The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) creates greater opportunities for Missourians to prosper. DED works to create an environment that encourages economic growth by supporting Missouri’s businesses and diverse industries, strengthening our communities, developing a talented and skilled workforce, and maintaining a high quality of life. As one team built around the customer and driven by data, DED aspires to be the best economic development department in the Midwest. DED is helping create opportunities for Missourians to prosper through the various initiatives of its seven divisions: Administration, Business and Community Solutions, Federal Initiatives, Missouri One Start, Regional Engagement, Strategy and Performance, and Tourism.
The Business and Community Solutions Division administers programs to help businesses grow and create jobs. Additionally, the division provides vital resources to communities to enhance local economies.
The Department of Corrections supervises all felons and targeted misdemeanants sentenced by the courts to prison or probation. By Missouri law, a person must be 17 years of age or certified as an adult by the courts. A prison sentence must be at least one year or greater in length. Probation terms, as determined by the courts, range from six months to five years. The Division of Adult Institutions provides the custody and care for offenders sentenced to prison. The Division of the Board of Probation and Parole supervises offenders sentenced to probation or released from prison on parole.
Division of Adult Institutions is responsible for the supervision and management of 21 correctional centers and the custody and care of felony offenders sentenced to prison by the courts.
Division of Human Services provides specialized activities for the department’s religious affairs, volunteer and intern services, employee health, personnel, recruitment and employee development and training. This division also oversees the department’s budget, planning, research, fiscal management and general services operations.
Division of Offender Rehabilitative Services is responsible for the development and implementation of specialized services to offenders such as a medical and mental health care, academic and vocational education programs, substance abuse and sex offender treatment, and other programming as mandated by statute or determined by the Director.
Division of the Board of Probation and Parole is responsible for all activities related to parole release and the supervision of offenders on probation, parole and in community corrections programs. Probation and Parole also conducts pre-sentence and parole investigations and oversees the operation for two community release centers.
The Department of Conservation is guided by a four (4)-member commission appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The commission is charged with the control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of the bird, fish, game, forestry and all wildlife resources of the state. The commission appoints a director who serves as the administrative officer of the Department of Conservation.
Principal sources of revenue are derived from the sale of hunting and fishing permits, the dedicated conservation sales tax of one-eighth of one percent, and revenue from administration of forest, fish and wildlife resources. Substantial funding is made available on a matching basis through the federal government and is applied primarily to acquisition, development, research and forest fire control. Department structure is broken down into two functions-Administration (support services) and Field (resource management and enforcement), each managed by a deputy director.
Administration contains the divisions of Administrative Services, Human Resources and Outreach and Education. Administrative Services administers the department’s support services of: information technology which provides direction and management of the department’s information technology assets; design and development which administers the department’s construction/development program; and, business and support which conducts the department’s financial operations, building and grounds services, fleet management, aircraft, marine; and other mechanical equipment. Human Resources recruits employees; maintains programs for personnel records, benefits, compensation, workers’ compensation and safety programs; as well as in-service training in human relations, personal communications and supervisory skills. Outreach and Education administers the department’s public information and education programs.
Field contains the divisions of Fisheries, Forestry, Private Land Services, Protection, Science and Wildlife. Fisheries manages lakes, reservoirs and streams for public fishing; conducts water pollution impact investigations and an ongoing research program to measure fish populations and trends; determines limiting factors and develops better management techniques. Forestry controls forest fires; provides rural fire protection training and assistance; planning advice in urban and community forestry, forest insect and disease surveys; provides advice and assistance to private timber landowners; conducts research on forest management topics; and provides low cost tree planting stock to Missouri residents. Private Land Services provides technical assistance and resource training to private landowners; provides cost-share assistance to landowners with priority resource needs; and provides wildlife damage control assistance. Protection carries out the department’s wildlife law enforcement program. The division also provides training in the safe and responsible use of firearms, with emphasis on ethics and property rights of others, and develops and operates recreational shooting ranges. Science Division is the center of the department’s resource inventory, monitoring, and research. The division helps department area, regional, and issue managers understand and conserve the biological diversity of Missouri’s fish, forests, and wildlife. Wildlife administers hunting seasons; assists private landowners with wildlife habitat efforts; conducts research to provide current information on the status of wildlife populations, develops improved management methods and promotes preservation and enhancement of wildlife habitat.
