Capitol Report 2/27/2026

Missouri News Network: Statehouse News for MPA Members

This report is written by Missouri School of Journalism students for publication by MPA member newspapers in print and online.

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Missouri News Network coverage this week includes reports on the House voting to permanently ban trans athletes from participating in sports other than their biological sex, efforts to bring Senate floor action to a live stream platform and citizen advocates rallying at the Capitol for disability rights and farm issues.

If you have thoughts or questions, contact Fred Anklam at anklamf@missouri.edu.

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FRIDAY

Trans athletes take center stage in House debates

By Jack Schouten, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Arguments on the House floor became heated Thursday as members debated House Bill 1663, which would extend a ban on transgender students from participating in sports not associated with their biological sex.

“The bill was passed three years ago,” said Rep. Jeff Hales, D-St. Louis. “There was a sunset created to give time to provide more evidence. The evidence that existed then was thin at best and the arguments were dubious. Today is no different.”

The heated exchanges started when Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, said, “Where was that fear when the president was in dressing rooms,” while responding to a comment made by Rep. Hardy Billington, R-Poplar Bluff, about his granddaughters potentially being in a locker room with a transgender woman.

Ingle continued her statement by further mentioning President Donald Trump and calling for the release of the Epstein files. Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, the bill’s sponsor, called for a point of order arguing that what Ingle was talking about didn’t pertain to the bill. Speaker of the House Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, denied Seitz’s call for a point of order.

Seitz has filed this same bill, to remove sunset provisions in the original ban, every year since the original ban was passed in 2023.

Later, when Seitz himself mentioned Trump while thanking the president for keeping men out of women’s sports, the left side of the room erupted in retaliatory calls for a point of order. Patterson again denied requests.

Ingle argued on the floor that the decision to remove the sunsets was likely a political move meant to win support during an election year.

“These are the kinds of bills that you all wanna pass when you have a tough primary,” she said. This comment was also met with a call for a point of order, which was denied.

The bill ultimately passed after Democrats spent hours arguing in opposition. Some Democrats noted that the bill would only affect a small number of Missouri’s residents.

“There were 10 student athletes that this bill affected over a 10-year period,” said Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City. “There have been more than three times that many bills filed to target these students. There have been more representatives in this legislature who have been accused of sexual crimes over that same period than trans students who want to play sports with their friends in this area.”

Rep. Bennie Cook, R-Houston, said that his view on the bill is influenced by his daughter, who plays school sports.

“My daughter, she plays girls’ basketball, she plays volleyball and softball,” Cook said. “I watch her play these sports and I want to ensure that she is safe on that court and they keep boys out of girls’ sports.”

Another argument came from Rep. Mark Boyko, D-Kirkwood, who has a daughter who competed against a trans athlete.

“If you ever had me pick between my own daughter winning yet another medal that won’t even make it into the van when she goes off to college and somebody else’s daughter finding a place where she can smile and feel like she belongs, a feeling that lasts a lifetime, I know what I will choose,” Boyko said.

Boone County Rep. John Martin, R-Columbia, spoke in favor of the bill, arguing that it didn’t discriminate against anyone.

“Schools can only allow students to be in athletic competitions designated with the student’s biological sex as indicated on the student’s official birth certificate,” Martin said. “Nobody is saying you can’t compete here or there, it’s simply by birth certificate, which is common sense.”

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Committee considers whether more prosthetics should be covered by insurance

By Brandon Lorenz, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Uncertainty on federal interpretation of the Affordable Care Act gave pause Thursday to an effort to require insurance companies to provide additional coverage for assistive devices.

Right now, insurance companies will cover one assistive device, like prosthetics and mobility wheelchairs. House Bill 2034, sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Caton, R-Blue Springs, requires the MO HealthNet program, health carriers and other health benefit plans to cover at least three devices for multiple uses.

Caton proposes that expanding the coverage would allow patients to have access to affordable necessities for their mobility and their quality of life.

The bill states that the required coverage should include one prosthesis or orthosis for daily use, one for physical activity and one for showering or bathing.

In Thursday’s hearing by the House Health and Mental Health Committee the strongest opposition came from the Missouri Insurance Coalition. They argued that with the Trump administration planning to do away with the federal funding the Affordable Care Act provides, the cost of these additional devices would fall to the state.

For the past 15 years, the federal government has fronted costs for coverage on situations like these due to a legal interpretation of the ACA. However, Hampton Williams, a lobbyist representing the Missouri Insurance Coalition, said a new rule-making decision in the past two weeks was released that indicates the Trump administration is going to change that interpretation.

“Under the ACA, when the states impose mandates, it was an obligation for the state to actually pay for those mandates,” Williams said. “What the Trump administration’s ruling currently is, is to announce they have an intent on reinterpreting how that has been applied in the past.”

In spite of opposition, many veterans, amputees and athletes shared their stories with the committee and asked them to pass the bill.

“Supporting this felt like a continuation of my service to this country,” said Sam Schaefer, a U.S. veteran and amputee. “Everybody wants the option to be able to choose their life and not have outside forces limit something as basic as walking, going for a jog or playing with their kids.”

Committee members showed their support. A 14-year-old undefeated quarterback from Joplin shared his story of his many different “hand-me-down prosthetics” he had received for athletics.

Rep. Jo Doll, D-St. Louis, spoke on the concept of a hand-me-down prosthetic.

“I’m a physical therapist, so I have some knowledge of prosthetics, and truly a hand-me-down prosthetic is not a thing, right? It should be made for you,” Doll said.

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Bill proposing transparency for air ambulance memberships heads to House floor

By Natalia Gomez del Campo, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill passed by a House committee this week would set guardrails for companies selling memberships for air ambulance services.

House Bill 2874‘s sponsor, Rep. Bill Allen, R-Kansas City, called it a transparency bill at a hearing Feb. 16. Part of the bill is preventing air ambulance companies from selling memberships to recipients of Medicaid, which is administered through and also known as MO HealthNet.

Allen says this is because the memberships, many of which automatically renew, have Missourians paying extra fees for an emergency service that MO HealthNet already covers.

Allen said that it’s common for those who buy memberships to not always receive the services, such as when members ask for an ambulance service outside of the designated radius that the company provides.

“Because of this, it’s important that we ensure Missourians, especially the most vulnerable Missourians, are not misled or sold something that they don’t need,” Allen said.

The bill would require the companies to give refunds to recipients of MO HealthNet who bought a membership if they request one within 30 days of enrolling, or to allow them to pass on the membership to another person — not a recipient of Medicaid — in their household.

Allen pointed out ambulance memberships are not the same thing as health insurance and have no regulation. For example, they don’t all have to adhere to state marketing laws, something the bill aims to address.

The bill also has general transparency requirements, such as full disclosure in marketing materials. Allen calls this a consumer protection bill that puts “little to no burden on businesses.”

