Missouri Senate

The Senate legislation contains several provisions aimed at reducing property taxes, although none makes sweeping reductions. Senate Democrats widely supported the legislation.

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.

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.

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 House this session passed a major overhaul of how the state funds higher education institutions. Critics say it created winners and losers among the state's universities.

Despite the potential high costs, Republicans on a Senate committee advanced the plan on a party-line vote Monday. The bill would place an amendment on the statewide ballot later this year asking voters permission to eliminate the income tax and expand sales taxes.

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.

While pregnant women can file for divorce in Missouri, a judge can prevent it from being finalized. The Missouri General Assembly unanimously approved a bill that would fix the loophole.

Current law states nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses must have a collaborative agreement with a physician in order to prescribe certain medications.

A Senate committee heard testimony Wednesday on legislation that would require watermarks on AI-generated content and target chatbots that provide mental health advice.

One of the changes made on the Senate side includes removing almost $15 million toward improving the Missouri Capitol. Now the legislation returns to the Missouri House for a vote.

For the second year in a row, state Sen. Mike Moon, an Ash Grove Republican, is sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment that would treat embryos as people, potentially exposing abortion patients and providers to murder charges and eliminating rape and incest exceptions.