Priority Legislation Advances

The month of January closed with a whirlwind of legislative activities in Jefferson City including committee hearings, our first all-night filibuster of the session and the governor’s annual State of the State address. 

On Jan. 29, I presented Senate Joint Resolution 79 to the Senate Local Government and Elections Committee alongside several of my colleagues. Pending voter approval, my SJR requires a review and comment period for constitutional amendments, prohibits foreign influence on the initiative petition (IP) process and increases the threshold for voters to approve an amendment to a majority of votes cast statewide as well as in a majority of our state’s congressional districts. Since there were nearly a dozen similar IP proposals, the committee decided to consolidate the measures and pass SJR 74. 

Last week, I advanced Senate Bill 818 by presenting it to the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee. This legislation aims to fix a loophole that bypassed our system of checks and balances during Covid-19 which allowed local governmental leaders to create hundreds of pages of laws and rules that I do not believe went through proper channels. I will always champion policies that safeguard our personal liberties and protect our families and small businesses from governmental overreach.

Chairman of Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee

I am honored to be named chairman of the Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee and entrusted with the great responsibility that comes with this leadership role. My experience as a small business owner will help me facilitate these important committee hearings and economic development discussions for the remainder of session. I look forward to serving in this capacity and helping to ensure our state remains competitive, while providing tax relief for hardworking Missourians. I also would like to thank the former chairman, Senator Denny Hoskins, for his service and will continue working with him to pass meaningful legislative reforms. 

Governor Delivers Final State of the State

One of the highlights of the month was when the governor delivered his final State of the State address to a joint session in the House Chamber. Expounding on the theme “putting people first,” the governor outlined his policy and budgetary goals for the upcoming fiscal year. These include increased funding for K-12 public schools and their transportation costs, safety improvement to I-44 and expansion of workforce development and apprenticeship programs. 

Governor Parson addresses a joint session of the House and Senate during his annual State of the State on Jan. 24.

Governor Parson's speech focused largely on the legacy of achievements his administration, the General Assembly and state government have accomplished together. A summarized list can be found below:

• Reshaped the Supreme Court of Missouri and judiciary as a whole – with 40 percent of the judiciary being appointed by Governor Parson. 
• Protected second amendment rights, focused on law and order, and safeguarded Missouri’s landmark castle doctrine.
• Fought the fight for life – reducing the number of elective abortions in Missouri to zero annually.
• Streamlined state agencies and reduced the size of state government.
• Supported state team members with a more than 20 percent increase in pay, professional development opportunities and better retirement savings plans.
• Cleared the 3,700 pending clemency applications inherited by his administration. 
• Built over 1,000 bridges and repaired 50 percent of Missouri's entire highway system.
• Boosted higher education funding by 24 percent.
• Increased state funding for K-12 education by $700 million and increased baseline teacher pay by $15,000 (with FY25 recommendations). 
• Secured investments to close Missouri's broadband digital divide once and for all. 
• Cut nearly 20 percent of regulations on the books and made state government more efficient and effective while unleashing economic development.
• Maintained Missouri's AAA credit rating and achieved the lowest unemployment ever recorded in state history at 2.1 percent.  
• Improved Missouri's GDP growth rate ranking from 42nd in the United States and last among Midwest neighbors to 23rd in the nation and Top 5 among thirteen neighboring states.
• Grew state revenues by 40 percent since 2018.
• Paid the state's bills and left the State of Missouri with $600 million – 53 percent – less debt than when his administration began.
• Left $1.5 billion on the bottom line for the next administration.
• Created over 110,000 jobs and brought $14.5 billion in new business investment through nearly 685 new business projects. 
• Reduced Missourians' state income tax burdens by over 20 percent with three separate tax cuts, including the largest tax cut in state history.

Locals Named to Statewide Boards

The Senate Gubernatorial Appointments committee I serve on has held several hearings and confirmed appointees to various statewide boards and commissions. On Jan. 10, I was honored to sponsor Jonathan Held’s confirmation to the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. The Held family has been the pioneering farmers and owners of the award-winning Stone Hill Winery in the German-settled community of Hermann since 1965, with Jon taking over as general manager in 1995 and owner in 2017. On Jan. 17, I sponsored Hadley Oden’s appointment as a student representative on the University of Central Missouri’s Board of Governors. Hadley is an impressive young woman, and I know she will be a great addition to the board.

Shout Out to a Rising Star

I’ll close with a shout-out to an up-and-coming mixed martial artist (MMA) and wrestler from Park Hills. A student at Farmington Middle School, 13-year-old Talon Worden is a state champion in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu, earned a world championship in kickboxing and karate, won the GAMMA Youth World Championship, is a USA Wrestling All American and holds an impressive 11-0 record in MMA. I was honored to introduce Talon and his family to my colleagues in the Senate Chamber on Jan. 17.

Senator Brown welcomes Talon Worden’s family to his Senate office.

It is an honor serving those who call the 26th Senatorial District home. If you need assistance with navigating state government or the legislative process, please reach out by calling 573-751-3678 or emailing.