JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) - Lawmakers in Missouri are taking a break as we reach the official halfway point of the legislative session. While some say it’s been a productive year already, others feel the state is taking steps backward.

Lawmakers are currently on spring break and will return to work one week from Monday.

Then they have until May 16 to pass bills. Tax cuts are sure to be a popular topic when lawmakers return, as several bills are already getting close to the governor’s desk.

One of the priorities set by the majority party at the beginning of the year is tax cuts. Although nothing is at the finish line just yet -- a bill that would eliminate capital gains taxes is close. That would allow people to keep all the money they earn from selling an asset like a car or property.

Other bills advancing in the legislature would cut taxes on personal property and income. Under one proposal, the revenue from income tax would be replaced with sales taxes on services that are not currently taxed, such as haircuts or real estate transactions. Income tax makes up more than half of Missouri’s general revenue. If this bill passes through the House and Senate, it would still have to be approved by Missouri voters before going into effect.

General revenue is the money left to be spent, there is more money that’s already been allocated to specific state departments. About 60 percent of Missouri’s general revenue comes from income taxes.

“Though we can’t do much about the inflation people are feeling, I think letting people keep more money in their pockets is the right thing to do,” said Missouri House Speaker Rep. Jon Patterson.

The state’s budget is already shrinking, and the Missouri Budget Project said it’s due to previous cuts to income taxes. Missouri’s budget analysts are predicting $13.35 billion in general revenue for the fiscal year 2025 state budget. That’s a 0.6% decline from last year’s general revenue. General revenue is the money left to be spent, there is more money that’s already been allocated to specific state departments.

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 is about $53.7 billion dollars, which is about $500 million more than last year’s budget. Kehoe left $1.5 billion unspent in his budget plan.

“That plan will take time to implement, and I’ve said all along the income tax plan won’t be like a light switch, it won’t just happen overnight,” Kehoe said in a one-on-one interview with our Missouri Capitol Bureau.

Democratic Rep. Marlon Anderson said the tax cuts moving forward will not help the average Missourian. With a super minority, Democrats in Jefferson City are not seeing many of their priorities make progress.

“We’re steadily making tax cuts for billionaires and corporations and we’re disregarding the working class families,” said Anderson, the assistant minority floor leader.

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