Cindy O'Laughlin

Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin said Missouri’s Children’s Division has failed in its core mission and needs to be restructured to protect vulnerable children.

In a rare instance of triumph for Missouri Democrats, an effort to raise the bar to amend the state constitution — a central GOP priority — was defeated.

The Missouri House refused to go to conference and wanted the Senate to adopt a version of the proposal with other provisions that critics call "ballot candy."

The upper chamber adjourned without taking up any bills despite a state constitutional deadline coming on Friday. That deadline has only been missed once, in 1997,

A resumption of the internal GOP warfare that led to a 41-hour filibuster last week could, for the first time since 1997, force lawmakers to complete appropriations in a special session.

The annual state budget and a tax that funds the bulk of Missouri’s Medicaid program are two things that must pass this session.

The Shelbina Republican said much of the focus on the divides within the Missouri Senate Republican caucus could be a media creation as, in her view, “Anytime you have something that's negative, it gets the press corps' attention.”

Missouri Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin said she ‘absolutely’ would vote to remove Sen. Bill Eigel from the chamber.

Missouri Republicans and Democrats have both expressed concern that election year pressures may make it difficult to pass significant legislation.

Expanding child care access and making it harder to amend Missouri’s constitution through ballot initiatives are among the priorities for the Republican-led legislature.