Legislative Priorities

The Missouri Chamber Federation is a partnership created to unify local and state chamber advocacy efforts in the state Capitol. The federation is a network of Missouri’s strongest chambers of commerce providing grassroots support on issues that align with local priorities. Below are the federation’slegislative priorities for 2027.

• Child care is a pivotal statewide workforce and economic development issue. Parents’ entry or re-entry into the workforce is often hindered by child care provider shortages. Missouri should increase the accessibility, availability, and affordability of high-quality child care. We support onsite child care incentives to help employers expand access to child care for working families.

• We support a broad-spectrum approach to upskilling and right-skilling our state’s workforce to address labor shortages and help businesses’ growth. This includes adequately funding our existing workforce development programs, like Fast Track, MoExcels Workforce Initiative, Credential Training Program, and other job training programs. It is also important to advocate for new policies that are responsive and flexible to businesses’ needs to recruit and retain skilled workers today while anticipating employment needs of the future. Additionally, we support increasing resources for programs that assist justice-involved individuals who are seeking to re-enter the workforce.

• We strongly support a system of free enterprise and oppose efforts by the government to intervene in business decisions. The government should let employers decide how to run their own workplace(s). We oppose out-of-state interests and anti-business entities who use the ballot initiative process to create burdensome business mandates.

• A strong education system is key to Missouri’s long-term economic strength and competitiveness. We support efforts to maintain or expand funding for all levels of education. This includes early childhood education, K-12, higher education, apprenticeships, and short-term post-secondary training programs.

• Economic development drives growth, creates new job opportunities, and facilitates an improved quality of life. Missouri should embrace an all-of-the-above approach in utilizing and offering innovative economic development tools and tax incentives to help its local communities and businesses thrive. We advocate for less burdensome regulations, easy-to-understand agency resources, fiscal responsibility from the state government, and similar initiatives to help retain and support existing businesses. We support continued statewide efforts to improve access to broadband, as it is vital for Missouri’s economic growth.

• Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Therefore, Missouri should increase access to funding and other resources for small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs to help them confidently start, grow, or expand. This includes reforms to the MOBUCK$ program to improve access to affordable capital for small businesses. Local communities should have a voice when new statewide regulations are being considered, as the interests of Missouri’s diverse small business community are a priority for localities.

• Business owners recognize that accessible and affordable housing options and public transit resources are crucial to attracting and retaining a skilled workforce. We support growing access to affordable housing and transit options through state and federal incentive programs for the creation of affordable housing and transit. We also support a statewide workforce housing coalition that brings together employers, local chambers, community leaders, and housing partners to advance policies that expand housing options for Missouri’s workforce.

• State investment in tourism supports economic growth, job creation, and tax revenue. We support increasing funding of tourism promotion and other tourism-related programs, as tourism positively impacts many communities and has a positive ripple effect across the entire state.

• We support comprehensive efforts to maximize Missouri’s position as an emerging technology and advanced manufacturing hub. By enacting innovative policies, increasing investment, and training our workforce for high-tech jobs, our state can grow its global tech, innovation, and manufacturing footprint. We support policies that encourage responsible investment in the infrastructure needed to strengthen Missouri’s technology economy. Supporting a friendly regulatory environment for e-commerce is another essential part of creating a thriving technology environment in Missouri as the world moves into the digital age. Supporting Missouri businesses’ ability to buy, sell, or trade goods and services efficiently, free of burdensome government regulations, not only supports growth of Missouri’s business community, but also demonstrates the state’s commitment to embracing the digital age and leading from the front as a technology hub. We also support fostering an AI-friendly and automation-friendly regulatory environment in the state to help fill in the gaps where skilled workers may be scarce.

• We support civil justice reforms that discourage frivolous lawsuits which burden Missouri’s judicial system and harm the state’s business climate. We advocate for legislation that protects businesses from costly, unfounded legal claims by strengthening standards for filing civil suits and we support policies that reduce legal uncertainty and ensure fair, efficient resolution of disputes to foster a more competitive economic environment.

• Population growth is essential to Missouri’s long-term economic strength and the vitality of local communities. We support coordinated statewide and local efforts to attract new residents, retain existing residents and graduates, and encourage former Missourians to return. We support policies that make our communities attractive places to live, work, and raise a family while helping employers meet their workforce needs.