Legislative Column for the Week of Jan. 20, 2025

This past week, the Senate pro tem announced committee assignments, and I am honored to have been selected for several key roles. I will be serving as chair of the Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee, which oversees legislation related to county governments, township organizations and political subdivisions. Additionally, this committee will consider bills concerning election law, retirement and pension systems.

In addition to this role, I have been appointed as vice chair of Appropriations, where I will help shape the state’s budget and oversee the distribution of public funds. I will also serve as vice chair of Fiscal Oversight, a committee responsible for reviewing legislation that requires new appropriations or expenditures exceeding $250,000. Through these roles, I hope to play a critical part in ensuring responsible state spending, prioritizing fiscal discipline and crafting a conservative budget that wisely allocates our resources.

This week, much of the Senate’s focus has been in committee hearings, particularly within the Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee, and the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment Committee.  

The Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee is addressing crime in our major cities, considering whether the state should take control of the St. Louis City Police Department. The goal would be to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to enhance public safety. Missourians deserve safe communities, and the majority caucus is committed to prioritizing legislation that combats violent crime, strengthens law enforcement and ensures justice for victims.

Meanwhile, the Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment Committee is working on utility reform to protect consumers from unfair costs. The focus is on reducing outdated regulations that drive up utility bills, lead to unreliable services and contribute to reckless energy policies. By ensuring fair tax treatment and transparent regulations, we can modernize infrastructure, reduce service disruptions and blackouts and prevent costly emergency repairs.

Beyond committee work, several key legislative priorities will be at the forefront this session:

• Tax reform: We are committed to letting Missourians keep more of their hard-earned money. Our caucus will focus on reducing the tax burden, simplifying the tax code and making Missouri more competitive for businesses and families.
• Amendment 3 and pro-life issues: Protecting the sanctity of life remains a cornerstone of our caucus’s values. Legislation will address challenges arising from Amendment 3 and work toward ensuring that Missouri remains a strong pro-life state.
• Initiative petition reform: The integrity of our democratic process is essential. We will work to reform the initiative petition system to prevent out-of-state interests from abusing it while preserving it as a tool for grassroots engagement.

With these committee assignments and legislative priorities, I remain committed to fiscal responsibility, public safety and policies that protect Missouri families and taxpayers.  I look forward to making a meaningful impact for our state.

As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is 573-751-1415, my email is rusty.black@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is
 201 W. Capitol Ave., Room 420, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

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