Jason Hancock
@jasonhancock.bsky.social
Editor-in-chief of The Missouri Independent, a nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom.
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
jhancock@missouriindependent.com
Detective for the people. Raker of muck.
jhancock@missouriindependent.com
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The Missouri House approved a bill Thursday that would ban all intoxicating hemp products — things like THC seltzers or hemp-derived THC edibles currently sold at gas stations and smoke shops — beginning in November. #moleg #mogov
Missouri House passes legislation banning intoxicating hemp products • Missouri Independent
If Congress decides to allow the sale of these products, the House bill would only permit them to be sold in Missouri dispensaries.
missouriindependent.com
February 19, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
As the proposals move through the legislative process, some lawmakers questioned whether the bills have had enough discussion, pointing to the complexity and rapid development of AI technologies. #moleg #mogov
Bills targeting deepfakes, AI liability spark debate among Missouri lawmakers • Missouri Independent
Lawmakers said they want to lay out penalties for sharing AI-generated images of people without consent. First they have to agree on goals.
missouriindependent.com
February 19, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released a scathing report Wednesday on the state’s marijuana program, concluding that missteps in the 2019 licensing process triggered costly litigation and raised persistent questions about whether licenses were awarded fairly. #moleg #mogov
Audit finds flawed scoring cast ‘shadow’ over Missouri medical marijuana licensing • Missouri Independent
Missouri’s ‘blind scoring’ system could be circumvented, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick found, which clouded the process and sparked costly litigation.
missouriindependent.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:57 PM
Missouri’s “blind scoring” system for marijuana licenses could be circumvented, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said, which clouded the process and sparked costly litigation. #moleg #mogov
Audit finds flawed scoring cast ‘shadow’ over Missouri medical marijuana licensing • Missouri Independent
Missouri’s ‘blind scoring’ system could be circumvented, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick found, which clouded the process and sparked costly litigation.
missouriindependent.com
February 18, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
House and Senate proposals both create an A–F report card, but they split on how grades are calculated, whether low test participation should lower scores, and how to structure incentives for high-performing districts. #moleg #mogov
Key differences emerge in Missouri House, Senate bills to create A-F school grades • Missouri Independent
Missouri's lawmakers are drawing up their plans for grading public schools 'A' through 'F,' with key distinctions emerging between proposals.
missouriindependent.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A property tax overhaul moving through the Missouri House includes provisions that would potentially push all elections to August and November. The bill’s sponsor, however, said that’s not his intent and will make any changes necessary to prevent it. #moleg #mogov
Missouri property tax overhaul bill may inadvertently move municipal elections to November • Missouri Independent
A property tax overhaul moving through the Missouri House includes provisions that could push all elections to August and November.
missouriindependent.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A bill seeking to clarify that Missouri women are legally allowed to get divorced while pregnant received unanimous approval Thursday from the House for the second year in a row. #moleg #mogov
Missouri House once again approves bill clarifying divorce rules during pregnancy • Missouri Independent
State Rep. Cecelie Williams, who co-sponsored the legislation, spoke of the dangers of keeping women legally tied to abusers for an extended time.
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The Missouri House passed legislation Thursday that would permanently bar doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to transgender minors, sending the bill to the Senate for approval. #moleg #mogov
Permanent ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender minors clears Missouri House • Missouri Independent
Restrictions on gender-affirming care for Missourians under the age of 18 could become permanent as the House votes to remove the sunset.
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Your tax-deductible gift today keeps The Missouri Independent alive — free for everyone, focused on accountability and independent of political or corporate influence. #moleg #mogov #mosen
Donate • Missouri Independent
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A push for Missouri to immediately adopt planned federal limits on intoxicating hemp products ran into a filibuster in the state Senate Wednesday, with critics demanding any changes wait until national regulations go into effect in November. #moleg #mogov
Proposal to ban intoxicating hemp products stalls in Missouri Senate • Missouri Independent
Democratic state Sen. Karla May led two-hour resistance to an immediate ban on hemp-derived THC beverages and edibles.
