The following is a legislative update from Clarkston Nelson, LLC concerning the Missouri General Assembly’s spring legislative session. Use the information within to develop local coverage of issues important to your readers.
The third week of Missouri’s 2025 Regular Session was shortened by Monday’s observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. The Senate and House, however, made up for lost time by beginning hearings in earnest.
Having referred ninety-six bills to committees last week, the Senate began hearings on topics as diverse as capital gains tax reform, healthcare reform, utilities, and tort reform. This morning, the Senate referred an additional eighty-four bills to committees. In further business, the Senate confirmed the first seven appointments recommended by its Committee on Gubernatorial Appointments.
The House completed committee assignments on Tuesday and moved quickly to begin hearings. This included hearings on capital gains tax reform and public safety related to retail theft and state takeover of the St. Louis City Police Department, the latter a priority of Governor Mike Kehoe. To date, the House has referred over 100 bills to committee.
Next week, Governor Kehoe will deliver his State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 28th at 3 p.m. The media schedule for next week’s Address may be found here. This morning, Governor Kehoe also issued Executive Order 25-11, which designates those members of his staff who have supervisory authority over each department, division, or agency of the state department.
Senate Committee Approves Public Safety Director Mark James
Mark S. James, a native of Willow Springs who now lives in Camden County, who was appointed as Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) by Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe on Dec. 9, 2024, appeared before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Jan. 22, and was introduced by Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City). James had assumed the role of DPS Director on Jan. 13. A former state and federal law enforcement official, James began his law enforcement career with the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) in the 48th recruit class, where he served for nine years, as a uniformed trooper in Greene and Christian Counties and undercover. James was recruited to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in 1987, eventually rising the ranks to become the Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division when he retired from ATF in 2007. After his retirement, James continued his public service after being appointed by then-Missouri Governor Matt Blunt as Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety in 2005. In 2010, he became the chancellor of Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. While overseeing all aspects of the college, he created its first campus police department and dispatch center. Most recently, James was appointed by President Donald Trump as the U.S. Marshal of the Western Judicial District of Missouri, where he spearheaded numerous law enforcement operations that resulted in the arrests of hundreds of state and federal fugitives wanted for violent crimes, including Operation Legend. James studied at the University of Missouri, earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice & Administration from the University of Central Missouri, an M.S. of Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, completed coursework for Ph.D. in Business Administration, and received a Doctor of Laws from the University of Central Missouri.
James said he was partner with law enforcement agencies and the Highway Patrol to crack down on crime, citing Gov. Kehoe’s crime plan. “It’s a team fight,” James said. There is no one agency that can do it on their own. He said he’s been in touch with police chiefs in Kansas City and St. Louis and will reach out to law enforcement organizations, identifying common goals and targeting repeat offenders. He said law enforcement recruitment and retention is a problem. “We all struggle to recruit,” he noted. He said Missouri is trying to incentivize law enforcement officers, possibly from other states, and it offers the Blue Scholarship that allows Missouri to pay a portion of the costs for a person to attend law enforcement academy.
James said the Highway Patrol is down about 148 troopers, and he has observed classes of troopers with as few as eight individuals and as many as 40. Cyber crime and terrorism were topics discussed briefly, and James said, “What we see play out politically, can be fodder for what may occur.”
Near the end of the hearing, James’ appointment was unanimously approved by the committee, 10-0, and on Thursday, was approved by the full Senate.
Lyda Krewson Approved as University of Missouri Curator
Lyda Krewson, who was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators in 2024 by former Gov. Mike Parson, appeared before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Jan. 22, and was introduced by Sen. Steven Roberts (D-St. Louis). Krewson served as the 46th Mayor of the City of St. Louis from 2017-2021, and as an Alderman of St. Louis from 1997-2017. She is a Certified Accountant (CPA) and served as the CFO of an international design firm in St. Louis from 1984 until her election as the first woman mayor of St. Louis in 2017. From 1977 to 1984, she worked in public accounting with Touche Ross & Co (now Deloitte). Krewson is also an alumna of Leadership St. Louis and has served on numerous community boards and committees. In 1976, Krewson received a Bachelor of General Studies in Accounting from the University of Missouri, St. Louis, and in 1974, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Psychology and Special Education from Truman State University. She grew up in the Midwest and is a graduate of Moberly High School. Krewson and her husband, Mike Owens, reside in the Central West End in St Louis.