LifeFlight Eagle, a company that operates in western Missouri and eastern Kansas, calls this bill a “non-issue” for them because they already comply with these rules. They don’t sell their services to MO HealthNet recipients and have transparent terms and conditions listed on their website.

Rep. Jaclyn Zimmerman, D-Manchester, asked Allen at the hearing what would happen if MO HealthNet stopped covering air ambulance services altogether. Allen said he didn’t want to speculate, but if this were to happen, that would be something that would need to be addressed.

In 2025 a similar measure passed the House but died in the Senate.

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THURSDAY

Disability advocates lobby against budget cuts

By Jackson Cooper, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Disability rights advocates from across Missouri traveled to the Capitol on Wednesday for the 25th annual Disability Right Legislative Day.

The crowd numbered in the hundreds, composed largely of people with disabilities and their allies. They listened to speakers, including elected officials and fellow activists, before discussing issues with individual lawmakers.

The theme of the day was concern over proposed cuts in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s budget for the Department of Mental Health. The cuts would reduce $17.5 million in state support for the Self-Directed Supports program, or SDS, and $61.7 million in funding for day habilitation programs, according to previous Missourian reporting.

The Self-Directed Supports program provides funding for families and individuals to hire their own support staff, promoting autonomy while allowing individuals to receive daily care in their own homes. Day habilitation programs provide out-of-home activities for those with disabilities.

Lorie Perdieu is a self-advocate from Kansas City. She was born with a condition called arthrogryposis, which affects limb and joint development. She said her ability to live independently is directly tied to SDS funding.

“I have fought not to be in an institution since I was 17,” Perdieu said. “I’ve always said if I was going to be in an institution, I would own it and run it. Well, I’m not to that point yet.”

Kehoe’s proposed budget is currently in early-stage revisions. It’s undergoing scrutiny from the House Appropriations and Budget committees. Lawmakers can negotiate and potentially adjust provisions before the budget is signed by the governor.

Representatives promised to resolve cuts before the budget was voted out of their chamber.

“I’m in favor of full funding for all these services my city so needs,” Rep. Colin Wellenkamp, R-St. Charles, said. “I’m not gonna stop until we get these back.”

While Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, D-St. Louis, is not on the House Budget Committee, she said her party’s minority ranking member in the committee, Rep. Betsy Fogle, D-Springfield, was working tirelessly to prevent the cuts from going

through. The Senate’s budget chief, Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, said in a statement Wednesday that he intended to work with his colleagues to restore the cuts once the budget passed the House.

One issue raised by Democratic representatives was mobility within the Capitol building .

Rep. Gregg Bush, D-Columbia, spoke to the crowd about one experience he had escorting the widow of former State Sen. Chuck Graham around the Capitol that highlighted accessibility issues in the building.

“We had to use three different elevators because their son also used a wheelchair as a mobility device,” Bush said.

Renovations to the century-old Capitol building have long been discussed, though a $4 million provision intended for the Capitol Commission to explore renovation projects was struck in late stages of budget negotiations last year.

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New treatments for mental health pass committee

By Chase Pray and Hannah McDonough, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY – Bills that would allow easier access to controlled substances believed to combat mental health disorders advanced out of committee Wednesday.

The House Emerging Issues Committee passed bills regarding two Schedule I controlled substances: ibogaine and psilocybin.

Under House Bills 1643 and 1717, psilocybin, a chemical found in mushrooms, would be legalized as a reliable mental health treatment and allowed to be prescribed by licensed physicians.

HB 2817 and HB 2961 would provide money for ibogaine research. Ibogaine is a psychoactive compound derived from the root bark of the iboga plant.

Neither drug is currently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for recreational or medical use.

The measures are sponsored by Reps. Matthew Overcast, R-Ava, and Richard West, R-Wentzville.

“Unfortunately, I can tell you, as a veteran, we’re losing too many (veterans),” Overcast said. “I lost one of my buddies to suicide because of the way we have been very close minded on how we treat mental health, and it’s been the same way for years and years.”

Psilocybin, more commonly known as mushrooms, is a psychedelic drug. It has been clinically tested for medical purposes, mainly to treat mental health disorders, but it is still not legal to prescribe in Missouri.

Both legislators want psilocybin to be legally used to treat PTSD, major depressive disorder, substance use or end of life care for anyone 21 years or older. However, HB 1717 also requires the patient to be a veteran.

Ibogaine is illegal nationwide but has been used in clinics outside the U.S. as a treatment for individuals seeking to address opioid dependencies and mental health concerns.

Little is currently known about the full range of ibogaine’s potential side effects. A 2021 study from the U.S. National Library of Medicine found there could be serious cardiac risks associated with using the drug.

Opposition say lack of FDA approval is a large point of concern. Jacob Scott testified against the bills. He is a registered lobbyist and the director of legislative affairs for the Missouri State Medical Association.

“While we have heard anecdotal testimony supportive of these products and therapies, it is critical that these remain unavailable until their efficacy and safety are confirmed through regular clinical trials by the FDA,” Scott said in a statement. “There is no current approved use by the FDA and therefore these bills should be rejected by the legislature at this time.”

West thinks these treatments could be preferable to patients in comparison to current mental health treatments.

“You’re talking about a very short, intense period of treatment, compared to a long, maybe a lifelong treatment of pharmaceutical drugs,” West said.

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Two bills aim to prevent high utility cost in areas with data centers

By Nolan Haberstroh, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Bills seeking to prevent an increase in utility costs for residents in areas impacted by data centers were introduced during a news conference Wednesday.

House Bills 3362 and 3364, sponsored by Reps. Colin Wellenkamp, R-St. Charles, and Mike Costlow, R-Dardenne Prairie, respectively, would require permits for certain levels of utility use and subject “large-load customers” to different payment rules.

One of the included provisions would require large water consumers to get a permit from the state Department of Natural Resources.

Data centers or other consumers using more than 2 million gallons of freshwater, or 80% of the available water capacity of a given locality, would be required to apply for the permit. Consumers above the large load threshold for use would also be required to pay an increased rate, with the intent to save residents near the centers from potential increased costs. If permit holders far exceed the minimum use for a permit, they will be required to cover the costs to build out additional utility infrastructure, Wellenkamp said.

“If facilities are exceeding (permitted levels) by a good amount, where currently the capacity of the system would be in question, either in normal operation or in emergency operation, then (the consumer) will be required to build out freshwater capacity for the locality that they are in,” Wellenkamp said.

Under the bills, if a state of emergency related to drought is declared by the governor, the Department of Natural Resources would reevaluate existing permits.

Wellenkamp said the two bills propose regulations for water utilities similar to those already implemented for energy utilities in Senate Bill 4.

