Lawmakers attempt to push bills on last day of the legislative Session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Lawmakers have until 6 p.m. Friday to pass any bills before the end of the legislative session.

The end of the legislative session means that the Missouri General Assembly has to adjourn for the year. All bills that are not passed by the 6 p.m. deadline will be dead in the water.

Several party priorities are still waiting to cross that finish line, one of those being initiative petition reform. After a 50-hour filibuster Wednesday, Missouri senators decided to ask the Missouri House of Representatives to either give up its position or conference with the Senate to come to a compromise. The House decided Thursday afternoon to send its bill back to the Senate, unchanged.

Initiative petition reform would make it more difficult for Missourians to make changes to the state constitution through petitions. If passed, Missourians would have to vote on whether to implement the changes.

The difference between the House and Senate versions of initiative petition reform is a part of the bill that's been dubbed "ballot candy." It asks voters whether it should be illegal for non-U.S. citizens to vote in Missouri elections. This "candy" supposedly aims to attract voters. However, it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote.