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Missouri Medicaid enrollment continues decline, down 200,000 since last June
Missouri’s Medicaid enrollment has shrunk by around 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks. The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then, states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participant’s eligibility. From June to April, Missouri’s net […]
Lawmakers adjourn without banning state from seizing benefits from Missouri foster kids
Legislation that would have banned Missouri from seizing the Social Security benefits of foster children was on the precipice of passing during the final days of the legislative session, but died when GOP infighting caused the state Senate to adjourn early. That means the state will continue to take millions of dollars in the next […]
Legislative interns help Missouri school districts claim over $1 million in federal funds
In March, the phone in state Rep. Deb Lavender’s office in Jefferson City started ringing constantly, but the calls weren’t for her. They were for her interns, Santino Bono and Alanna Nguyen. The interns, along with Dylan Powers Cody, who was interning for state Rep. Peter Merideth, had spent months cross-checking spreadsheets to pinpoint school […]
Legislation enacting total ban on child marriage in Missouri dies in the House
Child marriage will remain legal in Missouri for at least another year after Republican House leaders said they don’t have enough time to pass it. Under current Missouri law, anyone under 16 is prohibited from getting married. But 16 and 17 year olds can get married with parental consent to anyone under 21. Under legislation […]
Child care tax credits, a top priority for Missouri governor, face uphill battle in the Senate
For the second year in a row, the fate of a bill creating new child care tax credits — one of Gov. Mike Parson’s top legislative priorities — is in the hands of a faction of Republicans in the Missouri Senate. Designed to help improve access and affordability of child care, the package of child […]
Last-ditch push to ban child marriage in Missouri must overcome resistance in House
Lawmakers trying to ban child marriage in Missouri hope a last-minute push in the legislative session’s final days can overcome opposition from some Republicans that put the bill’s chances in doubt. A bill outlawing 16 and 17 years old from getting married stalled in a House committee when a handful of Republicans voiced opposition. There […]
Federal court rules Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state
A federal judge ruled Thursday that Missouri’s social services agency violated the law in the way it has administered its food assistance program. U.S. District Court Judge M. Douglas Harpool ruled that the state’s practices — including long call center wait times and a lack of accommodations for those with disabilities — violate the laws […]
Missouri bill would loosen child labor law by removing work permit requirements
A push to eliminate Missouri’s requirement for children under 16 to obtain official work permits before they can begin a job could be debated by the House this week. In order to work in Missouri, 14 and 15 year olds must obtain a certificate issued by their school, with information from their prospective employer about […]
Missouri bill would let private contractors assist in child abuse investigations
A bill winding its way through the legislature seeks to ease backlogs in child abuse and neglect investigations by allowing Missouri’s social services agency to outsource some work involving child abuse and neglect investigations to private contractors. Sponsored by Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold, the bill was voted out of committee unanimously […]
Missouri Senate gives initial approval to complete ban on child marriage
A bipartisan bill to ban child marriage in Missouri won initial approval in the state Senate Wednesday afternoon. Under current law, 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to get married with parental consent. Marriage between a minor and anyone 21 or older is prohibited. The legislation discussed Wednesday would prohibit issuing a marriage license to anyone […]
Bill would exempt Missouri Farm Bureau health insurance plans from federal rules
The Missouri Farm Bureau would be allowed to sell health insurance plans that skirt certain federal regulations under legislation critics worry could leave consumers without proper protections or adequate coverage. The bill, which has already cleared the Missouri House and is awaiting a committee hearing in the Senate, allows health plans that don’t follow the […]
House and Senate advance bill stopping Missouri from seizing benefits owed to foster kids
The Missouri Senate gave initial approval Tuesday afternoon to legislation that would end the state’s practice of seizing Social Security benefits from foster children. The bill needs a final vote in the Senate before heading to the House. Wednesday morning, the House followed suit by unanimously approving its version of the bill and sending it […]