SB 4, introduced last year by Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, enacted a wide range of utility regulations. One provision requires large energy consumers to pay an increased rate to cover the cost of any strain on local infrastructure and to ensure that costs are not pushed onto smaller consumers. Wellenkamp’s bill seeks to extend these provisions to water utility use.

The bills would not prevent the use of resources by data centers in the state, or even curb the amount used. Instead, they would attempt to prevent residents from incurring increased costs related to resource use. Increased utility costs have been a concern in areas impacted by data centers.

St. Charles County, which both Wellenkamp and Costlow represent, has become a hotbed for prospective data center development in the state. According to the city’s website, St. Charles placed a one-year moratorium on data centers in August of 2025.

Wellenkamp also acknowledged existing water access problems in his home county.

“We have some water insecurity issues in St. Charles; I’m not going to sugarcoat that. We are having to get water from compromised well systems,” Wellenkamp said. “(The water) is cleaned, and then safely given to our folks, but it’s low capacity. We also have to get water from St. Louis County.”

Costlow insisted the provisions of the bills are enough to safeguard residents.

“Whether it’s an increase in capacity, building power plants, or water facilities, we have to make sure that cost is not passed on in any situation to the consumer,” Costlow said. “We want to protect our residents first before we start to look to reap the benefits of this kind of investment into our state.”

Rep. Scott Miller, R-St. Charles, was also present. He said the intention was not for the bills to be anti-AI. Miller said the legislators welcome business from the centers in the state.

“The future is coming, and we’ve got to rise up to meet it. But we need to meet it on our terms, and we need to meet it protecting our people. And we shouldn’t hide from (it) as far as I feel,” Miller said.

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Advocates urge lawmakers to protect farms amid proposed budget cuts

By Hailey Sanford, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — The Capitol was a field of green Tuesday morning as farmers and food advocates from across the state, wrapped in matching green scarves, urged lawmakers to protect agriculture programs and healthy food initiatives amid proposed budget cuts.

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s proposed budget calls to cut more than $5 million in agriculture spending from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027 — a 7.8% decrease.

The second annual Local Farm and Food Advocacy Day brought together rural and urban advocates promoting locally grown food, small farms and community access.

Katie Nixon, a farmer and the director of New Growth Food Systems, organized the event with help from other organizations.

Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette, spoke to the crowd about the importance of advocating for these issues. She said these issues are nonpartisan, common sense and about good government and stewardship.

“You just want to be treated fairly, and you want to be heard by your elected officials,” McCreery said.

A group of farmers and advocates went to speak with Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City. Thomas volunteers at Urban Produce Push, a Kansas City-based program that provides people with fresh produce.

Thomas said that the proposed budget would cut numerous programs but described agriculture policy as bipartisan.

Rep. Emily Weber, D-Kansas City, addressed the difficulties rural and urban legislators face trying to understand each other’s communities. Weber, who grew up in rural Kansas and now represents an urban community, said she is working to bridge that divide.

She described urban farms and their importance to the economy and the community.

“(Urban farms) are actually an industry that is bringing back to the community, that’s actually giving back healthy foods,” Weber said. “It’s a job. It’s employment. It’s also teaching a lot of our youth how to grow and maintain their own lives as well and be healthier.”

Former state Sen. Wes Shoemyer, now a board member at Farm Action Fund, broadened the conversation to federal policy, calling for a reinstatement of Country of Origin Labeling.

Country of Origin Labeling was required until Congress repealed it in 2015. Shoemyer hopes it will be reinstated when the United States renegotiates the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement later this year.

“I always found it amazing that if they imported a dog bone for your dog, it had to have the country of origin on it, but if you got some hamburger for your kids, it didn’t,” Shoemyer said. “Now, I kind of think our children and our families are just as important as our dogs.”

After the rally, the advocates met with legislators from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of convincing them to invest in local and regional food infrastructure, expand access to land, promote fair and competitive food markets, support locally grown food and align agriculture policy with economic development and public health policy.

Clay Jarratt is the director of programs at Urban Produce Push and is married to Thomas. Jarratt said that the Kansas City organization distributed almost one million pounds of food to over 120 organizations last year. The group aims to provide people with nutritious, fresh food and to prevent food waste.

Alana Henry serves as the executive director of the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council in Kansas City, and she said her organization’s initiative aligns with the Make America Healthy Again priorities.

“One thing that our collaborative has talked about extensively is what it looks like to make sure that we’re easing pathways for food, nutrition prescriptions, food access programs and also supporting food businesses,” Henry said in the meeting with Thomas.

Maggie Samborski, who has three farms in the Kansas City area, told Thomas that Supplemental Nutrition Access Program benefits can be used to purchase vegetable transplants — an option she said most recipients are unaware of.

“I’m just really an advocate that people have the right to grow their own food, those rights be protected and they be enhanced. Like, there should be no restrictions, in my opinion, on people’s ability or right to grow food,” Samborski said.

The farmers were buzzing to speak with their lawmakers.

Nixon told the eager advocates, “Go out there today and make space for yourselves. This is your house. You pay for it. Don’t feel like you’re imposing.”

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Committee hears resolution to provide live feed of Senate floor

By Sawyer Bess, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — The public could have access to live video feed of the Senate if a Senate resolution is agreed to.

“It’s just a basic transparency move, if people want to see the Senate and what we’re doing,” said the resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove. “It’s really about access for everyone.”

Aside from North Carolina and Missouri, 48 other states provide live feeds of their Senates.

Moon said Wednesday that Missouri residents would benefit from a livestream, like educators looking to teach about government or those who live far away from the Capitol. A drive to Jefferson City could take over four hours for the farthest Missouri residents.

At the same time the resolution was being heard in committee, disability advocates from across the state were visiting the capitol for Disability Rights Legislative Day.

“It would allow them to not have to travel and inconvenience themselves and be able to see what we’re doing,” Moon said.

Counterarguments focused on how a video feed could affect Senate proceedings and behavior on the floor.

“There’s always a certain number of egos in the Senate, and I’m just not sure more camera time would make the body a better place,” said Sen. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit.

While Cierpiot expects video to encourage more grandstanding and performances, Majority Floor Leader Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, questioned whether video could discourage senators from saying certain things.

“Are senators going to be less likely, or guarded, about speaking their mind for fear that video might be used against them?” Luetkemeyer said.

Though there may be concerns about grandstanding and self-censorship, Moon said he believes senators would be encouraged to come to the floor more prepared.

Other supporters were concerned about serving Missourians.

“It’s not about the representatives, it’s not about the senators, it’s about the people that we represent,” said Dusty Blue, a candidate for state Senate.

Moon said the public has interest in video feeds and wants more transparency.

“Our bosses want it, those who’ve elected us have asked for us to livestream so they could see what we’re doing,” Moon said. “Will we listen to our bosses or will we ignore their wishes?”

Moon has failed to gain support for similar legislation in previous years.

