JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - The Missouri Senate has narrowly defeated a measure to eliminate February and June as months for public elections.
The proposal was part of a larger elections bill that the Senate voted down 17-16 on Thursday.
Republican Sen. Will Kraus, of Lee's Summit, said eliminating those election dates would reduce costs for local governments. But other senators argued that election-date decisions should be left to local officials.
A separate bill passed earlier this week by the Senate would eliminate only June elections. That measure is pending before the House.
School districts sometimes hold elections on tax measures in February and June.
The bill defeated Thursday would also have also abolished a requirement that party emblems appear on ballots.
Senate passes organ donation tax check off
The Missouri Senate has voted to let people contribute to the state's organ donation program when they file their taxes.
The legislation would add a check-box to state income tax forms allowing individuals to donate $2 or more to the Organ Donor Program Fund. People filing combined returns would be able to donate $4 or more.
The Senate's vote sends the measure to Gov. Jay Nixon.
Nixon signs bill limiting farm lawsuits
Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday signed into law legislation that limits nuisance lawsuits against farms and livestock producers.
The measure restricts how much money people could win in nuisance lawsuits against livestock and crop producers. It also seeks to prohibit neighbors from filing repeated nuisance claims arising out of similar conditions against the same farm.
Nixon's signed the measure one day after the state Senate gave the legislation final approval.