Missouri State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) introduced 16 budget bills on the floor of the Missouri Senate yesterday as part of the FY2027 budget process. This included SB 1753 the Departments of Revenue and Transportation.
Transit funding is included in Section 4.510 for the restoration of $5 million from General Revenue. The current funding bill, HB4, includes the Governor’s recommendation to zero out General Revenue for public transit, which would have left a mere g $1.7 million to be distributed to 30 transit providers across the state. If passed the state would receive more than $6.7 million in transit funding.
“While we understand the introduction of this bill does not mean it will be heard by a Senate Committee any time soon, it does demonstrate an understanding that transit is a critical service in this state and getting people to work is a workforce expenditure which must be included,” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of the Missouri Public Transit Association. “Transit matters, and this funding is critical to ensuring Missourians don’t get left behind,”
Link to bill: https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/BillText.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=6477162