Moon said he has gathered 126 supporting witness forms, and one in opposition.

The Missouri House has offered live video feeds since January 2015. The Senate offers live audio feed, but senators are only called out by their district and not their names. This can make it difficult to keep track of who is speaking.

“It’s incredibly important that people have an opportunity to monitor what’s going on,” activist Ron Calzone said. “I don’t (always recognize voices), and the district numbers sometimes escape me.”

Lt. Gov. David Wasinger supports the resolution, and called for Senate transparency in a Facebook post.

Only the Senate needs to pass the resolution if it leaves committee. The current resolution text says the livestream must be operational by March 1, but Moon acknowledged this date would likely need to be pushed back.

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Senate bills look to make "masked intimidation" a new crime

By Noah Symes, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — The Senate Judiciary Committee heard a pair of bills Wednesday aiming to prevent the use of masks to intimidate others.

Senate bills 1043 and 1150 would establish the offense of “masked intimidation.” A person can be charged if they use a face covering to conceal their identity while harassing, threatening or intimidating another person or group.

A person cannot be charged under this bill if their face covering is for religious, medical, celebratory, occupational, emergency or weather-related reasons. The bill also states the charge will not be used to diminish or infringe on First Amendment rights.

One of the bill sponsors, Sen. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, added that he’d like to work in protections for law enforcement, including ICE and Border Patrol, so they would not be charged.

Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, one of the bill sponsors, said they would protect Missourians against hate crimes.

In 2021, 44.2% of hate crimes in Missouri were classified as intimidation, according to data from the FBI.

“Our current law struggles to address a specific cowardly tactic — the use of masks to shield one’s identity while executing these threats,” Washington said.

Washington said both bills aim to address the gap in the state’s ability to “protect (its) citizens from targeted, anonymous terror.”

“When a perpetrator conceals their face, they aren’t just protecting their identity, they’re amplifying the victim’s fear, and hindering the pursuit of justice,” Washington said.

Jordan Kadosh, regional director of Anti-Defamation League Heartland, which covers Missouri, testified in support of the bill.

Kadosh said incidents like last year’s Patriot Front rally in Kansas City, a white supremacist rally and march in which attendees wore face coverings, show the need for these bills. He added that while groups like Patriot Front are entitled to freedom of speech, “the mass intimidation (and) harassment goes a step further.”

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Senate committee hears bill linking animal and child abuse reporting

By Anika Austvold, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — The Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee heard testimony Wednesday for a bill that would modify provisions relating to abuse and neglect reporting of both children and animals.

Senate Bill 899 is sponsored by Sen. Tracy McCreery, D-Olivette. It aims to create a cross-reporting system between child welfare authorities and animal control officers.

Through this system, investigators who handle cases of child abuse, elder abuse or domestic violence would receive training to identify signs of animal abuse. Likewise, animal control officers and others who investigate animal cruelty would be trained to recognize warning signs of abuse against people.

If an investigator uncovers evidence of a different type of abuse while responding to a case, they would be required to report it to the appropriate agency for further investigation.

McCreery has worked on various versions of the legislation since taking office in 2022. She calls it a preventative measure to better protect Missouri’s most vulnerable residents.

“Under this bill, I truly believe that lives can be saved across the board,” she said.

This bill is similar to House Bill 2292, sponsored by Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka. It recently unanimously passed out of its House committee, signaling bipartisan support for a cross-reporting system.

Supporters from child advocacy groups, animal welfare organizations and law enforcement testified that cases of abuse in the home rarely occur in isolation.

Jay Hardenbrook, advocacy director for AARP Missouri, said abusers often use pets as tools of control, harming animals to intimidate vulnerable members of the household.

Ashlyn McCarthy-Sinclair of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation said cases of animal abuse are often more visible than child abuse. This puts animal control officers in a position to notice warning signs that might otherwise go unreported.

Although officers may want to report suspected child abuse, Sinclair said they are not mandated reporters and must instead call the Children’s Division hotline. In some cases, she said, officers have waited hours on hold while juggling other calls.

Designating animal control officers as mandated reporters would allow them to file reports directly through the state’s online system and continue their work without delay, McCarthy-Sinclair said.

Claire Wyatt, a former assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, also testified in favor, saying the bill would create a “much-needed collaborative network” among mandatory reporters, allowing agencies to share information before situations escalate.

Those opposed to the bill raised concerns about expanding authority tied to animal investigations, particularly in rural communities.

“In rural areas, we are more cautious about who enters our properties and why,” said Karen Strange, president of Missouri Federation of Animal Owners. Strange testified against the bill.

JoEllyn Klepacki, director of education for the Humane Society of Missouri, urged the committee to consider the broader impact of supporting the legislation.

“You do not protect one vulnerable being while ignoring another,” Klepacki said. “Safety is interconnected. Protecting animals can be a pathway to protecting people.”

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House shows support for bill increasing power of attorney general investigators, Capitol guards

By Peter S. Pynadath, Missouri News Network 

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that would allow attorney general-appointed investigators to make arrests and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies was given initial approval Wednesday. Before the bill was approved, an amendment was added extending the ability to make arrests to security guards in the House and Senate.

House Bill 2167, sponsored by Rep. Dolan David, R-Sikeston, would allow investigators hired by the attorney general to be certified as peace officers. This would allow them to arrest individuals and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies when requested. These investigators would also be required to undergo training with the Peace Officer Standards and Training Program.

An amendment to the bill, introduced by Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, would certify House and Senate security guards as peace officers, requiring procedural training through the Peace Officer Standards and Training Program. This amendment would also allow security guards to have access to federal and local police databases.

House Bill 1997, sponsored by Rep. Bill Irwin, R-Lee’s Summit, is identical to West’s amendment. Irwin’s bill passed through the Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and currently awaits a vote on the House floor.

Majority Caucus Chair Bennie Cook, R-Texas, introduced another amendment, which would add the state Supervisor of Alcohol and Tobacco Control and their employees to the list of those who would be able to make arrests after completing peace officer training. This amendment was struck down due to strong opposition from Democrats in the House and a lack of support from Republicans, many of whom were absent for the vote on the amendment.

Opponents of the bill and West’s amendment argued on the floor that it would grant undue power to attorney general-selected investigators and Capitol security guards. Rep. David Tyson Smith, D-Columbia, said that there are already avenues for the attorney general’s office to make arrests without the need for investigators to be certified as peace officers.

“We don’t need to give this office a power to hire people who can arrest people in the streets,” Smith said. “There are people who can arrest them in (the attorney general’s office), through their agency. That’s enough.”

Republican proponents of the bill countered that increasing police collaboration will improve security and contribute to a safer environment. David said the bill would get rid of bureaucratic hurdles for the attorney general’s office when investigating other state agencies. David added that investigators at the attorney general’s office need more resources at their disposal due to the complexity of the cases currently under investigation.

