Missouri Senate

In addition to approving legislation that would allow public school students to transfer outside their district, a Missouri Senate committee also sparred over bills on abortion education and preventing teachers from recognizing a student's preferred gender.

Missouri Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn told state lawmakers that the department and courts need options to get defendants treatment in their communities.

The bill contains many provisions, including expanding the no-excuse absentee voting period.

Missouri Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern says former Kansas City Councilwoman Heather Hall, who is married to a retired KCPD officer, cannot be impartial. Nurrenbern needs to sign-off in order to send Hall’s nomination to the full Senate by a Feb. 6 deadline.

Following a rocky end to last year’s legislative session, Democrats are looking to slow things down, while Republicans push to pass Gov. Mike Kehoe’s state income tax cuts. Political reporter Jason Hancock spoke with KCUR’s Up To Date about the slow start and early dysfunction in the Missouri General Assembly.

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.

In his 2026 State of the State address, Gov. Mike Kehoe said he wants a statewide vote in November on his plan to phase out the state income tax and allow for taxes on things like monthly subscriptions and digital services. Democrats have questioned whether that's possible without wrecking future budgets.

Missouri Senate Democrats say they're still irate over how the GOP cut off debate last year — pushing through legislation to redraw congressional maps, ban abortion and repeal paid sick leave.

Missouri Republicans made big moves last legislative session to force through their agenda on abortion, redistricting and more — and now the consequences will be felt this year. Democrats are determined to stall action in the state Senate as retribution.

After the state's education department oversaw a pilot program teaching science through agriculture, lawmakers saw an opportunity for more.

The complaint says that Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway did not have the authority to list the legislature as a plaintiff in a redistricting lawsuit without its input.

State Sen. Lincoln Hough voted against efforts to end debate on gerrymandering and initiative petition bills — and was swiftly removed as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was only one of two Republicans who opposed efforts to push through the measures.