Missouri legislature

If approved by voters on Aug. 4, Amendment 2 would change the Missouri Constitution to require that Jackson County elect its assessor. County residents already voted to make the role an elected position, rather than one appointed by the county executive, after years of outrage over property tax valuations.

Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an additional 35 bills Monday evening, including legislation that raises the speed limit on rural highways and interstates to 75 mph.

The Aug. 4 proposal would require citizen-led amendments to win in every congressional district, turning the ballot fight into a debate over who speaks for voters outside Missouri's big cities.

Among the legislation signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is a wide-reaching public health bill that requires the state to track cases of Lyme disease and alpha-gal syndrome, and allows people to obtain up to 12 months of birth control pills at once.

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday also signed into law harsher penalties for drunk driving and age verification requirements for pornography websites.

Pornography websites operating in Missouri will need to use a third party to conduct “reasonable” age verification. Under the bill, the attorney general could sue commercial entities accused of knowingly violating the law.

In the Aug. 4 primary election, Missouri voters can weigh in on Amendments 1, 2, 4 and 5. The proposals cover parks funding, election of tax assessors, how things get on a statewide ballot and the elimination of the state income tax.

New analysis from Ballotpedia suggests that Republicans in Missouri and Kansas could see the 2026 midterm elections break their state legislative supermajorities.

A new tax credit could help fill financial gaps for projects and ease housing shortages in the region. The office buildings must be in a downtown or central business district area, and 25 years or older, but converting them into apartments isn't cheap.

Both Kansas and Missouri cleared a path for cities to let bars serve alcohol into the wee hours during the World Cup. But some bar owners say the demand for early-morning drinking isn’t high enough to justify the extra staff and safety concerns.

Missouri faced a tight budget this session after years of record spending. Gov. Mike Kehoe issued 65 vetoes, totaling over $30 million in general revenue.

While Missouri lawmakers did not advance bills to restrict data centers or regulate their water and energy usage, more communities are speaking out and passing their own local moratoriums and restrictions. Next year's session will bring more chances for state legislation.