MISSOURI STATE LAWS
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: House Bill 567
Official Title: An Act to Modify Minimum Wage and Related Provisions
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
KCTV5 reporting on Missouri minimum wage increase effective Jan. 1, 2026
Sun Times News summary of Missouri laws effective Jan. 1, 2026
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Raises Missouri’s statewide minimum wage to $15 per hour beginning January 1, 2026.
Cost to taxpayers or employers:Increases payroll costs for employers paying minimum wage. No new state tax is specified in public records.
Who it affects: Minimum wage workers and employers statewide in Missouri.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Passed by the Missouri Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Some business groups raised concerns about increased labor costs and potential price increases.
✅ PROS
• Raises wages for low-income workers
• Applies statewide
• Provides predictable wage standard
❌ CONS
• Higher payroll costs for employers
• Potential price increases for consumers
• Possible impact on hiring in small businesses
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Missouri’s minimum wage increases to $15 per hour in 2026. Employers must comply starting January 1.
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: House Bill 754
Official Title: An Act Concerning Income Tax Subtractions and Other Tax Code Changes
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
Sun Times News summary of Missouri tax code changes effective Jan. 1, 2026
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Expands certain income tax subtractions, allowing qualifying taxpayers to reduce taxable income under updated state tax provisions.
Cost to taxpayers or employers: Reduces taxable income for eligible individuals. Specific fiscal impact amounts are NOT SPECIFIED IN PUBLIC RECORDS.
Who it affects: Missouri taxpayers eligible for the updated subtractions.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Missouri Legislature; signed by the Governor.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Fiscal policy debates focused on state revenue impacts.
✅ PROS
• May reduce taxable income for qualifying residents
• Updates state tax structure
• Applies statewide
❌ CONS
• Potential reduction in state revenue
• Complexity in tax filing updates
• Benefits limited to qualifying income categories
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Missouri expands certain income tax subtractions in 2026. Eligible taxpayers may see reduced taxable income.
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: House Bill 1041
Official Title: An Act to Amend Fees and Inspection Requirements for Beer and Malt Liquor
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
Sun Times News summary of Missouri beer and malt liquor law changes effective Jan. 1, 2026
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Updates fees and inspection requirements related to beer and malt liquor production and distribution.
Cost to taxpayers or employers: Adjusts regulatory fees for businesses in the beer and malt beverage industry. Exact amounts are NOT SPECIFIED IN PUBLIC RECORDS.
Who it affects: Breweries, distributors, and retailers operating in Missouri.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Missouri Legislature; signed by the Governor.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Industry stakeholders raised questions about compliance costs.
✅ PROS
• Updates regulatory framework
• Clarifies inspection requirements
• Applies statewide
❌ CONS
• Possible increased compliance costs
• Administrative adjustments required
• May affect smaller breweries more heavily
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Missouri updates beer and malt liquor fees and inspections starting in 2026. Alcohol producers and distributors must follow the revised rules.
LAW #1: SB 121 — COUNTY OPTION FOR “RIGHT-TO-WORK” LAWS
Law / Bill: Senate Bill 121 (Missouri, 2025) (Missouri Senate)
Official Title: An act that prohibits employers from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming members of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. (Missouri Senate)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Missouri Senate)
What It Does: Allows counties in Missouri to decide whether they want “right-to-work” protections in place. In those counties, workers can’t be forced (as a requirement of employment) to join a union or pay union dues/fees. (Missouri Senate) Violations are class C misdemeanors; people harmed by violations (or threatened) can seek injunctions and damages. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General enforce it. (Missouri Senate)
Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget: Low to moderate: administrative costs for enforcement (Attorney General, County Prosecutors). (Missouri Senate) Possibly fewer costs related to union negotiations / dues collection where counties adopt right-to-work.
Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: Employees in counties that choose right-to-work: they can decline union membership and dues.
Affects: Unions may lose dues/revenue; some workers may have less collective bargaining strength.
Counties: must choose whether to adopt, and then manage local implications.
Who Sponsored / Initiated It: Missouri Legislature (SB 121) passed in the 2025 session. (Missouri Senate)
Who Opposed / Concerns Raised: Unions / labor rights groups likely opposed, concerned about weakening unions, worker protections.
Some may say that forcing counties to decide creates patchwork of protections across the state.
✅ PROS
Gives workers more choice about union membership and dues.
Potentially attracts employers who prefer right-to-work environments.
❌ CONS
Could weaken labor unions and bargaining power for employees.
Might reduce wages or benefits in some workforces.
Creates inconsistent rights among counties.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
SB 121 gives Missouri counties the power to adopt right-to-work protections, letting workers opt out of mandatory union membership and dues in those counties — more freedom for some, but potential weakening of unions and worker bargaining.
