Legislative Updates: Activities and Resources
We provide up-to-date nonpartisan information on health-related issues being addressed by the Missouri General Assembly and U.S. Congress to help our community partners navigate the state and federal policymaking process.
State and Federal Legislative Activities
This page provides resources for the state and federal policymaking processes.
We share biweekly legislative email updates during the Missouri legislative session and approximately once monthly during the interim. Subscribe by filling out our mailing list form and checking the “Legislative Updates” box. These emails provide further information regarding specific legislation, gubernatorial or presidential action, and more. If you have questions about this resource or any filed legislation, please contact Jennifer Carter Dochler, Director of Government Affairs, for details.
Please note: The Foundation is prohibited from engaging in direct or grassroots lobbying activities and does not take positions in support of or opposition to any ballot measure or bill.
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly convenes the beginning of January and concludes in mid-May (exact dates vary) for their regular session. The state fiscal year is July 1-June 30. The governor will sign or veto the appropriation bills by the start of the state fiscal year and other bills “truly agreed to and finally passed” by mid-July. Veto session is held in September. Some years will also include special or extraordinary sessions to address specific policy action.
Health-Related Legislation Filed by the Missouri General Assembly
Prefiling of bills begins December 1 and the filing deadline is March 1.
Below are legislative tracking lists related to various health policy topics. You can subscribe to them directly to receive updates to your inbox, or click on a link below to review:
- MFH Tracked Bills (main list)
- Behavioral Health & Diverting to Care
- Equitable Systems and Health Landscape
- Firearm Injury & Death Prevention
- Food Justice
- Infant & Child Health
- Social Determinants of Health
- Women’s Health
Missouri General Assembly Resources
The Missouri House main webpage includes links to livestream audio and video for most committee hearings and all floor debate. The Missouri House media webpage archives the livestreamed videos of committee hearings and floor debate.
The Missouri Senate main webpage includes a link to livestream audio of floor debate. The Missouri Senate media webpage archives floor debate audio. Committee hearings in the Senate are currently audio livestreamed, but not archived.
The informational tools below are designed to help community members better understand the legislative process:
- Critical Dates for the Legislative and Appropriations Process
- How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Missouri Experience
- Missouri General Assembly: Glossary of Legislative Terminology
To help community partners navigate the state policymaking process, we offer capitol trainings and events, and advocacy training and technical assistance.
U.S. Congress
Congress conducts its business year-round with recesses for in-district activity. The federal fiscal year is October 1 – September 30. Each year, Congress must pass the federal fiscal year appropriation and budget bills. For many years, Congress has passed a continuing resolution (CR) for budget authorization to avoid a government shutdown as the appropriation bills are rarely completed by their needed start date.
Health-Related Legislation Filed by the U.S. Congress
Below is a legislative tracking list on various health policy topics filed by the Missouri federal delegation. You can either review or subscribe to the list to directly receive updates.
U.S. Congress Resources
Congress livestreams and video archives the House and Senate committee hearings and floor debates.
- How a Bill Becomes Law: The Federal Legislative Experience
- Glossary of Legislative Terms
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representative
- U.S. Congress
Find Your Missouri State and Federal Elected Officials
- Enter your street address in Legislator Lookup and it identifies your state and federal elected officials.
- For agencies with a large service area, it is helpful to review the state Legislative District maps and Congressional map to identify district numbers and then review the corresponding roster to identify the legislators that represent your entire service area.
Get in Touch
Reach out to one of our Policy contacts for more information.
