Marshall Griffin

Legislation that would allow home brewers to bring home-made beer to festivals has passed the Missouri Senate. 

Republican leaders in the Missouri House are promising to fast track legislation that would forbid the state from scanning and storing documents of residents who apply for conceal-carry endorsements. 

Some GOP lawmakers have accused the state agency of forwarding copies of conceal-carry applications and other documents to the federal Homeland Security department. 

House Speaker Tim Jones says he’s disturbed by the allegations.

Two bills that would create a prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri received a hearing Thursday before a State Senate committee. But one version of the bill is structured in a way that’s designed to block the proposal.

Physician and GOP Senator Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph is an outspoken critic of prescription drug monitoring. He says it would violate citizens’ privacy rights.

The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to a phased-in tax overhaul designed to help the Show-Me State compete with neighboring Kansas, which recently slashed its tax rates. 

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over a 20-year-old law that requires unaccredited school districts to pay tuition for students who transfer to nearby accredited schools. 

The head of the Missouri Senate is denying reports from some conservative bloggers that top Republicans are planning an about-face on Medicaid expansion. 

A lawsuit has been filed in the Missouri Bootheel accusing the state of wrongfully requiring digital copies of vital records. 

A Missouri Senate Committee has unanimously passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand the State Constitution’s right to bear arms. 

Legislation is moving through the Missouri Senate that would strictly limit where Electronic Benefits Transfer, or EBT cards, can be used in the state. 

GOP Senator Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit is sponsoring the bill.  He says a new federal law that just took effect will ban EBT card use in casinos, liquor stores and adult entertainment venues.

“We’re taking that federal law (and) putting into state statute, but we’re also adding a few places:  amusement parks, entertainment events, athletic events, to purchase alcohol, tobacco (and) lottery tickets,” says Kraus.

Legislation in the Missouri House would permanently adopt Daylight Saving Time as the new standard time, but only if 20 other states also agree to do so. 

The bill would create a pact with other states to, quote, “eliminate” Daylight Saving Time by renaming it the new “Standard Time.”  And once 20 or more states join the pact, they’ll spring forward one hour and permanently remain there. 

The bill is sponsored by GOP House Member Delus Johnson of St. Joseph.

Legislation in the Missouri House would permanently adopt Daylight Saving Time as the new Standard Time, but only if 20 other states also agree to do so.

The Missouri House has passed legislation that would allow some school districts to exempt themselves from the prevailing wage requirement for construction and maintenance projects. 

The sponsor, Republican Casey Guernsey of Harrison County, says it will allow rural schools in particular to be able to afford much-needed expansions and upgrades.

The Missouri Senate has passed a wide-ranging tax credit bill that drastically lowers the caps on Historic Preservation and Low Income Housing programs.  It would cap Historic Preservation incentives at $50 million a year, instead of the current $140 million, and Low Income Housing incentives would be capped at $55 million a year, instead of the current $190 million. 

The bill is now in the hands of the Missouri House, where Speaker Tim Jones has indicated that he and other House leaders don’t like the drastic cuts.

Supporters of creating a so-called “Angel Investment” tax credit in Missouri testified in favor of legislation Wednesday before a State Senate committee.

The Missouri Senate spent a few hours Wednesday debating legislation that would bar labor unions for public workers from withholding money from public employees’ paychecks.