Under The Dome with Empower Missouri

All We Do Is Win: Food Is Medicine, Clean Slate, Land Banks, & Voting Rights Restoration

In this episode, Empower Missouri’s advocacy team recaps the last week of the legislative session, highlighting key anti-poverty wins and next steps. Topics include the Food Is Medicine language in the health omnibus, a slimmed-down Clean Slate automated expungement win, voting rights restoration for most people on probation or parole, and new land bank provisions to support affordable housing. The team reflects on iterative policymaking, coalition efforts, and what to expect next for implementation and future sessions.

SNAP Showdown: Bipartisan Pushback in Jefferson City

Empower Missouri’s update from Jefferson City covers the end-of-session slowdown, a contentious Senate hearing on a House bill affecting SNAP, and testimony from food security experts warning the measure could conflict with federal law and risk federal funding. Advocates and bipartisan senators raised fiscal and implementation concerns while coalition partners testified against the bill.The episode also includes lighter staff conversation about Kansas City’s famed subterranean “cheese caves,” offering a human moment amid policy work on housing, criminal legal reform, wages, healthcare, childcare, and voting rights as part of Empower Missouri’s long-standing anti-poverty agenda.

Missouri's Tax Fight: Governor’s Sales Tax Plan Headed to Voters

Empower Missouri’s Under the Dome gives a concise update from Jefferson City focused on the organization’s anti-poverty priorities. Hosts discuss the governor’s proposed sales tax changes being sent to voters, looming budget shortfalls, and the debate over education funding and the lottery. The episode highlights the tension in the final weeks of the legislative session, the possible ballot campaign that will follow, and urges listeners to stay connected to coalitions working on housing, wages, health care, and other solutions to end poverty.

Food Is Medicine Under Fire: Inside Missouri's Heated Hearings

In this episode of Under the Dome, Empower Missouri staff review recent activity in Jefferson City with a focus on anti-poverty policy. They break down the most recent Food Is Medicine hearing, including new opposition. The episode also covers other session developments: unanimous committee approval for a 12‑month contraception fill policy, continued momentum for Clean Slate, and a fast-moving constitutional amendment proposal that would shift taxes toward sales and services and be decided by voters. Hosts explain next steps and why public engagement matters.

The week of April 6 2026

Empower Missouri’s advocacy team gives a concise Jefferson City update on their anti‑poverty agenda: Clean Slate testimony, food‑as‑medicine pilots, threats to SNAP/Medicaid access (SB 1616 / HB 2481) and proposed Medicaid work requirements (HJR 154), plus housing measures including land bank reforms and short‑term rental tax changes in SB 999+2 (1001). The episode highlights legislative chaos, concerning procedural moves, and what advocates are doing to protect benefits and advance evidence‑based policy for Missouri families.

Under the Dome: Survivors’ Justice, Food as Medicine, and the CARE Act Update

In this episode of Under the Dome, Empower Missouri staff review recent activity at the Missouri Capitol focused on anti-poverty policy. They discuss the Survivors Justice Act (HB 1872) enabling resentencing reviews for people whose offenses were related to abuse, the Food as Medicine Act (HB 2355) advancing through the House, and the CARE Act proposals to ensure emergency contraception and STI screening for sexual assault survivors. They talk about the differences between emergency contraception and oral abortion medications, here is a resource on information for your own knowledge. 
The hosts also share behind-the-scenes moments from frustrating hearings, advocacy wins, community film screenings and how Kansas City crushed it.

Under the Dome: Paperwork That Pushes Neighbors Out of Benefits

Empower Missouri’s Mallory Rusch hosts a Capitol update with Lucas Caldwell-McMillan and Christine Woody on the organization’s anti-poverty work. They discuss harmful proposed citizen verification rules for SNAP and Medicaid that could block eligible citizens and children from benefits, child advocacy day, the push for a year’s supply of birth control, efforts to curb institutional investors buying single-family homes, and progress on the Clean Slate bill.

Under the Dome: Spring Break catch-uo

Empower Missouri’s policy team gives a concise update from Jefferson City during the 2026 legislative spring break: progress on food security (including the Food as Medicine bill and grocery tax changes), affordable housing funding proposals like increasing the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, and criminal justice priorities such as clean slate record sealing, oversight reforms, and concerns about sentencing bills and benefits access.
The episode highlights wins, setbacks, and actions you can take to support these evidence‑based anti‑poverty policies moving into the second half of the legislative session.

The week of March 9: Juvenile Reforms, Death Penalty Debate, and a $1B Prison Surprise

Empower Missouri’s Under the Dome update covers this week’s major developments in Jefferson City including House Bill 2722 to create liaisons for students experiencing homelessness and a historic committee hearing on Representative Murphy’s bill to abolish the death penalty. Finally we rage against Senate Bill 888 — an omnibus juvenile justice and sentencing package that was rushed through committee and carries a controversial fiscal note estimating up to $825 million for a new prison. The episode also discusses a proposed constitutional tax amendment that could shift Missouri’s revenue mix and raise costs for many residents.

Clean Slate Breakthrough: Missouri House Votes 140–7

In this episode of "Under the Dome," Empower Missouri's policy team reports on recent action in Jefferson City across food security, criminal justice, and affordable housing. They cover committee votes on SNAP-related bills, hearings for "food is medicine" and a Restaurant Meals pilot, and the TANF cash-access proposal being stalled.
Guests celebrate the Clean Slate bill (HB 2747) passing the House, discuss closing the judicial override loophole, efforts to restore voting rights for people on supervision (HB 2592), new workforce housing and zoning proposals, and concerns about juvenile justice legislation and a proposed database.