legislative session

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.

Kansas legislators have had an unusually busy year so far — most recently the passage of a law that restricts bathroom usage for transgender people, and prohibits gender changes on IDs. We'll hear about what's been passed at the halfway point, and what's still to come.

Some legislators were unclear if Kansas law already requires the use of turn signals in a roundabout. "As much as I hate them stupid things," Berryton Republican Sen. Rick Kloos said, "I like the bill."

Missouri lawmakers arrived this week in Jefferson City 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.

What will Missouri lawmakers focus on in the 2026 legislation session? Pre-filed bills show that lawmakers are looking to phase out the income tax, reduce some property taxes, and invest in the state’s roads and schools — although the budget surplus is quickly disappearing due to previous tax cuts.

Kansas has lost about 50 newspapers in the past 20 years. And as the owners of many small, family-owned papers get older, it’s uncertain who will keep the presses running when they retire. Plus: Missouri Republicans shattered norms when they pushed through redistricting and amendment changes in a special session — and it could have long-term consequences.

Bayer’s herbicide Roundup has been subject to tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the product causes cancer. A Missouri bill to shield Bayer from some of those lawsuits didn't pass during the spring legislative session, but it could be reintroduced in the future.

The Missouri General Assembly is beginning a special session today, with the primary mission of passing an incentive package for the two Kansas City teams. But after years of drama over new stadiums, and a looming deadline on the Kansas side, the stakes are high.

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.