Abortion

Planned Parenthood has asked a judge to overturn the Missouri health department’s newly published emergency rule governing complication plans for medication abortions.

In addition to passing the budget, a Missouri House committee is slated to advance a proposed constitutional amendment that overturns parts of Amendment 3, which enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution.

The provider announced Friday staff had begun offering some abortions, but the state had rejected a plan that would allow doctors to dispense abortion medications.

Critics argue the way the proposal is crafted could create huge problems for the state budget.

Missouri Republicans are gearing up for an unusual 2026 election cycle in which state legislative and countywide contests and ballot items could take precedence over statewide races.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers President and CEO Margot Riphagen accused Bailey of “exploiting the powers of his office to play political games.”

As of 8 a.m. Monday morning, abortions were once again available in Columbia. The procedure has been inaccessible to those living in mid-Missouri since the last abortion was performed at the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic in 2018.

The group Coalition Life in 2023 sued the southern Illinois city to upend a measure prohibiting demonstrators and other groups from gathering 100 feet from medical facilities, including abortion providers.

Officials at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers are awaiting approval of what’s known as a complication plan before offering medication abortions again.

Speaker Jon Patterson said he expects the House to consider legislation clarifying divorce law as well as bills related to child care.