Missouri statehouse

Backers of the legislation claim it's a way of protecting property rights and contract law.

Missouri law doesn’t prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Efforts to change that have failed for 24 years.

Under the bill, facilities can still limit things like visitor movements and the number of visitors per patient, but cannot require patients be vaccinated against any disease to receive treatment or visitors. Experts warn it could cause a conflict between state and federal requirements.

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, a Missouri law would automatically kick in to ban the procedure except in medical emergencies. Republican lawmakers have also proposed bills that would take aim at abortions occurring across state lines.

State agencies were allowed to make emergency purchases over $50,000 during COVID-19 pandemic without following the normal process.

Cora Faith Walker, chief policy officer for St. Louis County and a former state representative, has died. She was 37. Walker joined County Executive Sam Page’s administration in 2019 as chief policy officer. The Ferguson Democrat previously represented Missouri’s 74th District.

St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg discusses what’s on the docket for the state in the next few months.

Jaclyn Driscoll joined St. Louis Public Radio’s newsroom a few weeks ago as its statehouse reporter to help cover all things Missouri politics. She…

A bill awaiting Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s approval would require hospitals to disclose cost estimates to patients within three business days.State Sen.…