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House gives initial approval on bills to expand agriculture education

By Emma Farrel, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — The House on Wednesday initially approved a bill aimed at expanding agriculture education in Missouri schools.

House Bill 2097, sponsored by Rep. John Martin, R-Columbia, and House Bill 1905, sponsored by Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, transition an agriculture education pilot program into a statewide option for elementary schools. The goal of these bills is to introduce students to Missouri agriculture through hands-on learning.

The new bills would end the current pilot program and authorize the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to start the new program statewide for the 2027-28 school year. Participation would be voluntary, and public schools would choose to implement the curriculum.

The statewide program would include structured agriculture education, including laboratory and site-based activities. All curricula will be created by DESE. The department said it is open to collaborating with Missouri agriculture commodity groups.

Local school boards that choose to implement the program must agree to fully fund the program using either local school board funding or preexisting funds from the federal or state government. The bill does not create a new dedicated state funding stream for the program.

Martin and Plank said expanding agriculture education provides students with a foundational understanding of Missouri’s food systems, resources and potential career paths.

The bills still require one final vote on the House floor before moving to the Senate.

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WEDNESDAY 

Candidates begin filing for 2026 primaries

By Brandon Lorenz and Anika Austvold Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Candidates gathered in the secretary of state’s office on Tuesday to file for legislative and federal positions to be filled in the 2026 election cycle.

The candidates included both incumbents and newcomers, along with some familiar faces who have made national headlines.

Although Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told reporters he expected a smaller number of candidates this year without a statewide U.S. Senate race, candidates still lined up early, eager to get their names on the ballot.

Those included local incumbents state Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, and state Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, who lined up within the first hour of filing.

“I’m excited about the process of going another term,” Steinhoff said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much, and I’m just ready to continue the good work of hopefully representing my neighbors and Missourians in general.”

State Rep. Gregg Bush, D-Columbia, was also early on the scene.

“Columbia and our values, and our Democratic values, are worth fighting for, and that’s why I showed up today,” Bush said.

Democratic candidate Bekki Brewer is challenging state Rep. John Martin, R-Ashland, for his House seat that represents southern Boone County. Martin is the only Boone County representative being challenged.

The first candidate through the door Tuesday was U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, a Kansas City Democrat, running for his 12th term. This time, he is looking to represent the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District that includes the northern part of Boone County.

Last September, a special legislative session was called by Gov. Mike Kehoe to change the congressional districts in hopes of adding one more Republican seat. The move came after President Donald Trump pressured Missouri Republicans to redraw the map.

The redrawn map could give Republicans a 7-1 advantage in the eight congressional districts, as opposed to the previous 6-2 split. The impact was most visible in Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district, which he has held since 2005.

Under the new map, the former 4th District was divided, with its northern portion pushed into the new 5th District. As a result, the 5th District now stretches from southern Kansas City to northern Boone County.

Shortly after Cleaver filed, Lee’s Summit resident Sean Smith filed as a Republican candidate for the 5th District seat. Smith was one of four Republicans who filed to run in the district, along with Brad Patty of Fayette, Brett Hueffmeier of Kansas City and Taylor Burks of Boone County.

“I ran against Cleaver in ‘24,” Smith said. “It’s absolutely time for him to retire, and I think I’m going to be the vessel that does that.”

Also running to represent western Missouri in the 4th Congressional District is Kansas City resident Hartzell Gray.

Gray’s candidacy was also affected by redistricting. He had initially planned to challenge Cleaver in the 5th Congressional District, but the newly drawn constituencies shifted his race to the 4th District.

“The folks in my district have never backed down,” Gray said about the redistricting. “Here we are fighting against suppression. They try to dilute our voice and silence us, and we stand up and we fight back.”

Filing alongside Gray was former U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, who is hoping to reclaim her seat representing the 1st Congressional District after her loss in 2024 .

“St. Louis is worth it. The people are worth it,” Bush said. “I’m not going anywhere, and a title doesn’t define me. The needs of the people, that’s what does.”

Samantha Jackson contributed to this story.

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Predictions vary on impact of dropping income tax

By Peter S. Pynadath, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Eliminating individual income tax has been a top priority for Gov. Mike Kehoe, but many interest groups argue over how it will affect the average Missourian.

Proponents argue that the removal of individual income tax will leave more money in the pockets of workers, while critics believe that this added income will ultimately be spent on sales tax, resulting in a net increase for most Missourians.

The Missouri Budget Project, a public policy analysis organization, estimates that expanding the sales tax base to all services or goods will increase living costs for Missourians. Jeremy LaFaver, a registered lobbyist for the Missouri Budget Project and former House member, said that median earners in Missouri would pay more of their household income in taxes, while high-income earners would see a decrease.

However, groups in support of Kehoe’s proposal, such as MO Tax Relief Now, a volunteer citizen advocacy group, and the National Taxpayers Union, a taxpayer lobbyist group, push back on claims made by the budget project, arguing that this proposed tax reform will grant Missourians economic freedom.

House Joint Resolution 174, carried by Speaker of the House Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, is a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would require the state to eliminate individual income tax by January 2031. No individual income tax will be imposed on Missourians once the top rate is less than 1.4% by 2031 or later.

Additionally, this resolution repeals previous provisions in the Missouri Constitution preventing the state from taxing transactions or services not previously subject to tax before January 2015. After July 1, 2029, the sales and use tax rate must be adjusted to produce “substantially the same amount of revenue as the median annual revenue” produced on average by individual income tax in the past three fiscal years.

Impact on Missourians

Amy Blouin, president of the Missouri Budget Project, said median taxpaying units in Missouri making $65,400 a year, would see a $535 net increase in their taxes under a sales tax structure. Blouin noted that only taxpaying units making more than $300,000 would see a decrease in taxes, based on data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, who support the budget project’s assessment.

LaFaver, who served on the House Budget Committee from 2012 to 2016, said these calculations were based on the assumption that sales taxes would rise to generate current revenue levels, as the Missouri budget must be balanced. LaFaver said this would result in 60% to 80% of Missourians paying more in taxes.

“There are a lot of things out there that people don’t realize that they don’t pay sales tax on right now, that would be added to their new monthly bills,” LaFaver said. “The only thing this bill does is expand the base for sales tax, increase the amount of sales taxes people have to pay and then they would have to trust the legislature to come back later to cut their income taxes.”

These calculations were based on models created by the institute that simulate each Missourian and the taxes they pay. The institute adjusted the model to show what an elimination of income tax would look like, paired with projections on how much the sales tax rate would have to rise to make up for the loss in revenue from individual income tax.

“The governor has not put forward publicly a real plan,” state analyst Eli Byerly-Duke said. “So I assume that the current Missouri sales tax will increase to offset every dollar of individual income tax that was cut.”