Information about hunting in Missouri conservation areas.
Like Missouri agriculture, the duties of the Missouri Department of Agriculture are diverse. The department has the challenge of protecting the state’s producers, processors, distributors and consumers of food, fuel and fiber, while marketing Missouri products at home and abroad. The department administers programs that prevent livestock disease, monitor commercial transactions involving weighing or metering devices, regulate grain storage and inspection, establish rules for labeling and using farm chemicals, control plant pests and oversee feed and seed sales. Other department programs range from licensing and inspecting livestock markets to educating youth in agriculture through scholarships, loans and career programs.
The director of agriculture determines department policy and provides a representative voice on a broad range of issues affecting Missouri farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and agriculture policy-makers. The director oversees certain aspects of the State Milk Board and the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority and is a standing member of the Missouri State Fair Commission. The fair provides educational, competitive and recreational opportunities while exhibiting all aspects of Missouri agriculture: livestock, row crops, fruits and vegetables, farm equipment and machinery, and arts and crafts.
The Agriculture Business Development Division helps develop Missouri’s agriculture-based businesses and industries and helps create demand for products raised and processed in Missouri. The division provides business counseling, information and training on a sector-by-sector basis and works with key players such as universities, associations, private sector partners and federal and state agencies to facilitate the growth of each sector. The division also works to increase consumer awareness and sales of Missouri agricultural products, and is home to the Missouri Agriculture and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA), which provides a variety of financial programs for farmers and agribusinesses.
The Market News Program works to position the department as a state and national leader in providing information and outreach services to both agriculture and non-agriculture audiences. The division provides the educational resources and market information to improve the overall viability, public knowledge, and acceptance of agriculture in Missouri, resulting in a better image and understanding of the industry statewide.
The Animal Health Division administers programs to control, eradicate and test for livestock diseases. The division also inspects and licenses livestock markets and commercial pet dealers and breeders. Livestock brands are registered with this division.
The Grain Inspection and Warehousing Division inspects, grades and weighs grain stored in or moved through terminals in Missouri. The division licenses and bonds grain dealers and warehouses in Missouri, and works to ensure the overall quality, condition and weight of grain being bought or sold.
The Plant Industries Division works to prevent the spread of harmful insects and plant diseases, certifies and licenses commercial and private pesticide applicators and dealers, assures quality and label accuracy of commercial feeds and seeds, and inspects fresh fruits and vegetables to assure quality and grade. Weights and Measures Division provides protective services to consumers and businesses. The division inspects commercial weighing and metering devices, administers regulations related to fuel quality, inspects eggs for grade, size, origin and packaging and ensures milk is not sold under cost.
The Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division maintains surveillance of commercial weighing and measuring devices. The division promotes uniformity in weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace and thereby enhance consumer confidence, enable Missouri businesses to compete fairly at home and abroad, and strengthen the state and U.S. economies. The division’s programs are operated in accordance with national and international standards. The division works in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and Technology and is a member of the National Conference on Weights and Measures, ASTM International, and the National Fire Protection Association. Weights and Measures Division provides protective services to consumers and businesses. The division inspects commercial weighing and metering devices, administers regulations related to fuel quality, inspects eggs for grade, size, origin and packaging and ensures milk is not sold under cost.
The Missouri State Fair Commission works to communicate the story of Missouri agriculture and the Missouri State Fair in ways that appeal to the state’s citizens as the diversity of agriculture within the state and the Fair’s diversity continue to grow.
Dating back to 1901, the Missouri State Fair is among the state’s oldest and most tradition-rich events for summer family fun.
