Representative Stinnett shares perspective on the 2026 Missouri Legislative Session
For the final installment of the Chamber’s 2025 Inside the Issues series, members heard from District 133 State Representative Melanie Stinnett. Stinnett offered insight into the conversations shaping the 2026 Missouri Legislative Session, discussing budget uncertainties, mental health initiatives, and her own legislative priorities for the year ahead.
First elected to the House of Representatives in November 2022, Stinnett currently serves as Vice President of Therapy Services at The Arc of the Ozarks. She also chairs the House Health and Mental Health Committee. Her professional background in healthcare and work with the disability community strongly inform her legislative approach, particularly when identifying opportunities to improve how services are delivered to Missourians.
A significant portion of her work has centered on strengthening mental health services and identifying ways the state can intervene earlier to support individuals and families.
“We need a stronger focus on prevention,” she said. “That means listening to our public health partners, understanding how they interact with healthcare, and figuring out how we can get upstream and do some prevention work.”
Stinnett noted that conversations with local hospitals, law enforcement, and other stakeholders have highlighted the importance of addressing mental health challenges before they escalate, and she anticipates holding additional hearings this year to gather more insight from partners across the state.
In addition to mental health policy, Stinnett highlighted several other priorities for the upcoming session. Among them is her ongoing effort to work to restore voting rights for individuals who have completed their sentences – a policy she first pursued after a constituent shared his personal experience during her early days of campaigning.
“Every year I file a voting rights restoration bill because I’ve seen firsthand how deeply it impacts people when they’re shut out of the process,” Stinnett said. “When you give someone that ability to vote, they’re more invested in their community and in civic engagement, and they’re less likely to reoffend.”
Stinnett also addressed the broader budget environment, encouraging attendees not to view potential cuts not only as challenge, but also as an opportunity to reassess priorities and improve efficiencies.
“I’m choosing to look at these challenging budget times as a place to use scarcity to build efficiency in our government and make sure that we’re using that money as wisely as we can,” she said.
She added that Springfield’s legislative delegation will be especially focused on ensuring local priorities are protected if reductions occur.
During the discussion, attendees asked Stinnett about her success in advancing legislation during her time in office. She credited preparation, humility, and strong relationships as key factors.
“The legislative process is weird – it’s not intuitive,” she explained. “You’ve got to be willing to go sit down with people and say, ‘I don’t know how this works – walk me through it.’ I’ve tried to stay two or three steps ahead of my bills so I’m always prepared for what comes next.”
Throughout her remarks, Stinnett emphasized the strength of the Southwest Missouri delegation and their shared commitment to the region.
“One thing we do well in Springfield is work together,” she noted. “We have a great delegation of local representatives and senators who really care about our community and our region. You don’t see that everywhere in the state.”
She closed by encouraging business leaders to engage with legislators early and often, especially when barriers arise within state systems.
“If you spend some time really thinking about where you’re seeing barriers in your business, find a legislator who’s willing to have a conversation,” she said. “We’re happy to connect you with the people and departments who can help move those issues forward.”
As lawmakers prepare for the start of the 2026 session, the Chamber will continue working closely with Representative Stinnett and the Southwest Missouri delegation to monitor legislative developments and advocate for policies that support the region’s economic growth and quality of life.
Thank you to your Presenting Sponsor Hahn | DeBoef Government Relations for supporting this event!
