Lilley Halloran

Lawmakers are leaving Jefferson City for a week having sent a total of four bills to Gov. Mike Kehoe's desk, one more than last year at this point.

The Missouri House also approved sex trafficking legislation on Thursday.

The legislation makes it easier for juveniles to be tried as adults and sets strict requirements for how long inmates must be imprisoned before they're eligible for parole.

Anti-capital punishment advocates say the death penalty is costlier to taxpayers than life in prison because many defendants appeal their sentences, and the appeals process can force victims’ families to relive their trauma.

The state House has approved legislation that would allow more than 53,000 people supervised by the state to vote.

Missouri lawmakers argue that state education officials must make it easier for families to understand students' academic performance. Educators believe it disproportionately punishes districts serving socioeconomically disadvantaged students.

A Senate committee heard testimony Wednesday on legislation that would require watermarks on AI-generated content and target chatbots that provide mental health advice.

Missouri currently bans trans athletes through the collegiate level from playing on teams that align with their gender identity, but the law expires in 2027. Republicans want to make it permanent, but Democrats argue it could invite scrutiny of young girls' bodies.

Although Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says the Republican-favoring map from 2025 is now in effect, a court case could require congressional candidates to run instead within the lines drawn back in 2022. For Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, that could either mean an easy reelection bid or the hardest campaign of his life.

The Missouri House unanimously approved the registration legislation Monday for vehicles less than six years old. Currently, state law requires motorists to renew their registration every one or two years.