Missouri budget heading to conference after Senate, House approve different versions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri House began voting Wednesday morning on budget bills approved by the Senate -- a step in hammering out a compromise version between the two chambers.

The Senate approved the state's 13 budget bills in a late-night session Tuesday. The House rejected those bills on Tuesday. With differences between the two versions, the budget discussions will head to a conference committee.

All spending bills have to be approved by May 9.

The Senate's budget for K-12 education would spend about $300 million more than the House budget, which was close to Gov. Mike Kehoe's recommendations. The Senate budget is about $50 million more than the one the House approved.

The Senate was scheduled to reconvene at noon Wednesday after the late session. Bills still remaining on the Senate's calendar include child care tax credits, public school open enrollment and an anti-DEI measure.