Jefferson City — Twenty bills have been passed by both the Missouri house and senate. Governor Kehoe has signed seven of those bills so far this year. One was a three billion dollar additional spending bill. Six bills deal with updating or creating new laws.

Governor Kehoe signed HB 2641, sponsored by Representative Dave Hinman and Senator David Gregory that establishes the Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act.

HB 2641 aligns the state’s definition of hemp with the new federal definition, bringing the regulation of hemp-derived cannabinoid products under existing marijuana regulations. It requires non-licensed entities to discontinue the manufacturing or sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid products.

HB 2641 prohibits marijuana dispensaries or other authorized parties from retaining records or disseminating identifying information for consumers of regulated marijuana products unless the consumer agrees to the creation or retention in writing. It is rather ironic, that Missouri legislators passed a prescription drug monitoring bill in 2021 after a decade long battle, yet this year Missouri legislators passed this bill banning the creation of a database of citizens using marijuana.

“For too long, bad actors have exploited loopholes to market intoxicating products—including candy-like gummies or look-alike products—without meaningful oversight or accountability,” said Governor Kehoe. “This legislation ensures that Missourians know the products sold in their communities are safe, regulated, and kept out of the hands of children.”

As of April 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially moved to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. This historic change recognizes medical uses and marks a shift from the strictest category, though it does not federally legalize recreational use.

Over 40 states have legalized medical marijuana, and 24 have legalized adult-use recreational marijuana. Missouri voters legalized both uses under state law.

The Missouri House passed HB 1758 that establishes the “Daylight Saving as New Standard Time Pact”. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Gragg passed 107 yes to 31 opposing.

The bill would eliminate the semi-annual time change. Daylight saving time (DST) transitions disrupt circadian rhythms, causing significant mental health issues and increased fatalities. Studies link this change to a 6% spike in fatal traffic accidents, higher suicide rates, increased heart attacks, and heightened risk of depression due to sleep deprivation and stress. Those who care for livestock can attest that the time change affects animals as well as humans.

The bill is now in the Missouri Senate where it must pass before being sent to Governor Kehoe for approval. Then, the U.S. Congress would need to enact a nationwide DST for the Missouri law to take effect.

Nineteen states have passed legislation adopting permanent DST.