Dennis Ganahl, founder of MO Tax Relief Now, said the average taxpayer paid $1,526 per year on state income tax, but under a sales tax structure, they would only pay $65, leaving $1,461 extra dollars in Missourians pockets.

“The heaviest sales tax burden will be paid by people who make above average wage and have more disposable income to spend on goods and professional services,” he said.

Ganahl said Missourians earning less than $20,000 a year pay little to no state income tax. Currently, the highest tax rate in Missouri is 4.7% for taxable income over $9,100.

“Especially for single filers with standard deductions and no major additional income or adjustments, they pay $0,” Ganahl said.

The combined state and local sales tax rate in Missouri was 8.39% in 2025, which was already above the national average of 6.61%.

Blouin said that under a sales tax structure, those standard deductions Ganahl referred to won’t exist, and will increase costs for Missourians.

“With income tax, nobody pays on every dollar of income,” Blouin said.

Currently, the standard deduction for single filers is $15,750 and $31,500 for married filers. This means this income is not subject to tax, which Blouin said will change under this proposed structure.

“If you’re a family making $65,000 a year, you’re spending most of your income on just necessities,” Blouin said. “Every penny you’re spending now is going to be subject to tax; you don’t get a standard deduction anymore.”

Data from the Missouri Budget Project indicates the state is currently in a regressive tax structure, a problem Byerly-Duke said will get worse.

“The state of Missouri already has a regressive state and local tax system,” Byerly-Duke said. “The governor’s proposal is very vague, but as he’s described it, eliminating the personal income tax and then raising sales taxes will make the system much more regressive if the income tax is fully replaced by sales tax.”

According to the budget project, the lowest 20% of earners pay nearly 10% of their income in taxes, whereas the tax burden on those making $1.2 million or more is 5.7%.

Blouin said a potential rise in costs will be more pronounced for older adults and members of the military, because some public pensions and Social Security payments are already exempt from income tax. Active-duty military members and those serving in the National Guard or Reserves are exempt from income tax as well.

Impact on economy

Ganahl said that a sales tax structure will incentivize economic growth, which he said has remained stagnant in Missouri for decades. Missouri’s tax revenue model is almost 100 years old, which legislators on both sides of the aisle agree is an issue.

“We need a tax strategy which attracts residents and businesses alike,” Ganahl said. “Building the population and economy will grow Missouri and produce more tax revenue from more sources.”

Ganahl said many are leaving states with high taxation, such as California, Illinois and New York.

Leah Vukmir, vice president of state affairs for the National Taxpayers Union, said the removal of individual income tax will show that Missouri values its workers.

“When someone works overtime, takes a second job, or finally gets a raise, the state takes a cut first,” Vukmir said in a written testimony. “Eliminating the income tax sends a simple message: Missouri values work and effort, and success won’t be punished.”

Despite support for Patterson’s resolution, Vukmir and the union advocate for educating voters clearly and consistently so that Missourians understand how reform works.

“For most families, tax reform isn’t something you read in a report; you experience it in real life,” Vukmir said. “That’s why voters need clarity, not complexity, and confidence that reforms are designed with their long-term interests in mind.”

However, LaFaver said that this bill will negatively impact Missouri’s economic development and argues these benefits won’t be experienced by the average Missourian earner.

“You raise taxes on those people, you cut funding for services in your state budget, and you restrict consumer spending,” LaFaver said. “That makes it harder for our state to grow economically.”

“You’ll see the math is the math, no matter the messenger,” he added.

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Bill protecting political expression in public schools advances

By Kaleb Anderson and Sophia Gromowsky, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that would expand protections for political and ideological expression in K-12 public schools received initial approval by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The “Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act,” sponsored by Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, would grant students the right to express political and ideological viewpoints in class, within relevant assignments and through campus organizing.

Time and manner restrictions are still applicable, and the bill does not protect student speech that “disrupts school operations or the expressive activity of another individual.”

Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination against student clubs based on their religious, political or ideological viewpoints.

Rep. Kem Smith, D-Florissant, questioned the necessity of the bill since the First Amendment already protects students’ right to free speech.

Chappell said that the SPEAKS Act would further solidify students’ First Amendment rights under Missouri law and also give parents clear legal recourse if they believe their child’s right to free speech is violated.

“It’s distressing to me to think that somebody might be willing to violate the rights of a child as long as it doesn’t cost them anything,” Chappell said. “Parents, by this bill, will have the ability to appeal to the federal courts should they believe that the First Amendment rights of their children have been violated.”

Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis, raised the concern that the bill included no guardrails to protect against hate speech. She said that children typically imitate behaviors they observe at home and worried that students who mimic hateful speech at school will face no consequences under the new act’s protections.

“There are some parents out there who may fly a Confederate flag and say very egregious and hurtful things about people who look like me, and kids will create a club to go with that,” Bosley said. “This bill doesn’t say we’re not going to stop certain speeches that are protected.”

Rep. Ian Mackey, D-St. Louis, shared a story from his time as a public school teacher, in which a white student told a black student that interracial marriage was sinful.

He pointed to statutes that instruct teachers to intervene to prevent bullying in the classroom and questioned where the line would be drawn between protecting free speech and preventing harm to other students.

Chappell countered that the bill would create an environment where “bad speech” would be combated by more speech.

“If (the First Amendment) doesn’t protect speech we find objectionable, it doesn’t protect any speech,” Chappell said. “Because there’s always somebody, especially in today’s culture, there’s always somebody who’s offended by something.”

He expressed that teaching children how to use their words to disagree with opposing viewpoints is an essential part of preparing them for adulthood.

“We have neglected the responsibility to expose children to bigger ideas as they mature, so that when they leave the educational system, they’re ready to take their place in society,” Chappell said.

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Senate looks at funding cuts for low-earning degrees

By Noah Symes, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that would prohibit state funds from going towards “low-earning” degrees was heard in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 1617 would cut state funds for student financial aid and operational costs for students in programs where graduates do not earn more in their field than someone with only a high school diploma in that same field.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said the bill falls in line with new federal regulations and a federal earnings test, which evaluates what is considered “low-earning.”

“It’s a good way of weights and measures to ensure that whatever we’re subsidizing and investing money in, is one that’s going to actually pay off dividends for these students,” Brattin said.

Under the bill’s provisions, if a degree program, on average, does not generate earnings for its recipients greater than those of non-degree holders for two out of three years, those programs would be considered “low-earning.”

Grace Desjardins, the legislative director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, testified against the bill. She cited concerns over the short timeline that the bill provides students.

“Many fields like education and research, the fields that I intend to do in the state, do not show their economic value four years after completion,” Desjardins said.

Desjardins said that graduates’ earnings are only measured for up to four years after graduation. She argued that this could spell trouble for programs that require further training or experience before seeing full earnings, adding, “Nursing programs often require additional licensure and experience before wages rise.”

