If Missouri lawmakers agree to all of Kehoe’s proposed supplemental spending, that would represent a year-to-year cut of about $600 million. The future revenue picture is also clouded by the governor's efforts to eliminate the state income tax.

In his 2026 State of the State address, Gov. Mike Kehoe said he wants a statewide vote in November on his plan to phase out the state income tax and allow for taxes on things like monthly subscriptions and digital services. Democrats have questioned whether that's possible without wrecking future budgets.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is asking for civility and compromise in the face of national political divides. She starts her final session in office with a Republican supermajority that can override her if it holds together.

Plaintiffs had argued the prohibition violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the Missouri Constitution. The state's highest court unanimously ruled that restricting gender-affirming care does not violate the rights of transgender children.

Missouri voters enshrined the right to an abortion in 2024, but several abortion restrictions remain state law. A Jackson County judge temporarily blocked those laws, and Planned Parenthood is now seeking to permanently strike those laws to ease abortion access.

An attorney for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told a judge that the original ballot summary for a referendum on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map is “inherently argumentative” and should be revised

The GOP senator joined Democrats and four other Republicans in voting to halt Trump's ability for military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. In contrast, other Missouri Republicans like Sen. Eric Schmitt stood behind Trump's decisions.

Missouri Senate Democrats say they're still irate over how the GOP cut off debate last year — pushing through legislation to redraw congressional maps, ban abortion and repeal paid sick leave.

Missouri state Rep. Will Jobe filed a resolution requesting an impeachment investigation of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins over his handling of a redistricting referendum. Hoskins is already facing multiple lawsuits over his actions, including declaring a portion of signatures invalid.

A Missouri citizen group collected 49,773 pages of signatures to force a statewide vote on the redrawn congressional map passed by Republican lawmakers last year. But Secretary of State Denny Hoskins will only submit 33,068 for verification, saying the rest are invalid.

Missouri lawmakers arrive in Jefferson City on Wednesday for the start of the 2026 legislative session, which runs until mid-May. Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing to eliminate the state income tax, but a smaller budget will likely force spending cuts.

Missouri's two U.S. senators have generally been wary of foreign interventionism, especially during Joe Biden's presidency. At least one, Eric Schmitt, is embracing Trump's invasion of Venezuela and deposition of president Nicolas Maduro.