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Coping with COVID: Missouri legislature meets to discuss COVID-19 funding boost in special session

By Madison Parry

State lawmakers gathered to debate spending an additional $1.2 billion in CARES Act funding on Thursday. Gov. Mike Parson’s administration is seeking approval to spend the funding on Missouri’s COVID-19 response, which the House will continue to debate on Monday.

The debate for approval on increased CARES Act spending will continue Monday, Nov. 9 in Missouri.

Gov. Mike Parson gathered state lawmakers in a special session Thursday, Nov. 5 to discuss spending an additional $1.2 billion in federal funding to be used toward the state’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Missouri’s House of Representatives will pick up debate on Monday as Gov. Parson continues to seek approval for his administration to use the funds before they expire at the end of the year.

Around $752 million in general COVID-19 relief funding remains in the state budget, according to reporting by the Associated Press.

Although these funds must be used by the end of the year, they cannot be spent with legislators’ approval.

Federal funding for COVID-19 that has not been used by the Dec. 30, 2020 deadline is required to be returned to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, according to federal law.