legislative session

As Missouri lawmakers enter the second half of the legislative session, they are considering bills to amend or repeal the voter-approved measure that ended the state’s near-total abortion ban. They also must pass a state budget. Plus: Layoffs and court-ordered rehiring have all but paralyzed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency.

The Kansas Legislative session begins today — with Republicans enjoying an expanded supermajority in the Statehouse. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson discuss what their priorities are for the coming year, including tax cuts.

Many lawmakers are bringing back ideas for another year as bill filing opens ahead of the session that begins on Jan. 8.

From cutting taxes on groceries to legalizing sports betting and easing abortion restrictions, a look at hundreds of pre-filed bills in Missouri offers a glimpse into what Kansas City-area lawmakers hope to accomplish.

Twenty states have bans on transgender care on the books, and half of them are being challenged in court — forcing federal judges to grapple with whether states have the right to restrict medical care.

Gov. Mike Parson vetoed items large and small that were outside the budget he laid out to lawmakers in January.

The Missouri legislature stumbled its way to the end of this year’s legislative session. Catch up on the biggest things lawmakers did and what was left unaddressed. Plus: Inmates at a state prison in Lansing, Kansas, rioted three years ago but nobody has been charged yet.

This year’s legislative session has ended in Kansas, although some bills are still awaiting Gov. Laura Kelly's signature or veto. And in Missouri, after a chaotic end to the session last year, state legislators vowed this year would be different — but that's yet to be seen.

The Missouri legislative session is more than halfway done, and many different bills affecting schools are making their way through the capitol.

"Why are we legislating something you don't understand?" asked state Sen. Greg Razer.

The Missouri General Assembly gaveled in a new session on Wednesday, and the Kansas Legislature is reconvening next week. What's at the top of the agenda?

Efforts to ban transgender girls from competing in women’s sports are expected to pick up momentum when lawmakers return to the Capitol in January.