Date: April 2, 2026 To: Chair Stinnett and Members, House Health and Mental Health Committee From: Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, Chief of Policy Staff, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 2370 Empower Missouri is the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state. We view the experience of poverty holistically, with impacts in all areas of an...Lee mas

Date: March 31, 2026 To: Representative Jones, Chairman, and Members of the House Children and Families Committee From: Gwen Smith-Moore, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE: Support for HB 1872 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri residents...Lee mas

Missouri lawmakers are advancing a proposal that would fundamentally change how Missourians pay taxes. The plan would eliminate the state income tax and replace it with higher sales taxes and new taxes on services, giving the wealthiest Missourians a tax cut while raising taxes for most everyone else. In January, our partners at the Missouri...Lee mas

Date: March 24, 2026 To: Chairman Ben Brown and Members, Senate Committee on Emerging Issues & Professional Registration  From: Lucas Caldwell-McMillan, Chief of Policy Staff, Empower Missouri Re: Support for SB 920 Founded in 1901, Empower Missouri is the largest anti-poverty advocacy organization in the state. As part of our work, we convene a statewide...Lee mas

March 25, 2026To: Senator Trent and Members of the Senate General Laws CommitteeFrom: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager at Empower MissouriRe:   SB 1616 Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Christine Woody and I am with Empower Missouri. Empower Missouri is the state’s largest anti-poverty advocacy organization. I am...Lee mas

March 23, 2026 To:  Chairman McGirl and The House Ways and Means Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: House Bill 2457 My name is Christine Woody and I am the Food Security Policy manager for Empower Missouri. We are a statewide non-profit organization that leads a statewide coalition on food...Lee mas

Date: March 11, 2026 To: Chairman Lewis and members of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee From:   Erica Robbins, Affordable Housing Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Support for HB 2722 Empower Missouri believes a Missouri without homelessness is possible. We are the largest anti-poverty advocacy organization in the state and have been advocating...Lee mas

Date:   March 10, 2026 To:     Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From:   Gwen Smith-Moore, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      Oppose SB 888 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all...Lee mas

Date:   March 9, 2026 To:     Chairman Mayhew and Members, Corrections and Public Institutions Committee From:  Jerika White, Criminal Justice Policy Manager, Empower Missouri RE:      Support HB 2153 As the largest and oldest anti-poverty non-profit in our state, Empower Missouri is committed to improving the quality of life for all Missouri...Lee mas

March 11, 2026 To:  Chairman Brown and The Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee From: Christine Woody, Food Security Policy Manager, Empower Missouri Re: Senate Bill 1082 My name is Christine Woody and I am the Food Security Policy manager for Empower Missouri. We are a statewide non-profit organization that leads a statewide coalition on...Lee mas