State Senator Rob Schaaf of St Joseph has pre-filed legislation addressing a state health insurance exchange.

The republican’s proposed legislation would prohibit state-based health insurance exchanges. They could only be established by the legislature, or an act of the people like a petition.

Health insurance exchanges are required under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. States that do not create their own must participate in one created by the federal Health and Human Services department.

Schaaf calls the federal health care law “intrusive to our state sovereignty, requiring Missourians to purchase products they do not necessarily want.”

The Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly starts noon on Wednesday, Jan. 4.