By JOHN O’CONNOR , AP Political Writer SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner signed laws Monday authorizing judges to take weapons away from people suffering mental health and other problems and to extend the waiting period for delivery of newly purchased guns, but pledged to veto a third piece of legislation that would require…
By BLAKE NELSON , Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed his first five bills into law since taking office, including one that exempts small farms from parts of the state’s clean water law. The legislation said farms would not need a permit to allow water from their property…
By JOHN O’CONNOR , AP Political Writer SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Eight years after Illinois abolished the death penalty, the state’s Republican governor on Monday proposed reinstating the punishment for mass killers and people who gun down police officers. Gov. Bruce Rauner tied the death penalty plan to gun restrictions favored by Democrats who control…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Legislature has voted to raise the age at which suspects are automatically prosecuted as adults from 17 to 18. The bill, approved by the Senate Thursday in a 32-1 vote, would add a $3.50 charge to all civil lawsuits to help the juvenile justice system absorb more people.…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — State senators have voted to move up the date of a public vote on whether Missouri should be a right-to-work state. Senators voted 23-7 on the measure early Friday morning after Democrats fought overnight to block a vote. The proposal deals with a right-to-work law banning mandatory union fees that…
By BLAKE NELSON , Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate is considering a bill that would extend Medicaid for new mothers struggling with addiction, a notable expansion for a state that did not expand Medicaid after the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. Missouri’s Medicaid now covers substance abuse programs for…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri House committee has rejected a bill meant to give terminally ill patients access to medical marijuana. The Columbia Missourian reports that Republican Rep. Jim Neely’s bill failed to make it out of the Legislative Oversight Committee on Wednesday. New Approach Missouri is a group campaigning to legalize medical…
By DON THOMPSON, Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Several lawmakers and the family of a 22-year-old unarmed black man who was fatally shot by police proposed Tuesday that California become the first state to significantly restrict when officers can open fire. The legislation would change the standard from using “reasonable force” to “necessary force.” That…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House is advancing a bill to protect private businesses from lawsuits if they give preference to veterans in hiring or promotion. The measure would shield businesses that favor veterans, spouses of veterans and spouses of veterans who have died. The bill is one of Republican Gov. Eric Greitens’…
By BLAKE NELSON, Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate is considering whether to permanently unplug the state’s touchscreen machines amid concerns that electronic voting machines might be susceptible to hackers. The proposal, which already passed the House in a 108-31 vote, would require voters to use paper ballots exclusively. Machines could still…