Missouri

Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-01 creating a statewide school accountability A-F grade card, signaling a focus on transparency and accountability in K-12 education outcomes. While specific education spending details were limited in the address summary, the Governor emphasized core functions of government and maintaining fiscal discipline without cutting K-12 foundation formula funding.

Governor Kehoe signed an executive order establishing the Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force but his healthcare focus centered on announcing support for the Rural Health Transformation Program and government efficiency measures including Medicaid reform.

Governor Kehoe proposed phased elimination of Missouri's individual income tax, calling for a ballot measure to let voters decide. He emphasized fiscal discipline with a budget reducing over $600 million from the general revenue core operating budget and previewed broadening the sales tax base to modern services while protecting agriculture, healthcare, and real estate from new sales taxes.

Governor Kehoe highlighted infrastructure as essential to economic development, emphasizing the need for business-ready sites and noting $74 million directed toward water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state. He also announced plans to invest $100 million to supplement road and bridge repair work beyond the current road fund.

Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-01 creating a statewide school accountability A-F grade card and Executive Order 26-03 on government efficiency. His public safety focus centered on maintaining fiscal discipline to support essential services, with specific policy details deferred to legislative proposals.

Governor Kehoe did not make housing a significant focus of his State of the State address.

Governor Kehoe centered his address on fiscal discipline, proposing to reduce more than $600 million from the general revenue core operating budget to address a projected $2 billion future imbalance. He called for a ballot measure to phase out Missouri's individual income tax entirely, arguing the tax code needs modernization. He emphasized that voter approval would be required first and that new revenue from currently untaxed services would replace income tax revenue, with triggered rate reductions as safeguards.

Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-02 demonstrating his administration's commitment to safely and effectively using AI in state government operations. He also signed an executive order establishing an Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force to promote nuclear energy deployment in Missouri, connecting technology and energy policy.

Governor Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-03 creating 'Missouri GREAT' (Government Responsibility, Efficiency, Accountability, and Transformation initiative), and Executive Order 26-02 committing to safe and effective AI use in state government operations. He proposed eliminating Missouri's individual income tax through a phased plan and emphasized reducing more than $600 million from the general revenue core operating budget.

Governor Kehoe's central proposal was eliminating Missouri's individual income tax through a phased, voter-approved plan. He called for a ballot measure this year and previewed modernizing the tax code by taxing services not currently taxed while promising safeguards including triggered rate reductions. He emphasized fiscal discipline, reducing over $600 million from the general revenue budget to address a projected $2 billion imbalance.