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
What began as a public hearing on a parental rights bill quickly went off the rails on Tuesday as the Missouri Senate Education Committee veered into talk of furries and allegations of homophobia. #moleg #mogov
Partisan clash erupts in Missouri Senate education hearing on transgender students • Missouri Independent
Democrats on the Missouri Senate Education Committee speak out against the chairman's choice of divisive bills over bipartisan reforms.
missouriindependent.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri House moves ahead on bill to silo property tax rates, move tax elections to November #moleg #mogov
Missouri House moves ahead on bill to silo property tax rates, move tax elections to November • Missouri Independent
Missouri property tax bills would look different next year, with separate rates for each type of property, under a plan given first-round approval in the Missouri House.
missouriindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:55 PM
There are 524 Missourians on a waitlist for treatment and services from the Department of Mental Health. Of those, 446 are in jails throughout the state — incarcerated indefinitely without being convicted of their alleged crimes. #moleg #mogov
‘It sure looks like a crisis’: Lawmakers confront mental health backlog in Missouri jails • Missouri Independent
There were 524 Missourians as of last week charged with crimes and awaiting mental health treatment designed to move their cases forward.
missouriindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
‘It sure looks like a crisis’: Lawmakers confront mental health backlog in Missouri jails #moleg #mogov
‘It sure looks like a crisis’: Lawmakers confront mental health backlog in Missouri jails • Missouri Independent
There were 524 Missourians as of last week charged with crimes and awaiting mental health treatment designed to move their cases forward.
missouriindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
The lawsuits follow comments Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway made last week to the Missouri House Budget Committee, where she vowed to shut down so-called “gray market” games in bars, restaurants and convenience stores across the state. #moleg #mogov
Missouri AG files first lawsuits in promised crackdown on unregulated slot machines • Missouri Independent
Five retail shops in Dunklin County were sued Tuesday by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who alleges the businesses are operating illegal gambling machines on their premises.
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A Missouri judge is being asked to decide which congressional district map — the one passed in 2022 or the one passed last year — will be in effect when candidates line up to file for office later this month. #moleg #mogov
Judge to decide whether Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map is in effect • Missouri Independent
A Missouri judge is being asked to decide which congressional district map — the one passed in 2022 or the one passed last year — is in effect.
missouriindependent.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Missouri lawmakers scrounged for unspent or underutilized funds that could be cut from next year’s budget Monday, vowing to protect programs they said are vital to the health of Missourians. #moleg #mogov
Missouri lawmakers scour for savings to shield disability, health programs from cuts • Missouri Independent
Lawmakers sought ways to minimize proposed cuts to disability and other health programs in a budget hearing on the state's health department
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Lawmakers have been back in the Missouri Capitol for a month. As newsrooms shrink across the state and nation, watchdog reporting has never been more essential.
Will you make a tax-deductible gift today to keep fact-based, nonprofit journalism alive in Missouri? #moleg #mogov
Will you make a tax-deductible gift today to keep fact-based, nonprofit journalism alive in Missouri? #moleg #mogov
Donate • Missouri Independent
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A bill requiring public schools screen all students to determine if they qualify for gifted education by the time they reach the third grade passed the Missouri House on a 142-8 vote Monday. #moleg #mogov
Bill to require gifted education screening in public schools passes Missouri House • Missouri Independent
The Missouri House passes a bill requiring public schools to screen students for gifted education, bolstering a 2022 law.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
While Denny Hoskins has conceded that part of his summary was flawed, his attorneys argued that other portions are neutral and should be retained in the revision that will be drafted by a Cole County judge. #moleg #mogov
Missouri secretary of state wants to keep portions of ballot language for redistricting referendum • Missouri Independent
A trial was held Monday over the ballot language that voters would see if a referendum on redistricting makes the Missouri ballot in November.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Cannabis drinks may cut alcohol consumption, study finds, as Missouri weighs hemp THC rules #moleg #mogov
Cannabis drinks may cut alcohol consumption, study finds, as Missouri weighs hemp THC rules • Missouri Independent
Missouri lawmakers are debating the future of hemp-derived THC beverages, which are already sold in bars, liquor stores and convenience shops.
missouriindependent.com
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no • Missouri Independent
State and local election officials are bracing for the prospect of federal action after President Donald Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections.
missouriindependent.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Donald Trump wants to federalize elections. Missouri secretary of state says no.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told lawmakers he wouldn’t provide the state’s full voter list to the feds w/o a court order. He said his office had only shared a public version of the voter rolls. #moleg
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A law passed last year to add a measure for grade-level equivalency as part of Missouri’s standardized test reports may be scrapped as a casualty of the state’s budgetary woes. #moleg #mogov
Missouri budget cuts threaten plan to show grade-level performance on state tests • Missouri Independent
Gov. Mike Kehoe proposes cutting funding for a new law that would add a measure for grade-level equivalency to test scores.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Jason Hancock
A proposed $80.7 million funding reduction of Missouri’s services for people with developmental disabilities would eliminate the “community specialist” option — and slash pay rates for families’ care staff by between 21% and 29%. #moleg #mogov
Missouri families worry proposed $80.7 million cut will hobble disability care programs • Missouri Independent
As advocates argued reduced pay would cause care staff to quit, Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn said the workforce impact is unclear.
missouriindependent.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:02 PM