Desjardins said that while she believes the bill has good intentions, it would only complicate students’ academic journeys due to fluctuating funding statuses.

“A program could be more fundable one year and less the next,” Desjardins said. “That uncertainty makes it harder for students in Missouri to plan.”

Brattin said he also brought the bill due to his concerns about the growing student debt problem nationwide, and added that his bill “is not prohibiting any degree program from being offered.”

According to the fiscal note included with the bill, if implemented, it could save the state over $25 million. Brattin equates this to 645 students in the first two years, “that would potentially be saved from this riddled debt.”

“This is just ensuring that if you’re going to take these, you know, going eyes wide open into what you’re getting into,” Brattin said.

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TUESDAY 

Transgender athlete ban would be permanent under House bill

By Jackson Cooper and Erin Hynes, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s restriction on transgender athletes’ participation in high school and collegiate sports would become permanent under a bill preliminarily approved by the House on Monday.

House Bill 1663, sponsored by Rep. Brian Seitz, R-Branson, seeks to remove the expiration date on the statute currently mandating that students compete based on their sex assigned at birth.

The initial legislation was passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson in 2023. It is set to expire on Aug. 28, 2027, the result of a sunset clause that permitted the legislation to enter into force while lawmakers could better study its impact.

However, Seitz said there was no need to review the law further before removing the sunset clause. He said it was only added by the Senate in 2023 to stop filibustering and appease Senate Democrats.

“The Senate putting in the sunset clause back then was just a matter of capitulation. Right is right and it doesn’t change over time,” Seitz said.

Seitz’s bill only strikes the expiration date and does not change the substance of the 2023 law.

Opposition on the floor was strong from House Democrats, who said the bill tackled a nonissue.

Transgender students represent a tiny fraction of athletes participating in high school and intercollegiate sports. While exact statistics are not kept, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified in 2024 that he knew of fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing nationwide out of more than 500,000 NCAA athletes.

At the time the initial legislation was passed, it applied to 12 children in Missouri high schools, said Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann.

“What we really need to do is protect the fragile lives that are entrusted to us and make sure they grow, make sure they’re successful, make sure we don’t squash and bring a whole state government down on 12 little kids,” Clemens said.

Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, added that since their election in 2024, they have seen more bills regarding those athletes than there are transgender athletes in Missouri.

Rep. Pattie Mansur, D-Kansas City, took issue with how Republican lawmakers frame transgender athletes as a larger issue than school systems believe it is.

“In my role as a school board member in Kansas City, over seven years, there were many issues that we discussed, and I’m gonna tell you this was never one of them,” Mansur said. “It’s only here that this position is something risky and dangerous.”

After receiving initial approval via voice vote from the House, HB 1663 awaits a roll call vote before it can pass the chamber and move to the Senate.

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Privacy concerns raised over election data bill

By Abigail Didonna and Eric Hughes, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A Senate bill that would gather additional election data faced strong questioning in a hearing Monday afternoon.

Senate Bill 985, sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby, would require election authorities to provide the secretary of state’s office with a summary of the votes following an election. It would also require the secretary of state to establish a unique identification coding system for each precinct in Missouri.

The intention of the bill is to promote transparency and to be in touch with how precincts are feeling and voting about specific issues, Carter said.

Currently, data is already collected on a county level, while this bill would require data collection at a precinct level, Clark said.

Most of the pushback against the bill came from the requirement for the secretary of state to publish a voter registration list, including personal data, on the office’s website leading up to an election.

“This seems like a lot of personal information that’s going out there,” Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, said. “A voter’s name, their year of birth, their address being published on the website? I have very serious privacy concerns about that being on the website.”

Sen. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, questioned whether the bill was being considerate of registered voters who reside in the state’s smaller townships.

“I’m thinking of one of our really small townships, in my county,” Crawford said. “There’s only maybe 50 people that are registered in that particular township. Do you feel like that’s maybe a little invasive for that small of a number?”

In response, Carter circled back to the bill’s intended purpose to establish transparency in record keeping.

“I’m thinking from a positive perspective that it actually helps us to know how people feel about certain issues,” Carter said. “I want to be in touch with how my voters feel about things. So that’s where this perspective is coming from. I want to understand.”

Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, questioned why the bill would aggregate regular and absentee votes together.

“Just to try to give that transparency of how it is that those precincts are voting so that we have a better sense and a better pulse of how others are thinking about certain issues,” Carter said.

The bill also prohibits notaries from charging a fee to notarize absentee voter registration or ballots.

A representative from the secretary of state’s office testified that the new requirements fit within their financial capacity. Her priority in testimony was in support of the tech fund fee, a $5 fee that they are looking to extend to 2030 to fund cybersecurity.

Nurrenbern and Sen. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, questioned whether the cost would be passed off to local election authorities or country clerks.

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House bill would make hunting and fishing permits free for some veterans

By Sawyer Bess, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill that would make hunting and fishing permits free for military personnel and disabled veterans faced bipartisan criticism Monday.

House Bill 2202 would require the conservation commission to remove costs for some service members’ hunting and fishing tags.

The free permits would be given to 100% disabled veterans that are Missouri residents and any active military personnel regardless of residency. Their dependents would get the same benefits.

“For our disabled veterans, I think it’s the least that we could do to at least offer them the opportunity to go hunting at no cost since they have given so much to our county,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker.

Mayhew also says that the Missouri Department of Conservation has seen a budget surplus in recent years, and thus should give free permits to these veterans.

Members of the House Committee of Conservation and Natural Resources questioned the bill, given it is still taking money away from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Rep. Michael Burton, D-Lakeshire, said the department will soon be funding projects that will use up more of their budget. The department can also use extra money as emergency funds for disaster response.

“Missouri has one of the best, if not the best conservation department in the country ... people from all over the country, all over the world come to Missouri to hunt and fish,” Burton said. “I don’t want to put that in limbo.”

Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, also praised the Department of Conservation for its projects and nature centers.

“I think that we are the envy of other states, not because we collect more tax revenue than we use, but because of all the wonderful programs,” Shields said.

Regardless of budgeting, Mayhew still wants to give veterans benefits via the conservation department.

Steve Jones, an Army veteran who has hunted and fished his whole life, also encourages veteran benefits but disagrees because there would be minimal change.

He pointed out that Missourians aged 65 and older only need to purchase permits for hunting large animals and birds, and this rule also applies to 60% or higher disabled veterans. Jones said that this bill would only be including nondisabled and veterans younger than 65.

“To give a veteran like me the same benefits and recognition of those who spent time as a POW, or suffered the effects of service-related injury or illness strikes me as absurd,” Jones said.

Aaron Jeffries, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, said that veterans are given other types of benefits from the department of conservation.

“What I’m most proud of is the work that our staff do, as well as our conservation partners, that put on veteran hunts, active duty military hunts,” Jeffries said.

