A Cole Co. judge declared lawmakers' inability to pass tax credit legislation in the fall rendered a Missouri science investment bill unconstitutional.
The Missouri House has sent back to a committee a proposal to issue $1.2 billion in bonds to fund construction projects at college campuses, parks and other state facilities.
House member Chris Kelly, a Democrat from Columbia, says the proposal needs adjustment and that working it out at the committee level would save time.
The bonding package would need voter approval if it clears the Legislature, which adjourns May 17. The House Budget Committee will re-examine the bonding measure, and Kelly says the full chamber could vote on it next week.
The Missouri House has endorsed legislation requiring the prescribing doctor to be present when a woman takes any drug to induce an abortion.
The bill received first-round approval 119-41 on Wednesday. It needs another vote to move to the Senate. Sponsoring House member Jeannie Riddle, a Republican from Mokane, says the legislation is intended to protect women's health and safety. Opponents said the goal appears to be more restriction of abortion.\
The Missouri House has backed a tax credit overhaul that is sharply different from a Senate version. A bill given initial approval 120-31 Wednesday night would set much higher caps than the Senate on the amount of tax credits that can be approved annually for the renovation of historic buildings and development of low-income housing.
Unlike a bill passed previously by the Senate, the House version would combine several existing business incentives into a new program with greater flexibility for state economic development officials to award tax credits.
The Missouri House has preliminarily approved sweeping measures that would expand gun rights in the state and allow certain school officials to carry concealed weapons in school buildings.
The bill would allow appointed "protection officers" to carry concealed weapons as long as they have a valid permit and register with the state Department of Public Safety. The officers would also be required to complete a training course established by the peace officer training commission.
