Missouri legislature

Under the proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by House Speaker Jon Patterson, sales tax could be imposed “on transactions involving any goods and services." But Patterson said that will be amended to prevent more taxes on fill-ups.

Missouri Republican lawmakers pushed through the bill last year in response to the campaign for an abortion rights amendment, and to protect against lawsuits over abortion restrictions still on the books.

Missouri state Rep. Cecelie Williams said the messages resurfaced trauma from past abuse. Lawmakers voted 138–10 to punish Dean for sending Williams obscene and unwanted texts, but stopped short of expulsion.

At a protest in the state Capitol on Wednesday, hundreds of Missourians urged lawmakers to respect their will on reproductive rights and paid sick leave — two measures that voters passed in 2024 but the legislature moved to reverse immediately after.

Dozens of people impacted by alpha-gal syndrome — a tick-borne allergy to mammalian products such as red meat and dairy — rallied at the Missouri capital Tuesday. There is no standard reporting for the disease so it's hard to know how common it is.

Although a pregnant woman can file for divorce in Missouri, under current law a judge can prevent it from being finalized. A Republican lawmaker says she was denied a divorce while she was married to her abusive ex-husband.

Gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors and participating on sports teams that align with trans athletes' gender identity are currently prohibited in Missouri. Those bans are set to expire in 2027, unless the state legislature opts to extend them indefinitely.

Some eastern Jackson County residents, frustrated that Kansas City has dominated politics in the county, have been pushing for a "Jackxit." It would be the first time in 150 years that Missouri created a new county, although many elected leaders are skeptical it will gain traction.

The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility. The upcoming changes could cause 130,000 Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade.

The relationship between Senate Republicans and Democrats soured in 2025 after the Republican majority cut off debate and passed several initiatives that Democrats opposed, including redistricting and an abortion ban ballot measure.

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.

Missouri has approved three recovery high schools to open in Kansas City, St. Louis and Cape Girardeau. The schools will help support students with their recovery from substance use while they earn their high school degree.