Legislative Advocacy 2026
Legislative Advocacy 2026
Embedded Files
Ask the Governor to approve the budget for FY2027
The final budget for FY27 that is being forwarded to Governor Kehoe allocates $675,000 for the Missouri Fine Arts & Scholars Academies at and $7.2 million for the Missouri Arts Council. Although there may be disappointment that the allocation has not returned to the levels considered "core" funding, we wish to underscore the importance of maintaining public funding for these vital segments of Missouri's economy and culture, and ask the Governor the approve the budget.
📞 Call the Gov. Kehoe at: (573) 751-3222
📫 Write using this contact form here.
Be respectful. Be direct. Be clear.
Explain how the arts funding impacts your community - school - business - family.
Tap here for sample letter to send Governor Kehoe
Please add in your own personal experiences in how MAC funding has impacted your community.
Tap here for sample letter to send Governor Kehoe
Please add in your own personal experiences in how MAC funding has impacted your community.
Dear Governor Kehoe:
I am writing to respectfully request you support the $7,214,680.00, that the General Assembly approved for the Missouri Arts Council for Fiscal Year 2027.
Arts education is essential to developing well-rounded students and thriving communities. Funding for the Missouri Arts Council significantly impacts arts education opportunities across Missouri, ensuring our schools can provide quality music, visual arts, theater, media arts, and dance programs. The Missouri Alliance for Arts Education knows that fine arts in our schools foster creativity, critical thinking, and academic achievement—skills that prepare students for success in any career path.
The arts also positively contribute to Missouri’s economy. In FY2025, MAC funding supported over 500 grants that created over 13,356 full and part-time jobs. MAC grantees paid $557 million in salaries, which generated $21 million in state income tax revenues.
As you know, the Missouri Arts Council are one of the five Cultural Partners supported by Missouri’s non-resident professional Athlete and Entertainers’ income tax. That tax generated $40 million dollars last year. According to state statute, MAC is supposed to receive 60% of the revenue collected from the A&E tax.
MAC funds programs in every Missouri Senate and House district. MAC grantees produced over 16,000 events across the state attended by 6.2 million people. The arts clearly improve quality of life in all communities and make Missouri a better place to locate businesses.
Governor, I hope we can count on your continued support of the Arts and Arts Education.
Respectfully,
(Your Name)
Missouri voters will soon have an opportunity to vote on HJR173 approach the statewide vote to amend the Missouri constitution.
"Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to: phase-out the individual income tax based on revenue growth; reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase; modify the sales and use tax to eliminate income tax and reduce local taxes; and protect local funding for public schools and other purposes?"
MAAE has several concerns. The resolution:
Provides no plans for replacing lost revenue which provides funding support for schools, roads, health and human services Missouri needs to remain strong?
This loss in funding support for education may have a negative impact on arts programs in Missouri schools.
Will likely result in significant rise in sales taxes paid
Dismantles protections for sales tax for real estate and other services
From Americans for the Arts Action Fund:
House Proposes Cuts to Arts Education Funding
Yesterday, the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee, and this included key funding for arts education and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Department of Education’s funding dropped by $8 billion compared to FY2026, falling to $70.7 billion. The bill would negatively impact K-12 education by cutting $2 billion from Title I Grants and completely eliminating Title II Part A funding for educator professional development.
Specifically, the House has included the following appropriations for arts education funding streams:
$0 for the Assistance for Arts Education grant program
$16.53 billion for Title I Part A (funding for education for low income students)
$0 for Title II Part A (funding for professional development for educators, including arts educators)
$1.385 billion for Title IV Part A (funding for student support services and academic enrichment)
$1.33 billion for Title IV Part B (funding for 21st century community learning centers)
You Can Take Action!
This is just one step in the appropriations process and we can make a difference as the Senate considers arts funding. Arts advocates recognize the importance of adequately funding arts education, museums, and libraries. Please join us in telling your Members of Congress to increase funding for arts education and the Institute for Museums and Library Services.
Take action here.
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.
Join us for our FIRST Adopt-A-Legislator Virtual Training!
Thank you for signing up for our Adopt-A-Legislator program and partnering with MCA for our advocacy efforts! We are excited to engage participants in two new ways—a new toolkit and virtual training next Monday, April 20th at 12pm.
Register here for the training!
Check out our NEW Adopt-A-Legislator Toolkit. This includes a guide to the Missouri Legislature, advocacy tips, sample scripts, and social media templates to use!
Join Americans for the Arts and the Arts Action Fund as we kick off the first in a year-long series of free ArtsVote webinars. On April 29, 2026 @ 3:00pm ET, we will host our ArtsVote: Play by the Rules webinar which will educate and empower 501c3 organizations to participate confidently, compliantly, and safely in the election season while protecting their charitable status.
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.
Tap to learn more EMAIL CONGRESS
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
Appropriations Wins for Federal Cultural Agencies!
Congress finalized Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations with important wins for the nation’s cultural agencies and programs. Through passage of three bipartisan appropriations “minibus” packages, lawmakers completed 11 of the 12 annual funding bills for FY26, covering the period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Instead of relying on a year-long Continuing Resolution, Congress enacted full appropriations bills, ensuring stability for federal agencies, updating new funding levels, and preserving pipeline funding for states and communities.
Most notably, the Interior–Environment bill included in Minibus #2 provides $207 million each for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), with no cuts or programmatic changes to either agency. The package passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 397 to 28 before advancing through to the Senate and being signed into law by the President. The strong margin in the House underscores the continued bipartisan support for federal arts and humanities funding, even in a challenging fiscal environment.
These FY26 wins reflect the dedication of bipartisan congressional champions like Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), who worked to protect the NEA and NEH during negotiations. Throughout the appropriations process, offices consistently heard from advocates across the country through meetings, testimony submissions, calls, emails, and Legislative Fly-Ins. That persistent grassroots engagement reinforced the importance of maintaining stable federal cultural funding and helped secure this outcome.
In a year marked by broader debates about federal spending and proposals to eliminate agencies, preserving stable funding for the nation’s cultural agencies is a meaningful victory.
See how your Members of Congress voted:
House: bit.ly/HouseVotes20267
Senate: bit.ly/SenateVotes1192
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.
2026 Mid-Session Missouri Education Legislation Resource Guide
This guide outlines key issues being discussed halfway through the 2026 legislative session and points to resources that educators, district leaders, and community partners can use to stay informed and engaged throughout the remainder of the session.
Bill #
click link for bill textSponsor
Description
MAAE Response
Modifies provisions relating to the allocation of certain nonresident income tax revenues .
Ways and Means Committee below
McGirl, Rep. Mike (R) Chair
Davis, Rep. Michael (R) Vice-Chair Michael.Davis@house.mo.gov
Taylor, Rep. Del (D) Ranking Minority Member
Coleman, Rep. Jeff (R)
Matthiesen, Rep. Mark (R)
Mosley, Rep. Chanel (D)
Self, Rep. Deanna (R)
Strickler, Rep. Kemp (D)
Wright, Rep. Dale (R)
SUPPORT
MAAE is asking you to send a message to the Ways and Means Committee.
Language below
In 1994, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 477, which dedicates income tax collected from non-resident professional athletes and entertainers’ to five Cultural Partners – Missouri Arts Council Trust Fund, Missouri Humanities Council Trust Fund, Missouri State Library Networking Fund, Missouri Public Television Broadcasting Corporation Special Fund, and the Missouri Historic Preservation Revolving Fund. The tax is known as the A&E tax.
According to Statute 143.183, the A&E tax is supposed to be divided as follows:
60% to the Missouri Arts Council
10% to the Missouri Humanities Council
10% to the State Library Fund
10% to Public Television
10% to Historic Preservation
Currently, those funds are not being appropriated as the previous General Assemblies required them to be appropriated, mainly because those funds go into general revenue, like all income tax payments, and then they are subject to appropriation by each General Assembly.
House Bill 3518, introduced by Rep. Renee Reuter, would ensure those funds are being appropriated according to the original state statute passed in 1994, to the five Cultural Partners. Those funds would be deposited directly in the State Treasurers’ office and then appropriated according to statute.
The Cultural Partners have helped Missouri collect these A&E taxes and respectfully request your support in appropriating them appropriately.
We respectfully request that you VOTE YES on HB 3518 and support the Missouri Arts Council and the Cultural Partners.
The value of the arts to stimulate the economy, to improve student learning outcomes, build community and improve the quality of life for Missourians is well documented. We applaud the extension to 2060 for the sunset of this legislation, and recognize the value of dedicated public funding to support art, and human expression. This bill will ensure that Missourians will continue to have access to the arts and arts education.
Sincerely,
MAAE Legislative Watch Committee
Dr. Melissa A. Cooper, Director of Public Policy
advocacy@moaae.org
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.
https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search//mo/legislators/MOL000398
Currently, school districts must ensure that elementary school students participate in an average of 30 minutes of physical
activity a day.
This bill requires that schools ensure that all students in grades K-12 participate in moderate physical activity for a minimum of 60 minutes daily. The bill expands recess to all grade levels and requires at least one 20 minute period.
The bill contains an emergency clause.
Statutes affected:
Introduced (3931H.01): 167.720
OPPOSED
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
ARCHIVED CALLS TO ACTION - 2026 Legislative Session
ARCHIVED CALLS TO ACTION - 2026 Legislative Session
Ask your State Senator to support these funding levels when the full Senate reviews the budget this week! Contact them now!
The Senate Committee on Appropriations began the markup process last Tuesday and completed their work by last Wednesday morning. The Senate recommended the same amount of funding as the House of Representatives for the Missouri Fine Arts & Scholars Academies at $675,000 (which is a $175,000 cut to the core funding of $850,000); and for the Missouri Arts Council at $7.2 million (which is a $2.9 million cut to the core funding of $10.1 million – however, is an increase of $820,000 to the Governor’s recommendation).
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.
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