Legislative Advocacy 2026
Legislative Advocacy 2026
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Governor Mike Kehoe has proposed reducing the council's budget from $10.1 million to roughly $6.4–$6.9 million. These proposed cuts are currently in the legislative process, with arts advocates actively lobbying against them as of early February 2026.
Key details:
Proposed Reduction: The budget proposal aims to cut arts funding by over 36% to 40% for the upcoming fiscal year.
Impact: If finalized, these cuts would significantly reduce grants to local arts organizations and communities across Missouri.
Process: The proposed cuts are part of the FY2027 budget planning (which begins July 1, 2026), following a 25% reduction in the previous year.
Advocacy: Organizations like MAAE and Missouri Citizens for the Arts are advocating for the restoration of these funds.
MSHSAA is 100 years old! On February 4, 1926, the superintendent's voted unanimously to approve the constitution, and MSHSAA was born. For a century, member schools have governed the association. If the 724 member schools want to retain their ownership and governance of their association, they must engage.
PLEASE VIEW THIS IMPORTANT VIDEO MESSAGE FROM DR. JENNIFER RUKSTAD
MSHSAA will be sending frequent updates and requests as the process continues to unfold. For the time being, the message is simple: contact your lawmakers and oppose Senate Bill 863.
At this time, MSHSAA's focus is the Missouri Senate. You can find your senator(s) by clicking this spreadsheet and looking up your school district under the “County Code & Senators” tab.
Adopt-A-Legislator Program
Sign up to help us educate elected officials about the importance of the arts in Missouri! Please "adopt-a-legislator" by signing up to be in touch with a state representative or senator throughout the year and after action alerts.
Courtesy of Missouri Citizens of the Arts
Support Legislation Shaping Access to Music Education
This March, in celebration of Music In Our Schools Month®, we’re calling on music education advocates nationwide to take action in support of federal legislation that strengthens students’ access to high-quality school music programs.
Together, we can advance policies that protect and expand music education opportunities for students nationwide. Two key pieces of legislation need your support this month: the Guarantee Access to Arts and Music Education (GAAME) Act of 2026 and the Music In Our Schools Month Resolution of 2026.
Reintroduced this Congress by Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) and Senator Cory Booker (NJ), the GAAME Act of 2026 incentivizes the use of existing federal Title I funds to expand access to music and arts education for disadvantaged and low-income students, delivered by certified educators. The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary School Act (ESEA) to encourage Title I funds to be used to:
Increase the number of certified music and arts educators
Purchase instruments, sheet music, and other equipment
Provide professional development for certified music and arts educators
Expand access to sequential, standards-based music and arts programs
Also reintroduced by Representative Velázquez and Senator Booker, the Music In Our Schools Month Resolution of 2026 affirms the importance of music education, highlights its wide-ranging benefits for students, and recognizes the dedication of music educators nationwide.
The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and many members of our Music Education Policy Roundtable proudly support both measures and urge advocates across the country to contact their members of Congress to request co-sponsorship.
A template message is included here to help you get started, but your voice matters most. Personalize your message and share why music education is important to you and your community.
Contact advocacy@nafme.org with any questions.
Thank you for Supporting Federal Funding Impacting Arts Education
FY 2026
Congress Protects Federal Arts Funding
From Americans for the Arts
We have news: The Senate recently passed the minibus bill protecting $207 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
This funding held strong even with another zero-out request in the President’s budget. In a political climate where proposals to eliminate the NEA entirely were on the table, overwhelming bipartisan support sends a clear message: the arts are essential, not optional.
This Victory is Yours: 18,000 messages. Strategic fly-ins. Calls, emails, and Capitol Hill meetings throughout the appropriations process. Your voices made the difference. You can see how other arts and culture programs were funded in the Interior appropriations package.
What’s Next: This funding matters, but our work continues. The State of the Union is scheduled for February 26th, which means the President’s FY 2027 budget will be released shortly after. We’re already engaging with Members of Congress on next year’s appropriations—and we’ll need your voices again. Stay connected with AFTA for timely updates on how to stay involved in the FY27 cycle.
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education Legislative Watch Team meets weekly during the legislative session and carefully reviews legislation filed to determine the potential impact on arts education, arts educators and students of the arts. Find below the legislation under review within the current year.
Bill #
click link for bill textSponsor
Description
MAAE Response
Modifies provisions relating to the allocation of certain nonresident income tax revenues .
Read Second Time (H) House • Mar 02, 2026
SUPPORT
MAAE has sent a request.
We are asking the Speaker of the House to refer the bill to a committee for a hearing as soon as possible.
Please contact Missouri House Speaker: Johnathon Patterson.
Click here for more.
Rep. Renee Reuter filed House Bill 3518, which would change how the non-resident professional athlete and entertainers’ tax is earmarked for the arts council and their cultural partners. The bill states the Department of Revenue still collects the funds but instead of it going into General Revenue (where the legislature diverts it to other causes in the budget), it would go directly into a fund in the State Treasurer’s office to be dispersed to the five cultural partners.
The House perfected HB 1757 (Brenda Shields) on February 3. The bill would establish procedures for school districts to evaluate for gifted students. The bill outlines screening requirements and requires review by trained staff members.
SUPPORT
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education believes well-developed criteria and guidelines for identifying and teaching these students are essential.
This bill establishes the "Missouri Music Professional Development Pilot Program" in the Office of Quality Schools within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year the Department will work with a statewide association of Missouri music educators to provide five workshops with content-specific professional development for music educators.
SUPPORT
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education supports this bill as a starting point for professional development for Art Educators.
The bill would adopt the "Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact". Thirteen states have already adopted the compact. Missouri already has broad teacher certification reciprocity with other states. Adopting the compact would apply additional baseline standards for certification reciprocity with fellow compact states. Eligible licenses, other than career and technical licenses, must require at least a bachelor's degree and the completion of a state-approved program for teacher licensure.
SUPPORT
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education supports this bill in order to provide quality educators for Missouri students.
HB 2710 (Dane Diehl) to create an A-F school report card for public schools based primarily on state-mandated, standardized tests.
CONCERNED
MAAE is concerned that this measure would undermine local control.
The Senate debated SS/SB 863 (Jason Bean) on February 3rd. The bill would require the Governor to appoint a board of directors to oversee any statewide activities association that facilitates interscholastic activities for secondary school students. The Senate Substitute version clarifies that the bill affects an organization that oversees athletics while excluding any similar organization that does not regulate athletics.
Click for more
The bill allows the new board to hire an executive director to oversee operations of the association and requires the association to provide financial statements to the new board three times per year. The bill also requires public school dues to be filtered through the newly established board and authorizes the board to handle appeals of decisions or rulings made by the activities association.
CONCERNED
MAAE believes that educators should continue to establish the policies and procedures that govern the activities of the thousands of Missouri students who participate in school activities.
SB 906 (David Gregory) and SB 971 (Curtis Trent) both create public school open enrollment.
CONCERNED
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) has concerns that SB 971 and SB 906 regarding open enrollment could have a negative economic impact for many of Missouri’s smaller or rural schools.
Click for more.
Current inter-district cooperation allows students to become involved in programming opportunities at public schools within their region. MAAE also has concerns about the long-term effect which may have a negative impact on education in general and arts.
The bill would create an A-F school report card for public schools based primarily on state-mandated, standardized tests.
CONCERNED
The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) has concerns that this bill would undermine local control.,
Other bills we are monitoring include
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