The State Milk Board administers Missouri’s Grade A and manufacturing milk inspection programs.
The Missouri Wine and Grape Board (MWGB) is funded by a twelve cents-per-gallon tax on wine sales. The board coordinates marketing and public relations activities with wine wholesalers, restaurant operators, retailers, and the public. Its goals are to strengthen interest in, and patronage of, our state’s grape, grape juice, and wine industry. It also underwrites the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture & Enology (ICCVE) in its work with winemakers and grape growers developing grape varieties suitable for Missouri.
The Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority makes capital available to Missouri farmers, particularly independent producers; agribusiness; and small business at competitive interest rates on a scale to make a major impact.
The Office of Administration is the service and administrative control agency created by the General Assembly to combine and coordinate the central management functions of state government.
The chief administrative officer is the Commissioner of Administration who is appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Office of Administration provides central services and support to all other state agencies as detailed below.
The Administrative Hearing Commission conducts prehearing conferences and full evidentiary hearings throughout Missouri, making findings of fact and conclusions of law relating to licensing, tax, and medical provider disputes.
The Division of Accounting is responsible for operation of the statewide accounting and payroll systems and is the custodian of the official accounting records of the state. The division prepares payments, publishes annual financial reports, administers bond sales for the Board of Fund Commissioners and Board of Public Buildings, and administers the social security coverage for state political subdivisions.
The Division of Budget and Planning is the central point to assist state agencies, the commissioner of administration, and the governor in preparing and overseeing an efficient and effective overall plan for the state’s financial resources.
The Information Technology Services Division is the central point for providing data processing and state telecommunications services for the executive branch of state government.
The Division of Facilities Management, Design and Construction is responsible for the maintenance and operation of state-owned buildings and grounds throughout the state. The division is responsible for the preparation of the leasing budget for the entire state and for oversight of the leasing program. Staff of the division provide design services, space analysis, project management, energy management and mechanical services. The division is responsible for the preparation of the state’s capital improvement program and budget, inventory and condition assessment of all state-owned land and facilities, contracting for and managing capital improvement projects for state agencies.
The Division of General Services provides management services to the state departments including printing, vehicle maintenance, risk management and fleet management; and administers the state and federal surplus property programs and the state recycling programs. The division also provides staff support for the Missouri State Employees Charitable Campaign, and the Missouri Public Entities Risk Management Fund.
The Division of Personnel administers the Missouri Merit System and the Uniform Classification and Pay System (about 45,000 employees). Additional responsibilities in all agencies include management training, labor relations, productivity and quality improvement, employee leave benefits, and consultative services.
The Division of Purchasing is responsible for the procurement of equipment, supplies, general and professional services for most agencies of state government.
The Office of the Commissioner is responsible for the Office of Equal Opportunity, which assists state agencies in employment and contracting of historically underutilized individuals, and monitoring progress in promoting and ensuring equal opportunity within state government through employment, provision of services, and operation of facilities.
The attorney general’s office was created in 1806 when Missouri was part of the Louisiana Territory. Missouri’s first constitution (1820) provided for an appointed attorney general. Since the 1865 constitution, the attorney general has been elected.
The attorney general is the attorney for the state. He represents the legal interests of Missouri and its people as a group, but cannot represent individual citizens in private legal actions.
As the state’s chief legal officer, the attorney general must prosecute or defend all appeals to which the state is a party, including every felony criminal case which is appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court and courts of appeal. He also is required to institute, in the name and on behalf of the state, all civil suits and other proceedings that are necessary to protect the state’s rights, interests or claims. He also may appear, interplead, answer or defend any proceedings in which the state’s interests are involved, or appear on behalf of the state in declaratory judgment proceedings when the constitutionality of a statute is challenged.
The attorney general renders official opinions to the General Assembly, the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, the heads of the various state departments and the circuit or prosecuting attorneys on questions of law relating to their duties.
