdens physicians and erodes health outcomes. I am optimistic that 2026 will be the year we put an end to this dated and costly practice.
I also presented Senate Bill 1247, which expands access to quality healthcare across Missouri by allowing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice to the full extent of their advanced training and expertise. Under current interpretations of Missouri law, CRNAs are required to obtain permission from a physician, podiatrist or dentist before ordering or administering anesthesia — even though they are highly trained and qualified to do so independently. This outdated requirement has directly contributed to our state’s growing shortage of qualified CRNAs. My legislation removes this unnecessary barrier, helping to attract and retain more CRNAs while ensuring more Missouri families have timely access to safe, high-quality anesthesia care from skilled providers. My bill was also combined with Senate Bill 1445 by the Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee and passed on March 10.
Local Issues
On March 4, I presented my proposal to increase the number of associate circuit judges in Franklin County to the Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. Senate Bill 1587 would provide an additional judge for the 20th Judicial District to help respond to the continuous population growth in the county and handle the growing caseload. The committee advanced SB 1587 the following week.
On March 9, I presented Senate Bill 1286 to the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee to address Missouri’s housing shortage and affordability challenges by streamlining the local residential building permit process. The bill establishes a clear 30-day deadline for local governments to approve or deny permit applications for new construction, repairs or renovations. This creates predictability, reduces costly delays, and helps increase housing supply without weakening safety standards or local authority.
Senate Calendar for Perfection
I am pleased with the progress of my legislation as we hit the session’s halfway mark on March 12. As I was writing this report, two more of my bills had been placed on the Senate Calendar for Perfection for floor discussion.
Senate Bills 1066 & 1088 is a combined, bipartisan proposal that will put an end to some Missouri counties unfairly reclassifying single-family short-term rental homes as commercial property and taxing them at a harsh 32% rate instead of the standard 19% residential rate. This discriminatory practice burdens hardworking owners, often leaving homes vacant or dependent on seasonal income, while long-term rentals face no such penalty. This legislation would restore fairness statewide by defining single-family homes rented for fewer than 30 days as residential for property tax purposes—protecting property rights and ending this overreach.
Senate Bill 1586 will confront Missouri’s silent environmental threat—29 abandoned, ownerless landfills around the state, some of which are leaking toxic waste into our rivers and watersheds. In my district, the uncapped Generally Landfill in St. Clair is poisoning creeks and threatening the Meramec River watershed. One family bought land for their dream farm only to find toxic seepage right on their property. Counties can’t afford cleanup, and DNR currently lacks the authority and funding to act on these orphaned sites. Senate Bill 1586 gives DNR clear power to investigate, remediate and manage them while reforming the inefficient solid waste management district system to free up million in revenue annually to begin cleaning up these sites, which have been left unaddressed for decades. Inaction means dirtier water for our kids and grandkids. This bill seeks to deliver accountability, cleaner rivers and a healthier Missouri.
St. Louis Business Leaders Hear Update on Tax Policy & Economic Growth
On March 4, I had the pleasure of addressing nearly 50 business leaders from the St. Louis region during Greater St. Louis Inc.'s Lobby Day. I discussed the important work of the Senate Committee on Economic and Workforce Development with a particular focus on tax policy initiatives aimed at supporting Missouri's economic growth and competitiveness. It was an engaging opportunity to hear directly from regional stakeholders and share updates on our committee's efforts to foster a pro-business environment to benefit all Missourians.
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Appointments by the Governor
Each year, the governor appoints qualified candidates to serve on various boards and commissions around the state. Last week, I sponsored Matthew Gildenhaus’s appointment to the Truman State University Board of Governors. He is a licensed professional counselor from my hometown of Washington whose expertise will greatly enhance the board.
Capitol Visitors
Senator Brown presents a resolution to Michael Hotra in honor of his project for MU Undergraduate Research Day on March 12. A Washington native, Michael is a junior at Missouri University Science and Technology.
Senator Brown meets with Superintendent Jennifer Kephart and several school board members of the School District of Washington during the Missouri School Boards’ Association Legislative Advocacy Day.
Constituents from Washington gather with Sen. Brown during the Missouri Right to Life’s Show-Me Action Day.
It’s an honor representing District 26 in the Missouri Senate. If you need assistance with navigating state government or the legislative process, please reach out by calling 573-751-3678 or emailing Ben.Brown@senate.mo.gov.