Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 20, 2026
Friday, February 20, 2026
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 20, 2026
Fight for Affordability
Affordability continues to be the biggest issue a majority of working families are facing, here in southeast Kansas City and across the state. I am thankful the price of eggs and fuel has fallen, but that doesn’t compensate for higher electric bills, housing and other essential items. I believe exempting food and infant care supplies from sales tax is a first step forward to making life more affordable.
The two bills in play that will bring down the costs on essential items for Missouri families are Senate Bill 872 and Senate Bill 1017. The first, which exempts baby bottles, wipes, breast pump supplies and other items from sales tax, passed out of committee in January. I hope it appears on the Senate perfection calendar soon. The food sales tax exemption, SB 1017, was heard on Jan. 28, but has not been voted out of committee yet.
Homestead Exemption Increase Sent to the House
My proposal to increase the homestead exemption, which was combined with Senate Bill 835 and discussed on the Senate floor at length on Feb. 18, is heading to the Missouri House of Representatives. The bill also exempts certain household items, such as wedding rings and other jewelry, motor vehicles and motor homes in bankruptcy proceedings. Raising the current homestead exemption from $15,000 to $40,000 and adjusting it according to the consumer price index could help more people stay in their homes and keep valuables when they are faced with filing bankruptcy.
Supporting Agriculture Education
My Saline County roots in farming have made me a lifelong champion for agriculture education, especially for urban students who may lack access to farms and gardening in their communities. I was proud to advance Senate Bill 1383 on Feb. 17 by presenting it to the Senate Education Committee. Currently, an agriculture education pilot program is being implemented in certain elementary schools across the state. Under SB 1383, this program will be made available to all elementary schools who choose to offer it during the 2027-28 school year. Agriculture is the backbone of Missouri’s economy, so it is imperative to give all students exposure to where and how our food is sourced, and to introduce them to the job opportunities within the industry. This bill has strong support from state agricultural associations, demonstrating the importance of expanding this amazing program so more students can be educated about agriculture. You may watch my presentation and learn the other merits of SB 1383 here.
Balancing the Budget
The Senate Appropriations Committee I serve on has been hearing budget requests from each of Missouri’s state departments for the past several weeks. Department representatives from Public Safety, Commerce and Insurance and the attorney general’s office laid out their plans this week. According to Missouri’s Consensus Revenue Estimate, the budget will be quite challenging to balance for fiscal year 2027, considering the 2.1% decrease in general revenue collections. As always, I will be a fierce competitor for funding for our community and safety net programs while we craft next year’s operating budget.
Capitol Visitors
This week, it was my great honor to introduce some very important guests to my colleagues. Below, the other Kansas City area senators and I joined Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball League and soon to debut hotel. We also welcomed Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw and Councilman Darrell Curls.
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!
1890 National Scholars Program Accepting Applications
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at the Congressionally created 1890 land-grant universities to pursue careers in food, agriculture, and natural resource sciences. This includes Lincoln University in Jefferson City. The application deadline is March 8, 2026. Click here for more information.
Women Legislators of Missouri Scholarship
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships
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. | Referred to Education | |
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. | Referred to 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. | Hearing conducted 2.17 | |
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. | Referred to 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 | |
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!