The attorney general may institute quo warranto proceedings to oust any corporation from doing business in Missouri if it has abused its franchise or has violated the state’s laws. He also may institute quo warranto proceedings against any person unlawfully holding any office or move to oust any public official for misfeasance, nonfeasance, or malfeasance in office.
He is a member of the Board of Fund Commissioners, Board of Public Buildings, the Governor’s Committee on Interstate Cooperation, the Missouri Highway Reciprocity Commission and the Missouri Housing Development Commission. He serves as chairman of the Governor’s Crime Commission.
In order to fulfill these and other responsibilities, the attorney general has organized his office into eight divisions: Litigation, Consumer Protection, Governmental Affairs, Environmental Protection, Criminal Appeals, Governmental and Financial Entities, Labor, and Public Safety.
The state treasurer serves as Missouri’s chief banking and investing officer. The state treasurer directs the state’s banking services, and oversees Missouri’s state investment portfolio. In addition, the state treasurer safeguards over $1.5 billion of unclaimed property that has been turned over to the state. Moreover, the state treasurer administers multiple programs including the Education Savings Program (MOST 529), the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (MO Scholars), the Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience Program (MO ABLE), and the linked deposit program for small businesses and farmers (MO BUCK$). The State Treasurer is one of six statewide elected officials, and serves a term of four years. A person may only serve as State Treasurer for two full terms.
The state treasurer is custodian of state funds and funds received from the United States government. Upon receipt of state and federal funds, the state treasurer ensures the moneys are deposited in selected banking institutions approved by the governor and the state auditor. Moneys not needed for current expenses are invested through various arrangements as provided by law. The state treasurer prepares, maintains and adheres to a written investment policy which includes an asset allocation plan limiting the total amount of state money which may be invested in each category authorized.
The state treasurer is responsible for safe guarding and returning Missourians’ Unclaimed Property. Each year, financial institutions, businesses, government agencies and other organizations turn over millions of dollars in cash and other property to the state treasurer’s office. Currently, over $1.5 billion in unclaimed assets are held by the state. Through various efforts, the state treasurer creates public awareness of unclaimed property held by the state and works to return assets held to rightful owners. Individuals can search for unclaimed property via the web at ShowMeMoney.com.
Established in 1999, the Missouri Education Program (MOST 529) assists Missouri families save for the cost of education and training, K-12 tuition, registered apprenticeships, trade or vocational schools, two to four-year colleges or universities, and graduate school. In addition, these tax-advantaged investment accounts may be used for qualifying expenses such as books, supplies, room and board, and computer equipment. The beneficiary can be changed at any time, provided that the new beneficiary is an eligible family member of the original beneficiary. Missourians are also eligible for a state tax deduction.
In 2021, the Missouri General Assembly established the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. The MOScholars program provides options for eligible families to seek and receive alternative educational services to meet their specific educational needs. State tax credits are awarded to individuals and businesses who make eligible contributions to an approved, non-profit Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs). EAO’s provide scholarships for qualifying students participating in the MOScholars program. Each EAO establishes and maintains relationships with eligible schools where scholarship funds may be used.
In December 2014, the United States Congress passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. With the passage of the federal ABLE Act, the Missouri General Assembly in 2015 passed legislation creating the Missouri version of the ABLE Act, which is known as MO ABLE. Eligible Missourians with disabilities have the opportunity to open an investment account and save money without losing eligibility for other benefits, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Earnings from these accounts are not subject to federal and state income tax when spent on qualified expenses.
In 1986, the Missouri General Assembly created the linked-deposit loan program, which is known as MO BUCK$. The State Treasurer’s Office deposits funds with an approved borrower’s qualified banking institution at a below-market interest rate. Lowering the market rate on deposits permits lenders to pass along a 30 percent interest rate deduction on the borrower’s loan. As a result, the MO BUCK$ program provides an economic boost to the Missouri economy. This linked-deposit loan program primarily serves Missouri farmers and ranchers as well as small business owners.
The state treasurer is a member of several boards, commissions, and trusts in the state.
