As of October 13, 2025, Missouri’s 2025 legislative session focused on water resource protection amid growing concerns over scarcity in neighboring states and potential interstate “water wars.” The most significant new law addresses water exports, while other measures include rate adjustments for utilities and protections against invasive species that impact waterways.
This prohibits the export of water from Missouri to out-of-state destinations without a permit from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
During a gubernatorial drought emergency, the DNR must reevaluate existing export permits to prioritize in-state needs. This also aims to safeguard Missouri’s abundant freshwater resources from demand by water-stressed Western states.
The background and impact of this bill is Sponsored by Sen. Jason Bean (R-Holcomb) and Rep. Jamie Burger (R-Benton), this builds on a failed 2024 attempt. Lawmakers cited fears of diversions along major rivers, emphasizing Missouri’s role in “feeding the world with our water.” This is Missouri’s first comprehensive export control law.
How this could have affected AG: Discussions around SB 82 highlighted speculative risks, such as Kansas’s “longshot” aqueduct plan to draw from the Missouri River near Kansas City to replenish the depleting Ogallala Aquifer for western Kansas irrigation (used heavily for crops like wheat and corn). However, this remains a proposal only. No water has flowed. Similar worries applied to Oklahoma, but again, no exports occurred.
Lawmakers, including Sen. Jason Bean and Rep. Jamie Burger, emphasized the importance of Missouri’s water for “feeding the world” through its agriculture, which heavily relies on water for crops like soybeans, corn, rice and livestock. The intent was to prioritize in-state agricultural needs over out-of-state demands.
https://www.newstribune.com/news/2025/jul/29/e468c803/
https://www.semissourian.com/news/the-future-of-missouris-water-proposed-legislation-aims-to-curb-out-of-state-exports134e91aa/
https://www.myozarksonline.com/water-is-our-most-valuable-resource-new-law-will-limit-water-exports-from-missouri/