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 policymaking process.
State and Federal Legislative Activities
To help community partners navigate the state policymaking process, MFH offers polling and surveys, health-related legislative updates and analysis, informational resources, capitol trainings and events, and advocacy training and technical assistance. This page provides nonpartisan information on the issues being addressed by the state and federal policymaking processes.
We share biweekly email updates during the Missouri legislative session and at least 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.
Missouri General Assembly
The second regular session of the 102nd General Assembly begins on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at noon. Session will conclude by 6 p.m. on Friday, May 17. Appropriation bills for state fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024) must be “truly agreed and finally passed” by Friday, May 10. Supplemental appropriation bills for state fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023) will most likely be sent to the governor sooner during session.
Health-Related Legislation Filed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2024
Prefiling of bills begins December 1. For several years, members of the Missouri General Assembly have filed approximately 2,000 bills by the filing deadline the beginning of March.
Below are legislative tracking lists on various health policy topics. You can subscribe to individual lists or to the main list with all topics.
- MFH Tracked Bills (main list)
- Behavioral Health
- Equitable Systems and Health Landscape
- Firearms
- Food Insecurity
- Infant & Child Health
- Social Determinants of Health
- Women’s Health
Missouri General Assembly Resources
The Missouri House main webpage includes 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.
Livestreams of Missouri Senate floor debate audio can be found here. Archived Senate floor debate audio can be found here. Committee hearings in the Senate are currently audio livestreamed, but not archived.
Social media can also be a useful tool to track legislative activity.
All of MFH’s informational tools to help community health organizations better understand the legislative process are also available to any Missouri community partner.
- Critical Dates for the Legislative Process
- Missouri State Elected Officials Roster
- Missouri Senate Roster
- Missouri House of Representatives Roster
- How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Missouri Experience
- Glossary of Legislative Terms
U.S. Congress
The 118th Congress (2023-2024) convenes on Tuesday, January 3, at noon. Congress conducts its business during a two-year legislative session with recesses for in-district activity. However, each year, Congress must pass the federal fiscal year appropriation 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. The federal fiscal year is October 1 – September 30.
Health-Related Legislation Filed by the 118th U.S. Congress (2023-2024)
Below is a legislative tracking list on various federal health policy topics. You can subscribe to the list.
In addition to federal updates contained in the biweekly emails during Missouri legislative session, MFH shares periodic email updates regarding federal legislative activity during the remainder of the year. Subscribe by filling out our mailing list form and checking the “Legislative Updates” box. These emails provide further information regarding specific legislation, presidential action, and appropriations. If you have questions about this resource or any filed legislation, please contact Jennifer Carter Dochler, Director of Government Affairs, for details.
U.S. Congress Resources
Congress livestreams and video archives the House and Senate committee hearings and floor debates.
Social media can also be a useful tool to track legislative activity.
Get in Touch
Reach out to one of our Policy contacts for more information.
