The St. Louis police control bill, HB 71, passed 7 – 2 and will now go to the Missouri House floor.

If passed, the bill would transfer control of the police department from the state to the city of St. Louis. That city hasn’t had control of its own police force for more than 150 years.

Supporters, including Redditt Hudson, the program associate for the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, said the legislation will give the control back to the people. The St. Louis Police Officers’ Association opposes local control, saying the state is managing the force properly without local politicians intervening.

— Missouri Digital News