Missouri legislature

Missouri schools will be required to outline prohibited antisemitic behavior in their codes of conduct. Most opposition came from Democrats who voiced concerns the bill would discourage debate about conflict in the Middle East.

The Senate version of the operating budget, totaling nearly $49 billion, now heads back to the House. However, the budget still does not fully fund the state’s K-12 schools.

In a 101-48 vote, House lawmakers approve a bill that would place restrictions on transgender Missourians. It would also target all-gender restrooms like at the Kansas City International Airport.

The proposed constitutional amendment gives Missouri lawmakers five years to expand sales and use taxes, in order to make up for revenue lost by eliminating the state income tax. It will appear in either a special election or on November's ballot.

Legislation approved by the Missouri House on Monday would target people who share deepfakes of a child and ban social media for children under 16 who don't have parental consent.

While the national rush to redraw congressional districts began with a call from President Donald Trump, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway quickly became the state's bulwark in defending Republican redistricting against lawsuits and a citizen petition.

The bipartisan Missouri bill would require unanimous juries in death penalty cases, and automatically expunge nonviolent crimes after people serve their sentences. But Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, says the death penalty changes won’t pass.

Passing a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the income tax is a priority for Republicans in Jefferson City. The resolution still needs final approval from the Missouri House, but critics say that raising sales taxes will disproportionately hurt lower-income and elderly Missourians.

Legislation passed by the Missouri House on Thursday is designed to support people with disabilities or mental or physical health conditions that could impair their ability to communicate with officers.

Supporters of the bill cited a February incident in which a semi-truck driver went the wrong way on a Troy highway and could not pass an English proficiency test. Opponents say testing is subjective.

Proponents of eliminating Missouri’s individual income tax, including Gov. Mike Kehoe, say it will make the state more competitive and appealing for businesses and people looking to move to the state. But opponents say that hiking sales taxes will impose more costs on lower-income residents.

The judge ruled Missouri lawmakers could directly appropriate funds to the MOScholars program because state law does not “expressly prohibit” it. The Missouri National Education Association plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court.