Senator Ben Brown’s Capitol Report for Jan. 27, 2025

The 2025 Legislative Session Is Underway

What an eventful couple of weeks we’ve had at the State Capitol! On Jan. 8, the 2025 legislative session was called to order and newly and re-elected senators took the oath of office. On Jan. 13, we celebrated Inauguration Day traditions and ceremonies and the swearing in of statewide elected officials. The festivities included a Capitol complex decked out with American flags, a dome lit with patriotic colors, an awesome military flyover and Clydesdales leading a march to the Governor’s Mansion for a reception. 

That evening, my son, parents, extended family members, friends and staff joined me for the Governor’s Ball in the Rotunda. I’d say the excitement and Show-Me State pride felt during these historic events are a pretty good indicator of productive and successful years ahead for our state. 

                                                                                                                                              Senator Brown’s family attends the Governor’s Ball.

My Legislative Priorities

I am eager to get to work on the hundreds of proposals the Legislature will consider this year. My focus will be on initiative petition (IP) reform, phasing out income taxes, securing elections, making communities safe and helping students thrive. I will provide more details as these individual bills progress, but I wanted to start by giving you a brief preview of my top priorities.

You may recall the subject of IP reform was debated at length last session but ended at an impasse in the Senate. I will prioritize overhauling the current process, raising the threshold to alter the Missouri Constitution to make it more reflective of statewide values, and banning foreign spending in state ballot measure campaigns. We must act now to crack down on foreign influence and protect this sacred document from growing exponentially with each election cycle.

One of my other big pushes this session will be to phase out the state income tax, which began in 1862 to help offset the cost of the Civil War. For more than a 160 years, the government has taken a percentage of hardworking taxpayer’s total income, shortchanging them of their own earnings. Restructuring these codes, putting spending limits on annual state appropriations and implementing a tax reform fund for general revenue collections will help taxpayers keep more of their money over time, while ensuring important services remain fully funded through alternative sources. 

Another goal for 2025 will be to safeguard future elections. I filed Senate Bill 62 to mandate documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, require election authorities to perform system maintenance on a quarterly basis and refer cases against those accused of violating election laws directly to the attorney general instead of the designated prosecuting attorney.

To help keep Missouri communities safe, I will champion legislation to deter illegal immigration and create the offense of improper entry by an alien. In addition, Senate Bill 284 would establish a “Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training” to analyze data and finally eradicate this modern day scourge.

As I’ve learned since taking the oath of office, good policies are sometimes years in the making. My final three topics are continuations from bills I filed in previous sessions. Senate Bill 63 will ensure all Missouri students, even homeschooled children, can participate in their school district’s sports and extra-curricular activities. I am also determined to streamline the process to obtain professional licensure and prohibit Missouri institutions of higher education from enforcing “discriminatory ideology” and requiring faculty to submit a diversity, equity and inclusion statement as a term of their employment. 

Committee Assignments Announced

I am extremely pleased to report I have been named chairman of the newly formed Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee. To downsize government and make committees more effective, leadership decided to direct workforce development bills to this committee. I applaud the decision and look forward to leading the discussions about important legislation that will add to our state’s bottom line and prepare us for future prosperity. This committee will have weekly hearings on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. Around two dozen proposals have already been referred.

In addition to chairing this committee, I have been assigned to serve on the following committees:

• Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
• Government Efficiency
• Gubernatorial Appointments
• Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence

Several pieces of my legislation were second read and referred to committees. One is my proposal to streamline the professional licensing process for qualified workers from other states so they can get right to work while they await permanent status in Missouri, Senate Bill 61. Another focus is on strengthening election integrity by requiring documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, maintaining voter rolls on a quarterly basis, and referring election law violations to the state’s attorney general. Senate Bill 63, my measure to permit homeschooled children to participate in their school district extracurricular activities, will hopefully be vetted by the Senate Education Committee soon. 

Paul Hasenbeck Memorial Highway Named

One of the provisions in last year’s Senate Bill 912 authorized the POW/MIA SSG Paul Hasenbeck Memorial Highway along Highway 63 in Osage County. I appreciate the outpouring of support I received to make this happen, especially from Paul’s family. Now, his service is memorialized and can be honored by the local community, as well as passersby.

Visitors at the Capitol

As much as I love committee work and debating legislation, what really motivates me through the work week is meeting with people who serve our community or call District 26 home. This week, I had the pleasure of meeting with representatives from Starlink Care, who were at the Capitol to advocate for disability rights and program funding. Our district’s Emmaus Homes and Community Living, Inc. are beneficiaries of their care and support. 

                                                                                                                                                       Senator Brown discusses disability rights and initiatives with advocates.

On Jan. 22, I welcomed members of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. They service several counties in eastern Missouri, including Gasconade and Osage in our district. Executive Director Bonnie Prigge and other delegates from their board gave me a brief overview of their regional and legislative priorities.

Resolve to Get Involved

If you haven’t participated in the legislative process in the past, I highly encourage you to resolve to get involved this year. Visit the State Capitol and make an appointment to meet with me in my new office in Room 429/430. Forward this email to your contacts and encourage them to subscribe to my capitol report. Bookmark my webpage to monitor my bills and locate resources. Offer to share your expertise on proposed legislation and testify at a hearing. Marybeth, Frank and I are at your service and look forward to working with you in 2025.

It’s an honor representing District 26 in the Missouri Senate. If you need assistance with navigating state government or the legislative process, please reach out by calling 573-751-3678 or emailing Ben.Brown@senate.mo.gov.