State Representative Adam Schnelting of eastern Missouri’s St. Charles wants to change the legal definition of marriage to a domestic union. During a Missouri House committee hearing today, Schnelting, a licensed minister and former pastor, says he’s sponsoring a bill because he says marriage is not the government’s business. Speaking on behalf of […]
State Representative Hannah Kelly of Mountain Grove wants to ban some registered sex offenders from going within 500 feet of any Missouri Conservation Department nature or education center. Under Kelly’s bill, violators could be charged with a felony. The bill would apply to sex offenders who have committed certain sex crimes against children. […]
The Missouri House has given preliminary approval to a bill that would require the creation of a statewide prescription drug monitoring program. Representatives voted 95-56 in favor of the legislation. The GOP House Speaker and the House Democratic Leader both voted in favor of the bill. Missouri is the only state in the nation without […]
Legislation aimed at preventing private entities like the Grain Belt Express from using eminent domain could hit the Missouri Senate floor soon. Frankford State Representative Jim Hansen’s bill was the first bill sent by the House to the Senate earlier this year. Hansen and House Speaker Elijah Haahr briefed Capitol reporters on Thursday, […]
A House committee has been talking about letting you decide whether to have a digital driver’s license on your phone. The traditional plastic ID would still be issued to everyone, but under the proposed legislation you could pay an additional fee to have it on your phone as well. State Rep Nate Tate […]
Following her leadership in 2017 on parental leave, State Auditor Nicole Galloway has issued a letter to Gov. Mike Parson calling on him to enact updated family-friendly policies. Specifically, she called for action to allow state workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child. These […]
Ten Missouri colleges and universities are participating in two programs that aim to reduce college costs and help students earn a degree in less time. The Department of Higher Education is set to begin pilot projects for Guided Pathways to Success and Concurrent Enrollment programs. “These programs focus on helping more students graduate on time, […]
Industrial hemp was once widely grown in Missouri as a fiber crop. The Controlled Substance Act of 1970 made it illegal to produce or possess any form of the cannabis plant. Recent changes in federal and state legislation have increased interest in growing hemp for fiber, grain, and CBD oil. An educational program will be […]
A recent report shows Missouri isn’t collecting enough tax on internet sales. A report by nonprofit Faith, Justice and Truth Project says Missouri is missing out on up to 600 million dollars annually because of untaxed internet sales. The organization says Missouri is one of the only U.S. states failing to act on […]
A southeast Missouri state lawmaker who has championed prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation hopes to pass it in her final year in the Missouri House. Missouri is the only state in the nation without a PDMP, which is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state. Scott […]
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft acknowledged the proclamation at a ceremony at the St. Louis Soldiers Memorial Museum. The legislation was co-sponsored by Annapolis Representative Chris Dinkins, whose grandfather was a prisoner of war in World War Two. The designation is an effort to continue to remember and pursue the […]
The Missouri House has voted to give final approval to bipartisan legislation that involves a complicated state Supreme Court ruling about vehicle sales taxes. Wednesday’s vote was 126-21, and 20 House Democrats voted for the bill. House Speaker Elijah Haahr says there’s a lot of support for the bill’s merits. House Minority Leader […]
(Missourinet) – One of the largest employers in southeast Missouri’s Bloomfield received a visit Tuesday from the governor, highlighting a major multi-million dollar expansion. Governor Mike Parson traveled to Bloomfield to tour a Nestle Purina plant that’s undergoing a $115 million investment. Nestle is the world’s largest food and beverage company. Nestle’s Bloomfield plant employs about 340 […]
Missouri State Representative James “Jim” Neely of Cameron, Republican, announces his candidacy for Governor of the State of Missouri. Neely, a practicing physician, represents Missouri’s 8th House District. He was elected to office in 2012 and has been a very active and involved legislator. He has introduced a large number of House Bills and has served on […]
Historically, most of the bills passed during the Missouri Legislature’s regular session become law on August 28. Of the roughly 2,100 measures filed this year, 144 proposals made it across the finish line. Dozens of proposals become official today. Here is a snapshot of 10 key measures taking effect: Education funding In the fiscal year […]
A group of state lawmakers want to talk about gun violence in the special legislative session on September 11. The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus in a letter asked Governor to add consideration of a law to allow municipalities with high incidents of gun violence to pass their own gun control legislation. The caucus […]
Two groups are suing Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft alleging that he robbed Missourians of a public vote about new abortion regulations. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and the No Bans on Choice Committee say Ashcroft refused to issue the ballot language needed to start collecting signatures. Tony Rothert with the ACLU opposes […]
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation to curb addictive and deceptive techniques that tech giants use to exploit users. The Social Media Addiction Reduction Technology (SMART) Act would ban certain features that are designed to be addictive, would require choice parity for consent, and would give users the power to monitor their time spent on […]
Auditor Nicole Galloway says law enforcement in Missouri has made significant progress in the past nine months to ensure sex offenders comply with the state’s registration law, and to update the database that provides the public with information about offenders. The progress, which comes after an audit of the sex offender registration program last October, […]
Legislation requiring Missouri’s Amber Alert System Oversight Committee to meet at least annually has been signed into law by Governor Mike Parson. State Representative Curtis Trent filed “Hailey’s Law” in response to the 2014 kidnapping and killing of ten-year-old Hailey Owens in Springfield. Trent notes the oversight committee hasn’t met since 2015. Craig […]