The state auditor’s office determines if tax dollars are spent efficiently, economically and legally, and how well public funds are protected from potential fraud or abuse. The audits are categorized into five types: state government, performance, petition, county and special county audits. State government audits cover state agencies, boards and commissions, statewide elected officials, the legislature, the state’s financial statements and federal awards expended by the state. Performance audits analyze if various state programs or agencies achieve desired results and are run in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.
The state auditor also reviews the state’s municipal and circuit courts, 90 of the state’s 114 counties, and can be petitioned by citizens to audit local political subdivisions. All audits are conducted in an impartial, nonpartisan manner and according to government auditing standards issued by the United States General Accounting Office. In addition to the primary auditing duties, the state auditor registers all general obligation bonds and ensures tax rates levied by political subdivisions comply with state law.
The Secretary of State oversees numerous diverse programs and responsibilities affecting Missouri citizens. The office is comprised of 7 divisions and maintains offices in the State Capitol, the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center (JCKSIC) and has branch offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.
The Secretary of State is the chief elections official in Missouri, bearing responsibility for administration of statewide elections involving both issues and individuals, and oversees local verification of petition signatures for initiative petitions. The Secretary of State’s Commissions section authenticates official acts of the governor, and has the authority to appoint and commission notaries public.
The Office of the Secretary of State is a clearinghouse of information. The State Archives preserves and makes available in several formats, including the Internet, historic documents for use by researchers. This includes thousands of inquiries annually from genealogists. The Records Management program provides for state agencies to store and retrieve inactive files at the (JCKSIC). A companion Local Records program assists county and municipal governments in processing and safeguarding their important documents. The Publications section produces a number of useful books and periodicals, including the Official Manual, the state Constitution, and rosters of the General Assembly and state, county and district officers. The Administrative Rules section publishes the revisions to the Code of State Regulations monthly, which lists rules and regulations promulgated by state agencies, and the bi-monthly Missouri Register.
The Missouri State Library was created in 1946 as an independent agency with a board appointed by the governor. The major functions of the State Library are to provide direct library and information service in support of the executive and legislative branches of Missouri state government, to provide library service to blind and physically handicapped residents of Missouri and to promote the development and improvement of library services throughout the state. In July 1993, the State Library, including the Wolfner Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, was placed under the supervision of the Secretary of State.
Registration of businesses is another vital duty of the Secretary of State. The Corporations section handles the incorporation and reports for some 190,000 businesses licensed to do business in Missouri. Perfecting liens on business loans is the responsibility of the Uniform Commercial Code section, which receives some 137,000 filings each year. The Securities Division protects Missouri investors from fraud by reviewing proposed securities offerings and registering broker-dealers, agents and investment advisors.
The lieutenant governor of the State of Missouri is elected for a four-year term and is subject to re-election with no limit as to number of terms. The lieutenant governor is elected separate from the governor and runs independently rather than as a team. Upon the death, conviction, impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disabilities, the powers, duties and emoluments of the governor devolve upon the lieutenant governor until the end of his or her term or until the disabilities of the governor are removed.
Under the Missouri Constitution, the lieutenant governor is ex-officio president of the Missouri Senate. State statute designates the lieutenant governor as the official Elderly Advocate for the State of Missouri and thus responsible for ensuring advocacy for and assistance to Missouri’s senior citizens. The office of the lieutenant governor also provides a state ombudsman’s service directing constituent questions or concerns to the appropriate state agencies.
The lieutenant governor also serves on the following boards and commissions by state statute: an advisor to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on early childhood education; Board of Fund Commissioners; Board of Public Buildings; Missouri Development Finance Board; Missouri Housing Development Commission; Missouri Rural Economic Development Council; Missouri SeniorRx Program, Chairman; Missouri Tourism Commission, Vice-Chairman; Second State Capitol Commission; Special Health, Psychological, and Social Needs of Minority Older Individuals Commission; Tobacco Authority.
