Missouri Senate moves forward with budget bills

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Senate moved forward with house budget bills on Wednesday.

After a roughly two-hour debate, senators voted 20-13 in favor of House Bill 2002, which relates to education funding within the state. Finalized general revenue money comes in around $4.7 billion, just fewer than $1.5 billion from federal and about $2.2 billion from “other.”

The education budget bill also met heavy debate in the Missouri House earlier in the day.

Debate began at 3:25 p.m. on the higher education bill, and wasn’t resolved until after a recess and a vote around 5:25 p.m. That bill passed in a landslide 28-5 favor.

The higher education bill includes $1.2 billion in general revenue, about $62 million from federal and $130 million “other.” The University of Missouri is receiving around $247 million from the general revenue fund and $46 million from the lottery proceeds.

Lincoln University is receiving nearly $22 million from general revenue and $1.8 million in lottery proceeds.

The public safety spending bill quickly passed with a 32-1 vote, with $11.1 million of general revenue going to the National Guard and $172.2 million of general revenue going to the Department of Public Safety. Missouri Task Force 1 is expected to receive $400,000.

The Department of Corrections is expected to receive $967.6 million from general revenue, with Jefferson City Correctional Center getting $25.5 million and Algoa Correctional Center obtaining $14.2 million. That vote passed 31-2.

House Bill 2010, which sees funding for the Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and Senior Services and Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee, was passed 27-5. The DMH is getting about $1.7 billion in general revenue, while the DHSS is getting about $614 million from general revenue.

State-operated inpatient psychiatric hospitals and treatment facilities, which includes a number of facilities including Fulton State Hospital, is expected to receive $203 million from general revenue.