Takeaways: Iridescent Riffel wishes she could have started gender-affirming treatment when she was younger. Riffel, a transgender Kansan, said she wasn’t in a welcoming home, so she delayed her transition until she felt more safe. She went through an unwanted puberty while she waited. “I didn’t really want to grow facial hair,” she said. “A […]
State Government
Posted inCivic Engagement, DIY Democracy, State Government
Missouri lawmakers break new ground to stop constitutional amendments — and abortion
Editor’s note (March 25, 2023): This story has been corrected to reflect that the proposal would require a majority support from voters statewide, plus a majority vote in five of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. While state lawmakers across the country stumbled when trying to make it harder for voters to amend state constitutions, Missouri lawmakers […]
Posted inHealth, State Government
Missouri considers banning county jails from shackling some pregnant inmates
Takeaways: The Missouri House stands poised to pass a bill largely prohibiting city and county jails from shackling women in their third trimester of a pregnancy. In state prisons in Missouri and 39 other states, the practice is already banned. The legislation would extend that rule to city and county jails. The bill, sponsored by […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas lawmakers could again debate medical weed. Here’s why it has failed before
Takeaways: Yet another spring in Topeka and more seemingly serious talk about legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas. Lawmakers and supporters of pulling Kansas cannabis regulations in line with a national trend and the laws of neighboring states say things look different this year — perhaps. But this process is wearing on advocates who say the […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas has considered ending taxes on period products since 2022. Why has nothing passed?
Takeaways The 2022 gubernatorial election in Kansas was close. Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican challenger Derek Schmidt rarely found common ground. But they agreed on at least one thing: ditching the sales tax on diapers and period products — like tampons and menstrual cups. They both liked the idea because it helped young women, families […]
Posted inEnvironment, State Government
South KC landfill opponents prepare for a potential Senate battle, after a win in the Missouri House
Takeaways: When Rick Meyers started knocking on neighbors’ doors to talk about a proposed landfill about a mile from his home, he didn’t appreciate the scale his campaign would take on. The door-knocking turned into an email list. That begat a Facebook group with nearly 5,000 members. Then a political action committee came online to […]
Posted inHealth, State Government
National conservative groups are working to limit transgender rights. They’re finding success in Missouri
Missouri may offer a prime example of a red state primed for plug-and-play laws restricting transgender rights. A robust network of conservative advocacy groups stretching across the country has eagerly seized the chance to show the Show Me State just how to do that. Last year, lawmakers passed a ban on access to gender-affirming care […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, DIY Democracy, State Government
Missouri House and Senate OK two plans making it harder for voters to amend the state constitution
The Republican-controlled Missouri House and Senate advanced two different proposals Thursday that would make it harder for voters to change the state constitution using a constitutional amendment. The Senate passed a bill on a party-line vote that would dramatically crank up the difficulty of passing a constitutional amendment proposed by voters using an initiative petition […]
Posted inState Government
What is the state of tax cuts in Kansas?
Takeaways: – Kansas lawmakers are in a deadlock over tax cuts, primarily centered around Republicans advocating for a flat income tax.– Republicans are making a second attempt at a flat tax through an amended bill. The second attempt has fewer Social Security tax cuts.– The fate of sweeping tax cuts in Kansas remains unclear but […]
Posted inDIY Democracy, Local Government, State Government
Missouri House Democrats launch uphill push to give cities more power over gun control
Takeaways: Missouri House Democrats reacted to the fatal shooting that followed Kansas City’s Super Bowl celebration by pushing to give mayors and city councils more leeway on gun control. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade and her Democratic caucus bristle at the way Missouri’s lawmakers refuse to consider legislation that would create more firearms restrictions in […]