Peter Merideth

The bill, passed by lawmakers during the recently completed 2022 legislative session, would provide a one-time, nonrefundable tax credit for those who paid income tax this year. However, Gov. Mike Parson has expressed concerns over the bill.

The budget includes raising the minimum pay for teachers, fully funding the state’s Medicaid program, including its expansion population, and income tax credits, as well as close to $3 billion in federal funding for projects across the state.

According to the state’s Department of Revenue, of the roughly 3.2 million Missourians who filed state income taxes, only around 1.4 million of them would receive their full tax credit amount.

Despite passing a more than $46.5 billion budget, the House left about $1.8 billion in general revenue unspent. Senate leaders have indicated they plan to spend at least some of that leftover money.

The budget bills come as the Missouri Senate is expected to make changes to the House’s legislation. Senators have expressed frustration at the House taking what they believe is longer than normal on the budget with only six weeks left in the 2022 session.

Republicans voted down Democratic amendments for transportation aid and a $100 million boost to higher education campuses.

On the last day before the legislature takes a week off, the House also passed legislation including banning discrimination in schools against traditionally Black hairstyles and creating nurseries in women’s prisons.

The Democrat, who represents part of St. Louis, spoke on what he believes is a more fractious than usual legislature. He also delved into the Missouri budget, including the Senate’s decision to fully restore funding for state employee raises.

The Missouri House also passed a resolution that makes several changes to the state’s initiative petition process. It would make it tougher for proposed amendments to the state’s constitution to make it on the ballot and for voters to pass them.

The original supplemental budget bill included both a 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment and a baseline of $15 an hour for all state employees. Now, those across-the-board raises are out.