In 1965, the Missouri Legislature enacted the State and Regional Planning and Community Development Act. This Act, which appears as Chapter 251 of the RSMo,created the Missouri Department of Community Affairs. This Act also authorized the Governor to create regional planning commissions upon the petition of local governmental units. On October 14, 1968, Governor Warren E. Hearnes signed the necessary documents creating the Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission (KBRPC), consisting of Bates, Benton, Cedar, Henry, Hickory, St. Clair and Vernon counties.

KBRPC offers assistance to its communities/counties in the areas of economic development planning, transportation planning, solid waste management, hazard mitigation planning, homeland security planning, census information, grant writing and administration services.