Did Missouri cut developmental disability funding?

No. Gov. Mike Kehoe had proposed an $80.7 million cut in January, but lawmakers from both parties objected and, after a large Capitol rally, restored the money. Disability services were spared when he signed the $50.7 billion fiscal 2027 budget on June 30, 2026.

Missouri keeps $80.7M for disability services in FY2027

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the state's $50.7 billion fiscal 2027 budget on June 30, 2026, keeping $80.7 million for adults with developmental disabilities that he had proposed cutting.

Missouri · State budgets · Rates · Advocacy · Policy

Katherine Dowler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Direct Support News desk · June 30, 2026 · Updated September 26, 2026 · 1 min read

Missouri's fiscal 2027 budget keeps $80.7 million for adults with developmental disabilities that Gov. Mike Kehoe had proposed cutting in January. Kehoe signed the $50.7 billion budget on June 30, 2026, the Missouri Independent reported.

How the funding was restored

Kehoe's original plan called for an $80.7 million cut to those services. Lawmakers from both parties objected, and after a massive turnout at a Capitol rally, the legislature restored the money. The governor vetoed about $53 million from the budget and froze $441 million in other spending, including dozens of lawmaker earmarks, as state revenue lagged projections. Disability services were among the items spared. Kehoe warned that state spending is outpacing revenue. The new budget covers a $2.3 billion general revenue deficit by drawing on surpluses built up from 2021 to 2023, and closing the remaining gap is left to future sessions.

Why this matters for providers and DSPs

Missouri providers avoided rate cuts this year, showing that organized advocacy by families, self-advocates and agencies can change a budget. But the state's shrinking surplus means the fight may return next year.

Common questions

Did Missouri cut developmental disability funding?: No. Gov. Mike Kehoe had proposed an $80.7 million cut in January, but lawmakers from both parties objected and, after a large Capitol rally, restored the money. Disability services were spared when he signed the $50.7 billion fiscal 2027 budget on June 30, 2026.
What did the governor cut instead?: He vetoed about $53 million and froze $441 million in other spending, including dozens of lawmaker earmarks, as state revenue lagged projections.
Could the fight return?: The budget covers a $2.3 billion general revenue deficit by drawing on surpluses built up from 2021 to 2023, and closing the remaining gap is left to future sessions.

Sources

Missouri Independent · June 30, 2026 · news report