Priority issues for 2025 legislature

BY PAUL HAMBY
Posted 12/11/24

The Missouri legislative session starts on Jan. 8, 2025.

Pre-filing of bills started December 1 and in the first week, 992 bills were filed. Fortunately most will not become new laws.

I …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Priority issues for 2025 legislature

Posted

The Missouri legislative session starts on Jan. 8, 2025.

Pre-filing of bills started December 1 and in the first week, 992 bills were filed. Fortunately most will not become new laws.

I asked some of our rural lawmakers what their priority issues are for the 2025 legislative session.

Senator Cindy O’laughlin, Shelbina, will take the reins of the Missouri Senate in 2025 as the President Pro Tem. O’laughlin responded with her top issues for 2025 as public safety, tax reform, initiative petition (IP) reform, Amendment 3 (Right to Life), reliable energy generation and education reform. O’laughlin was the chair of the Senate Education Committee during the Covid years. She visited dozens of schools around the state and has first hand knowledge of what changes are needed. O’laughlin also wants to increase accountability at the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). She pre-filed SJR2, a ballot measure that would bring the leadership structure of MoDOT to be under the governor, whereas it currently operates independent of the rest of our state government.

Senator Rusty Black, Chillicothe, represents 20 counties in North Missouri. Black responded with his top issues; IP reform, Amendment 3, Senate Bill 49, that would allow school districts to employ or accept chaplains as volunteers, and passing a conservative budget.

Senator Black said: “I’m hopeful that the newly elected leadership will make IP reform a priority and get it across the finish line. This general assembly must address Amendment 3. I believe that Missourians were misled and intentionally lied to about the impact of overturning Missouri’s abortion ban. The solution could be a Joint Resolution that puts the matter back to the voters. Missourians have sent super majorities to the Missouri House and the Senate and it’s time we come together to pass these conservative priorities that the people have sent us to Jefferson City to work on.”

Black, who serves on the appropriations committee, expressed concern about the state budget: “We have seen record amounts of revenue, which is mainly due to the federal government sending massive amounts of money to states across the USA. With this amount of federal spending hopefully coming to an end, passing a conservative budget is now more important than ever.”

Representative Dean VanShoiack of Savannah represents House District 9. VanSchoiack responded with his top issues; Amendment 3 (Right to Life), IP reform, and education funding.

VanShoiack said: “Amendment 3 adds Section 36 to Section A, Article 1 of the Missouri Constitution. Paragraph 8 (1) is the definition of ‘Fetal Viability.’ However, this paragraph does not state exactly when fetal viability occurs, and further does not define what ‘extraordinary medical measures’ means. These terms are open for the legislature to define. Further, paragraph 5 says that an abortion provider cannot be sued for a botched abortion. While I am quite sure that was not the intent of those who wrote this amendment, that is a fair interpretation of the last sentence. I believe the legislature has an opportunity to protect babies and mothers by amending this paragraph and putting it before the people.”

Funding education. “With state revenues leveling off and Federal COVID spending coming to a halt, every dollar will have multiple parties trying to snatch it up. Article IX of The Missouri Constitution says: ‘Free public schools — age limit. — A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, the general assembly shall establish and maintain free public schools for the gratuitous instruction of all persons in this state within ages not in excess of twenty-one years as prescribed by law.’”

“We must provide sufficient funding for the education of our children.”

Representative Mazzie Christensen of Bethany represents House District 2. Christensen responded with her top issues: Local community fines, Artificial Intelligence, and the second amendment.

Rep Christensen said: “We need to remove the undue burden on rural communities who have incurred a debt brought on by financial statement fines and clean up statute language. We should put in place protection against artificial intelligence receiving personhood status and we need to strengthen the right to due process when it comes to our second amendment.

“My biggest priority is the vision of creating a better future for Missouri. It is both an honor and a privilege to serve in this capacity and advocate for conservative legislation. I am committed to upholding my conservative principles, regardless of the challenges that may arise. Our state would be better off if half the legislature would read the bills they vote on and understand the implications of most things they vote on.”

Rep Jeff Farnan of Stanberry, represents House District 1. Farnan responded with his top issues: Amendment 3, childcare and agriculture.

Farnan said: “We need to find ways to increase daycare options for working families. Regarding agriculture — to keep farming profitable in the coming years by diversifying crops or livestock, adopting sustainable practices, and technology, like precision agriculture, to improve efficiency and yields.”

Now you know the legislators top priorities. Let them know what you think. Find your state rep at house.mo.gov and your state senator at senate.mo.gov.