Session Overview

The Missouri State Conference NAACP lobbying and policy team tracked a substantial body of legislation during the 2026 session of the Missouri General Assembly. This report highlights key bills from the 2026 legislative session covering criminal justice reform, voting rights, economic equity, education, health care, and civil rights.

Overall, the session produced mixed results. We had some major wins in the criminal justice reform space; however, we saw a couple of major losses. This includes HJR173 which puts the measure to replace income taxes with sales taxes on the ballot. We also saw several bills passed that directly attack immigrants and international law. Finally, we saw the legislature once again include Unconstitutional language in the budget to prohibit the use of funds for DEI programs. This year it was limited to just HB2003, higher education, rather than being sprinkled in several bills. We will watch for opportunities to challenge this language or partner with other groups challenging similar language.

Our wins include voting rights restoration for most people on probation and parole and the “Clean Slate” act. Clean Slate automatically expunges criminal records for many people. It prevents a person from having to file for expungement and go to the time and expense of requesting their record be cleared from old convictions. Current law restores voting rights to anyone who has completed their sentence including any probation or parole. Voting rights restoration expands our current re-enfranchisement laws to include people who are still on probation or parole. The bill passed with some unfortunate exceptions added at the last minute, but we believe close to 30,000 people will be able to vote in November who were previously unable to do so.

Bills Tracked by Position

The NAACP tracked a total of approximately 150 bills this session, categorized as follows:

• Support: 33 bills
• Oppose: 62 bills
• Amend (Harmful Provision but Not Harmful Purpose):  31 bills
• Neutral (Monitored for Harmful Amendments): 20 bills
• Total: 150 bills

Bills supported by the NAACP generally fell into categories of criminal justice reform and reentry, voting rights restoration, maternal and reproductive health, corrections oversight, economic equity, and civil rights recognition. Bills opposed by the NAACP largely centered on restrictions to public benefits, anti-immigrant provisions, changes to election law, increased mandatory minimum sentences, DNA collection expansion, and measures perceived as limiting civil liberties and equal protection. A full tracking list is linked below.

Highlights/Lowlights of the Session

Bills that Passed

HB1871 – Voting Rights Restoration – SUPPORT 

Sponsor: Rep. Peggy McGaugh (R)   

Two bills — HB2592 (Rep. Melanie Stinnett, R) and HB2834 (Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D) — both sought to restore voting rights to individuals on probation and parole. The language was passed in HB1871 and is currently waiting for the Governor’s signature. These bills represent a significant priority for the NAACP and reflect growing bipartisan interest in enfranchisement for returning citizens.

HB2366 – Modifies provisions relating to employment of unauthorized aliens

Sponsor: Rep. Jeff Vernetti (R)  Position: Oppose

This bill, which the NAACP opposed, was sent to the Governor late in session. The NAACP has consistently opposed measures that target immigrant workers, recognizing the shared interests between the Black and immigrant communities in the struggle for economic and civil rights.

SB977 – Establishes the 'No Foreign Laws Act'

Sponsor: Sen. Nick Schroer (R)  Position: Oppose

The NAACP opposed this bill, which prohibits the application and enforceability of foreign law in Missouri courts. The NAACP raised concerns that such legislation can be used to target specific religious and ethnic communities and undermine principles of equal justice.

Bills that Failed

Department of Corrections Accountability – SUPPORT

Sponsor: Rep. Bill Allen (R), Rep. Kimberly Ann Collins (D), Sen. Angela Mosley (D)

Three separate bills sought to create oversight mechanisms for the Department of Corrections: HB1616 establishing an Independent Office of Corrections and Transparency, HB2832 creating a Department of Corrections Ombudsman, and SB1509 establishing a State Ombudsman for Inmates in DOC custody. These bills reflect sustained legislative interest in accountability within Missouri’s correctional system, a long-standing NAACP priority. All three received hearings during the session. Unfortunately, none of them made it all the way through the process. We will continue to push for more accountability for the Department of Corrections.

Maternal and Reproductive Health – SUPPORT 

The NAACP supported several bills addressing maternal health disparities, including HB1951, the Missouri Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act (Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D); SB871, modifying the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board (Sen. Barbara Washington, D); and SB1229, expanding health insurance coverage of maternity services (Sen. Barbara Washington, D). These bills address documented racial disparities in maternal outcomes in Missouri.

Anti-Immigrant and Public Benefits Restrictions – OPPOSE 

Several bills the NAACP opposed advanced significantly: HB2366, modifying provisions relating to employment of unauthorized aliens, was sent to the Governor on May 28, 2026; SB1616 (Sen. Rick Brattin, R), restricting public benefits to U.S. citizens, passed the Senate General Laws Committee. The NAACP views these bills as harmful to immigrant communities of color and contrary to the NAACP’s mission of economic equity.

SPEAKS Act – OPPOSE 

HB2682 (Rep. Darin Chappell, R), the SPEAKS Act, which would protect students making derogatory or discriminatory statements on political or ideological grounds, passed the Senate Education Committee. The NAACP strongly opposed this bill as incompatible with safe and inclusive learning environments for Black students and other students of color.

DNA Sample Collection – OPPOSE 

HB2868 (Rep. Cameron Parker, R) and SB1458 (Sen. Nick Schroer, R), both modifying provisions relating to the collection of DNA samples in criminal cases, advanced through their respective chambers. The NAACP opposed both bills based on longstanding concerns about the disproportionate impact of expanded DNA collection on Black Missourians and other communities of color who are overrepresented in the criminal legal system.

Outlook and Priorities for 2027

The 2026 session demonstrated both the persistent barriers to racial equity legislation in the Missouri General Assembly and the growing number of bipartisan allies willing to champion NAACP priorities. Looking ahead to 2027, the Missouri State Conference NAACP will focus on the following:

• Corrections Oversight and Reentry: Continuing to advocate for independent oversight of the Department of Corrections, the Missouri Expungement Fund, and prerelease services for incarcerated individuals.
• Maternal Health Equity: Building broader coalition support for the Missouri Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act and related maternal health measures.
• Opposing Harmful Election Legislation: Monitoring and opposing bills that restrict access to the ballot or weaken voting protections for communities of color.
• Environmental Justice: Continuing to engage on air quality and environmental regulations that disproportionately affect communities of color.

The upcoming elections and ballot measures will have a significant impact on the legislative landscape in 2027. The Missouri State Conference NAACP will continue to build relationships with legislators across party lines, activate our membership, and partner with allied organizations ahead of the next session.

Missouri State Conference NAACP • 2026 Legislative Session Report

Prepared by Jones Advocacy Group