Governor Mike Parson signed SB 600 to help address violent crime in Missouri. SB 600 modifies and creates several provisions relating to dangerous felonies, including offenses of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, criminal street gangs, and vehicle hijacking. “As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for 22 years, protecting the citizens of our state […]
Bipartisan legislation that’s aimed at providing protections for safe drinking water in Missouri schools has been signed into law by Governor Mike Parson. One of the key provisions in House Bill 2120 is from veteran State Sen. Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, the former Senate Minority Leader. That provision allows Missouri schools to submit a test of […]
Missouri’s governor is still reviewing legislation that would allow some motorcyclists to ride without a helmet. The provision is included in a large transportation bill that is now on Governor Mike Parson’s desk. Parson’s spokeswoman, Kelli Jones, told Missourinet on Wednesday that the large bill is still under review. Current Missouri law requires every person operating […]
Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay and a chorus of other lawmakers have introduced sweeping legislation designed to crack down on police brutality problems. Clay, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Congressional Black Caucus, want to reign in on police using deadly force and want to require an independent prosecutor for all police killings. Clay, […]
Governor Mike Parson took security measures to safeguard the election process and protect Missouri voters during COVID-19 by signing SB 631 into law. “Any Missourian affected by COVID-19 should still be able to vote, including those who are sick or considered at-risk,” Governor Parson said. “I applaud Senator Dan Hegeman, Representative Dan Shaul, and the rest of […]
The Missouri Legislature has passed changes to the state’s new medical marijuana industry. The FBI informed the state health department, which licenses and regulates the medical marijuana industry, that the department will not have access to its national fingerprint background check database. Representative Lane Roberts, R-Joplin, says his legislation would clear up that problem. “Because […]
Absentee ballot legislation that expands voting by mail through the rest of 2020 is on its way to Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s desk, after receiving final approval from the House in Jefferson City on Friday evening. The final House vote was 121-24 and came with about 30 minutes to spare before the mandatory 6 p.m. […]
Legislation that would create a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is now heading to a Missouri House-Senate conference committee. While both chambers have approved PDMP, they’ve approved different versions. Scott City GOP State Representative Holly Rehder delivered a passionate floor speech on Monday, urging colleagues not to judge people “unless you’ve walked a mile in […]
Senator Roy Blunt, the co-chair of the Senate Community Health Center Caucus, announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $27 million in coronavirus response grant funding to 29 Missouri community health centers (CHCs). The funding will help CHCs meet staffing needs, and prevent, diagnose, and treat coronavirus patients. […]
Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR) Division of Employment Security (DES) has received its first operational guidance related to the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The FPUC does not include any provisions or benefits […]
Public safety agencies in the Western District of Missouri are eligible for more than $3.2 million in Department of Justice grants announced today to aid their response to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation, will allow eligible state and local and […]
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This […]
The state Supreme Court rolled out rules last year saying Missouri judges can only charge bail fees to help ensure that defendants will show up to court or if they pose a danger to others. West Plains State Representative David Evans, a former judge, is proposing to clarify in the rules that judges have the […]
The Missouri Legislature is being asked to ban doctors and their workers from assisting with or doing sex changes to those under 18. Representative Adam Schnelting is proposing to charge them with a felony and yank their professional licenses for providing gender reassignments, hormonal therapy, and puberty blockers, which are different from surgically changing genitalia. […]
State Representative Ben Baker, R-Neosho, wants to ban drag queen storytime at public libraries. About 300 people, including queens dressed in full drag and LGBT supporters, rallied Saturday at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City against Baker’s bill. Missouri Capitol Police provided security and crowd control. The event included many holding signs like “Knowledge is […]
A state representative wants to put a cap on school superintendent salaries as part of his new bill. Representative Jered Taylor from southwest Missouri’s Republic has introduced legislation that would limit the pay of a school district’s superintendent to a maximum of three-and-a-half times an average teacher’s salary. The bill would also require superintendents to […]
A congressman who represents north Missouri on Capitol Hill warns that northwest Missouri is still suffering from flooding and that there’s a lot of damage to infrastructure. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves traveled from his Atchison County farm to Jefferson City this week to file for re-election to his 11th term. Graves is the longest-serving Republican […]
In 2018, Missouri voters gave their blessing to incrementally raising the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2023. The state House has passed a bill that would exempt private and religious school workers from the state’s minimum wage law. The proposal would open the door for these schools to reduce the pay of hourly […]
State law could be changed to require that Missouri public school districts tell parents if class material, guest speakers, or displays in school mention sexual orientation or gender identity. The Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee is debating State Representative Chuck Basye’s bill that would let parents have their kids removed from class if […]
Legislation that would give Missouri Lottery winners the OPTION of not having their names published by the Lottery has been heard by a House committee. The bill sponsor, Florissant State Representative Jay Mosley, tells Missourinet it’s a safety issue. You would be able to keep your identity secret if you win the Missouri […]
