Lawmakers reach late-night budget deal in Jefferson City after weeks of deadlock

After three weeks of closed-door negotiations and a marathon overnight session, House and Senate leaders in Jefferson City announced a budget compromise early Friday morning that ends one of the longest stalemates of the legislative term.

The agreement restores roughly $84 million in rural broadband funding that had been stripped earlier this month and shifts more than $300 million toward K–12 public schools, transportation projects and the state's struggling foster-care system.

Senate leadership credited a small bipartisan working group of rural and suburban members for breaking the impasse over education formula funding, which had been the central sticking point since the session began in January.

Critics on both sides of the aisle said the deal still leaves major questions unanswered, particularly around Medicaid reimbursement rates and a delayed plan to overhaul the state's aging prison facilities. Several lawmakers said they would push for follow-up legislation before adjournment.

Governor's office staff signaled the budget will be signed without line-item vetoes, though final review is expected to take several days. The Missouri Dispatch will publish a full breakdown of the compromise once the conference report is filed.