LAW #2: HB 567 — REPEAL OF PAID SICK LEAVE MANDATE & ENDING FUTURE MINIMUM WAGE CPI-TIED INCREASES
Law / Bill: House Bill 567 (Missouri, 2025) (Ogletree)
Official Title: Legislation repealing the earned paid sick time statute (passed under Proposition A) and eliminating future minimum wage increases tied to inflation (CPI) as mandated by that proposition. (Ogletree)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Ogletree)
What It Does: Removes the legal requirement for employers to provide paid sick leave that had been established via voter-approved Proposition A. (Ogletree) Also eliminates future automatic minimum wage increases based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The $15 minimum wage remains, but wage increases won’t adjust with inflation after this repeal. (Missouri Chamber)
Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget: Likely savings for businesses (less mandated sick leave, predictable wage costs). (Missouri Chamber) Minimal direct state cost (this is a removal of mandate, not a spending program).
Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: Employers who found the paid sick leave and inflation-tied wage increases financially burdensome.
Affects: Workers who rely on paid sick leave and those expecting wage growth via CPI adjustments.
Who Sponsored / Initiated It: Missouri Legislature; HB 567 was a top priority for business groups / chamber of commerce. (Missouri Chamber)
Who Opposed / Concerns Raised: Employee rights advocates: argued that repealing sick time harms workers’ health, job security. Critics say workers lose protections voters approved.
✅ PROS:
More stable, predictable costs for employers.
Reduces regulatory burden.
Some see it as restoring legislative control over wage mandates rather than inflation index formulas.
❌ CONS:
Workers lose legally required paid sick leave; no protection if sick.
Wage stagnation risk if inflation rises but wages don’t follow.
May reduce morale or increase turnover in sectors with high sick leave need.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
HB 567 strips away Missouri’s mandatory paid sick leave and stops future wage hikes tied to inflation, effective August 28, 2025 — easing costs for employers, but reducing safeguards and income growth for workers.
LAW #3: SB 150 — ADULT HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ADJUSTMENTS
Law / Bill: SB 150 (Missouri, 2025) (Missouri Senate)
Official Title: Act that “...creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to workforce development initiatives” including lowering the age required to enroll in adult high school from 21 to 18 years old. (Missouri Senate)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Missouri Senate)
What It Does: Lowers the minimum age for adult high school enrollment from 21 to 18. (Missouri Senate) Also requires adult high schools to offer job placement services, and sets rules so students transferring from local education agencies won’t be counted as drop-outs. (Missouri Senate)
Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget: Some cost for education agencies/schools to provide job-placement services and adjust enrollment policies. (Missouri Senate) Moderate cost for outreach and administrative change.
Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: 18- to 20-year-olds who couldn’t access adult high school before. Gives them chance to catch up on GED-style credentials and job placement.
Affects: Adult high schools (must meet new standards); public school systems (transfer students are no longer “drop-outs”).
Who Sponsored / Initiated It: Missouri Legislature as part of workforce development / education reform bills. (Missouri Senate)
Who Opposed / Concerns Raised: Some may worry about the readiness of students younger than 21 for adult high school environments. Funding / staffing burdens for adult education providers.
✅ PROS
More inclusive: helps younger adults who may have dropped out or haven’t finished high school.
Job placement adds practical support, not just coursework.
Reduces “dropout” stigma for students who transfer.
❌ CONS
Funding and resource demands for adult education programs.
Possible challenges in serving a more diverse age group.
Implementation delays could undercut benefits.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
SB 150 lowers adult high school eligibility to age 18 in Missouri and adds job placement support — offering more paths forward for younger adults, but needing investment and management to succeed.
LAW #4: SB 4 — ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION LAW
Law / Bill: Senate Bill 4 (Missouri, 2025) (Stateside)
Official Title: A law to modernize Missouri’s energy infrastructure, support long-term economic growth, improve reliability, reduce dependence on out-of-state/foreign energy, and maintain affordability. (Stateside)
Effective: Signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe on April 9, 2025. (Stateside)
What It Does: Upgrades energy infrastructure in Missouri: likely includes incentives, regulatory reforms, grid modernization, perhaps support for renewables and reducing transmission bottlenecks. (Stateside) Aims to make energy supply more reliable, reduce risk of outages, and reduce reliance on imported energy. (Stateside)
Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget: Significant investment likely required in infrastructure (grids, utilities). Possible public/private partnerships; cost spread over time.
Who It Helps / Affects: Utility companies, energy producers, grid operators (they implement upgrades). Consumers (residents, businesses) who benefit from more stable energy supply. Industries sensitive to energy costs / reliability.
Who Sponsored / Initiated It: Missouri Legislature; supported by Gov. Kehoe and pro-business stakeholders. (Stateside)
Who Opposed / Concerns Raised: Concerns may come from rate payers if costs are passed through. Utility regulation / oversight concerns: fairness, environmental impact.
✅ PROS
Improves energy reliability, long-term cost savings by preventing outages or inefficiencies.
Strengthens economic competitiveness (businesses need stable power).
Could reduce environmental impacts if renewables or efficient tech included.
❌ CONS
Upfront costs are high.
Possible rate increases for consumers during transition.
Regulatory/implementation risk: delayed or partial fulfillment could undermine goals.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
SB 4 pushes Missouri forward with energy infrastructure upgrades as of April 2025 — aiming for more reliability and self-sufficiency, but asking consumers and stakeholders to invest in the transition.