Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 27, 2026
Friday, February 27, 2026
Senator Barbara Anne Washington’s Legislative Column for Feb. 26, 2026
In Like a Lion
The month of February wrapped up on Thursday in the Missouri Senate, resulting in multiple bills being passed and sent to the Missouri House of Representatives, hundreds of proposals heard in committee and the final day to file legislation for 2026. All told, 975 have been put forth, a record breaker in the Missouri Senate. Prior to 2023, there were rarely more than 700 proposals introduced in any given session. Now, we have twice the amount of bills to deliberate in the same four and a half month time frame. The month of March will certainly come in like a lion in the legislative sphere.
Looking out for Expectant Moms
As a fierce advocate for women, I am always looking for ways to enhance their access to health care and improve their health and socio-economic outcomes. On Feb. 25, I presented Senate Bill 1229 to members of the Insurance and Banking Committee and explained the importance of expanding health care coverage for maternity services to include those performed by a midwife or doula. My legislation requires insurance coverage for midwife services and develops a framework for doulas to be reimbursed. Studies have shown that women who use these alternative care professionals have less C-sections, fewer pre-term births and higher breastfeeding rates. Missouri’s maternal mortality rates remain high, and I believe adding these alternative providers to health care plans will help move the scale.
Outlawing Masked Intimidation
On Feb. 25, a colleague from the majority caucus and I presented bills to create the offense of masked intimidation. If a person harasses, intimidates or threatens any other person, or group of people, while hiding or concealing their face, and they have the intention of causing fear or interfering with their physical safety, they could be charged. Senate Bill 1043 states that a person who commits the offense of masked intimidation will be charged with a class E felony for the first offense and face stiffer penalties for further offenses.
Unfortunately, the current law doesn’t address those who shield their identity or use masks as a weapon of interference against the rights of others. My legislation has exceptions for using masks for religious, health, safety, climate-related and other legitimate purposes. I believe people who hide behind masks when they commit heinous crimes use these props as a form of psychological abuse. My goal with SB 1043 is to reduce these incidences and dissuade masked intimidation by defining the act in statute and setting stricter penalties.
Agriculture Education Bill Passes
I am pleased to report Senate Bill 1383 was passed by the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 24, moving it one step closer to floor discussion. The current pilot program for agriculture education is only available in select schools. If SB 1383 passes, this program will be available to all elementary schools who choose to offer it during the 2027-28 school year. This program will be monitored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in collaboration with local school boards and Missouri agricultural commodity groups. Missouri’s economy depends on agricultural, so exposing more children to the food industry will benefit us all.
Capitol Visitors
This week, I was honored to introduce a sorority sister and fellow attorney, Carla Fields, to my colleagues. I also welcomed Dr. Dennis L. Carpenter, superintendent of the Hickman Mills School District and students, Zuhair Abuasbah, Luis Salazar, and Paytin Adams, who were made honorary pages.
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!