Missouri Senate

The legislation echoes a regulation put in place by the attorney general's office last year.

The legislation includes many changes to state elections, including restoring voting rights to some parolees and allowing the use of campaign dollars for childcare.

Other legislation that could be considered in the last week of the 2026 session includes a wide-reaching education bill and measures to limit vehicle inspections and raise the rural highway speed limit.

The machines in operation, mostly found in gas stations and bars, have existed in a legal gray area. The legislation that narrowly passed the Missouri House in February would have allowed them to be taxed.

The original bill would have allowed civil lawsuits against anyone involved in an unlawful abortion, including self-induced abortions

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.