Act for Missouri · Senate Transparency
Open the Senate: Public Video for Missouri Senate Floor and Committees
The Missouri House provides live floor video. The Missouri Senate should provide live video for floor and committees—so citizens can watch the people’s work in real time.
This is about a broken process and a real transparency gap. When the Senate is in session and conducting official business, the public should be able to watch. The House already provides floor video. The Senate should provide the same—plus full committee video, an archive, and reforms that keep the people’s work out of back rooms.
“That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.”
— Missouri Constitution, Article I, Section 1
“The people of this state have the inherent, sole and exclusive right to regulate the internal government and police thereof, and to alter and abolish their constitution and form of government whenever they may deem it necessary to their safety and happiness.”
— Missouri Constitution, Article I, Section 3
Why this matters
Transparency is not a “nice to have.” It is a core check on power. When citizens can watch in real time:
- Deals move from back rooms into the light. If an agreement cannot survive public scrutiny, it should not become law.
- Debate improves. Legislators speak differently when they know the public is watching—not just lobbyists.
- Citizens can respond while it still matters. The most important conversations often happen before final passage.
- Trust can be rebuilt. You cannot restore confidence with audio-only proceedings in 2026.
The problem: Missouri Senate is still audio-only
The National Conference of State Legislatures maintains a 50-state chart of legislative broadcasts and webcasts. In that chart, Missouri’s House floor proceeding link is listed as video, while Missouri’s Senate floor proceeding link is listed as audio. North Carolina’s Senate is similarly listed as audio-only. In other words: Missouri is an outlier in basic transparency. (NCSL chart)
Good news: the Senate already records
We have confirmed the Missouri Senate already records video of floor and committee activity for internal use by Senators. That means the hardest part—cameras, feeds, and capture—already exists. The remaining step is to publish those feeds to the public the way the House does.
What we are asking for
Gavel-to-gavel, with a clear player on the Senate website (and a stable archive).
Every committee, every hearing—live and archived, including testimony.
Search by date/committee and share clips—so citizens can verify claims and follow the process.
What might this cost
Because recording already happens internally, the incremental cost is primarily about publishing: encoding, hosting/streaming, basic web integration, accessibility (captions), and modest staffing to manage schedules and archives. The exact number depends on how “polished” the Senate chooses to make it.
Below is a reasonable order-of-magnitude estimate based on common public-sector streaming approaches and typical web integration work. It is not a “bid” and it is not a ceiling—if the Senate wants to do this efficiently, it can.
| Deployment level | One-time setup | Annual operating | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lean (fastest) | $10k–$35k | $20k–$90k | Publish live feeds via a reliable platform; basic Senate web page; simple archive; minimal staffing. |
| Standard (what citizens expect) | $35k–$100k | $75k–$200k | Clear schedules, reliable streaming, a public archive, basic accessibility (captions), and simple clip-sharing—without unnecessary bells and whistles. |
We built a short citizen-friendly evaluation to score a Senator’s transparency and responsiveness. It helps Missourians think like employers: “Is my elected employee transparent, responsive, and willing to be accountable?”
Talking points for calls and emails
Keep it respectful. Be clear. Ask for a concrete commitment and a timeline.
Avoid copy-and-paste scripts. Personal, respectful messages are far more effective.
- Introduce yourself: name, city, and Senate district.
- State the ask plainly: public live video for the Senate floor and all committees, plus an archive.
- Note the Senate already records internally—this is about publishing, not buying cameras.
- Ask for a concrete commitment: “Will you push leadership for a rollout this session with a written plan and timeline?”
- Ask for accountability: “If not, what is the specific reason? Who is blocking it?”
- Close by requesting a written follow-up (email is best).
Example phrasing (optional)
Use your own words. This is just an example.
“I’m calling as a constituent. I want the Missouri Senate to publish live video of the floor and every committee hearing, with an archive. I understand the Senate already records internally. Will you push leadership for a public rollout this session, with a written plan and timeline?”
Write briefly, specifically, and as a constituent. Ask for a written response.
- Subject line that is clear: “Missouri Senate Transparency — Public Video Now”
- Identify yourself as a constituent (district + city).
- One‑sentence ask: public video for floor + committees, live + archived.
- One‑sentence reason: citizens are the employer; the people’s work should be visible.
- Practical note: the Senate already records internally; we have heard estimates around $120k–$180k/year.
- Your questions: “Do you support this? What actions will you take? What timeline do you support?”
Example outline (optional)
Use this as a structure, not a template. Put it in your voice.
- Who you are (constituent, district, city).
- The ask (public live video for floor + committees; archive).
- Why (accountability; deal-making should move from offices to the floor).
- Practical note (already recorded internally; cost is manageable).
- Your questions (support/oppose; actions; timeline).
Who to contact
Start with Senate leadership, then contact your own Senator. If you don’t know your district, use the address lookup in the site header.
Senate leadership
Tip: If you leave a message, ask for a response in writing. Written answers create accountability.