Jones said that he thinks the bill should end in committee as he believes it would likely not survive the legislation process and could even be challenged by the Supreme Court.

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House bill pushes for more insurance coverage of prosthetics

By Margaret Stewart, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — House Bill 2034 would require insurance companies in Missouri to provide coverage for up to three orthotic, prosthetic and assistive devices per individual.

Currently, coverage is only provided for one daily-use device. Almost 120,000 Missourians would be assisted. Advocates of the proposed expansion said most state residents believe all costs relating to assistive devices are included in insurance coverage.

Rep. Carolyn Caton, R-Blue Springs, who proposed the bill, said that a daily-use device or “walking leg” restricts “the ability for movement.” Referring to a Missouri resident who is disabled that she knows, Caton said that “she’s missing out on a big part of her life that she loved.”

Up to three assistive devices are required for active citizens, advocates say.

The primary prosthetic is called a walking leg. For activity, users have a leg that allows for increased comfort and mobility. A third, additional leg is required for showering and bathing, as the others are not waterproof.

University of Missouri student and Paralympian Amaris Vazquez expressed support for the bill alongside the lobbying group “So Every Body Can Move.” Vazquez said some devices “can cost as much as a car,” ranging from $15,000 to $60,000 per device.

Members and supporters of So Every Body Can Move lobbied at the Capitol on Jan. 21, meeting with legislators.

Vazquez said that when she first started competing in track and field she used her uncomfortable “walking leg.” Since the socket fitting, adjusting and adapting of her running leg, she has won competitions on the state, national and international level.

Although the bill has passed in 12 other states, including Georgia, Arkansas, California and Colorado, Caton expects strong opposition from insurance companies when the House Health and Mental Health Committee has a hearing on the bill Thursday.

“It’s not about red or blue. It’s about doing the right thing,” Caton said. Supporters of the bill include physicians, the Missouri Hospital Association and mental health counselors, Caton said.

Although the bill would only affect around 10% of Missouri’s population, Caton said, “It’s definitely one of the good bills. It’s a bill that unites people, that doesn’t divide them.”

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Senate looks to give nonviolent offenders second chances, redefine stalking

By Noah Symes, Missouri News Network

JEFFERSON CITY — Bipartisan legislators have presented two bills aiming to help eligible individuals clear their names from the records.

Senate Bills 854 and 1494, sponsored by Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, and Sen. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, would automate record expungement for eligible individuals. Another bill being handled by the Senate Judiciary Committee would expand the definition of stalking.

Expungement is the sealing or destroying of criminal records, making them inaccessible to the public. Currently, expungement must be petitioned for and settled in court. These bills would instead automatically expunge low-level, nonviolent offenses after a period of one to three years.

Williams said in a hearing on the bill that more than 500,000 Missourians are eligible for record settlement, a method of expungement, “Yet, only 1% actually receive expungement for their records,” he said.

“Many of these people make up our communities, our friends and family members,” he said. “Expungement would radically change their lives and result in an easier time finding employment, housing and starting a family.”

Patrick Benson, a veteran and former firefighter, testified in support of the bill. He noted his post-traumatic stress disorder and described the “greatest moment” of his life — pulling a woman from a burning house. He said that this is often overshadowed by the fact that he was convicted of a low-level drug offense.

“When I fill out a job application or have applied for a lease on an apartment or anything like that, they don’t ask me about the one greatest moment of my life,” Benson said during public testimony Wednesday. “They do ask me about the one lowest moment in my life.”

Benson said the bill would help people like himself overcome the barriers their low-level crimes have built up.

The committee also heard public testimony this week on a bill aiming to expand the legal definition of stalking.

Sponsored by Sen. Patty Lewis, D-Kansas City, Senate Bill 928 would expand stalking classifications to allow police to act based on victims’ fears rather than waiting until a violent or more dangerous act occurs.

Sara Brammer, who has a doctorate in counseling psychology, testified in support of the bill as a representative of Synergy Services, a family violence safehouse and service center.

“Domestic violence is not a single incident,” she said. ”It’s a pattern of coercive control that escalates and becomes more lethal with time.”

Monica Mayberry, a director at Mattie Rhodes Center, a nonprofit focused on family and public health, also testified in support of the bill. She said many actions by stalkers do not cross the line into what is currently considered illegal, but the action still causes fear or gives the stalker control over their victim.

Under this bill, police would be able to act based on the victim’s fears of harassment, intimidation or bodily harm, which can sometimes begin with victims receiving unwanted affection.

“Flowers are supposed to be romantic, right?” Mayberry said when discussing how stalkers sometimes will send unwanted gifts to a victim. “They don’t cross the line of ‘this is against the law.’”

Mayberry said abusers will sometimes use specific language, inside jokes or references that only a victim will understand. She said that, because of the coded language, police often have trouble intervening.

“They’re not writing, I’m gonna come do XYZ to you,” Mayberry said. “They’re using language that only that partner knows.”

Mayberry said she believes the bill would allow police to act when victims raise concerns or fears over similar unwanted actions, rather than waiting for a situation to turn violent.

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WEEKEND 

Legislators show bipartisan support for AI regulation

By Emily Skidmore, Missouri News Network 

JEFFERSON CITY — Senators expressed bipartisan support for artificial intelligence regulation bills at a news conference this week.

Sen. Doug Beck, D-St. Louis County, Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley, and Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, all emphasized a need for reform on AI regulation in Missouri.

Nicola’s bill, Senate Bill 1012, focuses on the prevention of AI in elections. The bill would require a disclaimer for any use of AI in political advertisements, and would make it a class A misdemeanor if a disclaimer was missing.

The bill would also put responsibility on the person producing the AI content. “AI is not human,” Nicola said.

The bill was passed this week in the Senate Committee of Local Government, Elections and Pensions with a 6-1 vote. Both Nicola and Beck sit on the committee.

“AI can be a very powerful tool, and the Missouri family should not be the guinea pigs while bad actors are exploiting new technology to harm real people,” Nicola said Thursday.

Moon’s bill, SB 859, establishes the “AI Non-Sentience and Responsibility Act,” an additional emphasis that AI systems are not considered a person and all harm caused by an AI system is the responsibility of the owner or user of that system.

The bill has been referred to Senate Committee of General Laws but has not received a hearing yet.

Beck expressed support for both bills as he emphasized the need for AI regulations.

“We need AI to be a tool and not a corruption thread that goes through our society and destroys a lot of different things,” Beck said at the news conference.

Currently, Missouri does not have extensive state laws that regulate AI.

As a priority this session, legislators are working to put restrictions on AI systems and the production of deepfakes, AI-generated media that creates realistic audio, video or images to make people appear to say or do things they never did.

Nicola’s bill will be eligible for debate on the Senate floor as soon as next week.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get some guardrails on AI and protect our people,” Nicola said.