Krewson said the University of Missouri, Columbia, “is an absolute stellar university.” She said more applications of students and more students being admitted are happening. The MU Research Reactor is a large project in progress, she said, as is the north endzone project at the Mizzou football stadium. “I look forward to supporting the current administration and the Board of Curators,” she said, and she added the importance of the University campuses in St. Louis, Kansas City and Rolla. She said an engineering program is being developed at UMSL. She noted the importance of efficiency in the operation of the university system.
At the end of the hearing, Krewson’s appointment was unanimously approved by the committee, 10-0, and on Thursday, was approved by the full Senate.
Senate Approves Kurt Schaefer as DNR Director
Kurt Schaefer of Columbia, who was appointed as Director of the Department of Natural Resources on Dec. 19, 2024 by Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe, appeared before the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee on Jan. 22, and was introduced by Sen. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia). Schaefer’s role as DNR Director began on Jan 13. During his time as a State Senator, Schaefer served six years as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Previously, Schaefer served as General Counsel and Deputy Director of DNR. Among many duties, he oversaw the emergency response, environmental remediation, and cleanup of the destruction caused by the Taum Sauk Reservoir failure in December 2005, and was lead counsel in negotiating the settlement for the State’s natural resource damages and park restoration of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, valued in excess of $170 million. Schaefer also worked as a Special Criminal Prosecutor at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, working closely with local elected prosecutors and law enforcement. Schaefer earned a Juris Doctor and a Master Studies of Environmental Law from Vermont Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Missouri. He and his wife have three adult children and reside in Boone County.
Schaefer was asked about opportunities and challenges for the DNR with changes occurring in leadership at the federal government level. He said the DNR is actually dictated by the federal government. Discretion is given to the states in environmental areas, and air quality standards could be changed, he said. But any major changes the state receives will then be decided by the General Assembly, he said. Schaefer said everything DNR carries out should be health-based. Everyone wants safe drinking water and less pollution, and competing interests must be balanced. He noted the importance of available and cost-effective energy and electricity for all Missourians.
Schaefer’s appointment was unanimously approved by the committee and on Thursday, was approved by the full Senate.
Condensed County Financial Statement
On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Local Government, Elections, and Pensions Committee conducted a hearing on SB 2, sponsored by Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo). This bill requires a condensed county financial statement to be published on or before June 30 each year in local newspapers in all counties of the first, second, third, or fourth classification. The bill language includes publication of the name and current gross annual salary of each elected or appointed county official. During discussion of the bill, Sen. Joe Nicola (R-Grain Valley) briefly said “newspaper readership is way down.” Another portion of SB 2 deals with political subdivisions that fail to submit their required annual financial statements and that fail to pay fines. The bill allows for the reduction or elimination of fines under certain circumstances. Testifying in support of SB 2 were the Missouri Association of County Clerks & Election Authorities, Missouri Association of County Auditors, Missouri Municipal League, Missouri Association of Counties, Municipal League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and Mark Maassen of the Missouri Press Association. Testifying in opposition was Armorvine. Maassen noted that MPA has supported the bill for at least five legislative sessions, beginning when Rep. Peggy McGaugh (R-Carrollton) discussed the bill with the MPA Board of Directors, and the Board agreed to the bill’s language. The language was passed and signed by the Governor in 2022, but the omnibus bill in which it was contained was later tossed out by the Missouri Supreme Court. There was no further action by the committee.
House-Children and Families
1/28/25 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 6
HB339 Kelley – Excludes information about the reporters of complaints against child care facilities from public requests for records of such complaints
House-Utilities
1/29/25 8:00 AM
Committee Hearing, HR 1
HB509 Wilson – Modifies provisions relating to electronic communications
Senate-Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence
1/29/25 8:30 AM
Committee Hearing, Senate Lounge
SB19 Williams – Creates provisions relating to expungement