Arrowhead Was Built By Taxpayers
For more than 50 years, the Kansas City Chiefs called Arrowhead Stadium home. That didn’t happen by accident.
Jackson County taxpayers paid to build and maintain that stadium through bonds and taxes, year after year. Generations of Missourians invested in Arrowhead long before the Chiefs became the team we know today. Fans stayed loyal through decades of ups and downs. We filled the stands during the rough years, packed the parking lots, and built the best tailgating experience in the NFL.
We supported the team with our time, our money, and our hearts.
A Painful Business Decision
Let’s be clear: as much as we love the Chiefs, the NFL and the KC Chiefs are businesses. Businesses exist to make money, and they pursue deals that best serve their bottom line. As a former small business owner, I understand that reality, and I don’t blame the Chiefs for acting in what they believe is their best interest.
But understanding the business decision doesn’t erase the frustration felt by me and thousands of other Missouri taxpayers. Many lifelong fans feel a deep sense of loss and betrayal—even if the team is moving just a few miles across the state line.
Property Taxes Pushed Jackson County Taxpayers to a Breaking Point
Losing the Chiefs didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t happen in a vacuum.
It’s the result of years of warning signs being ignored, taxpayers being squeezed, and elected officials choosing political games over real relief for the people who actually foot the bill.
For years now, Jackson County residents have been very clear: enough is enough.
Homeowners are still reeling from a property tax crisis that sent assessments skyrocketing, often with little explanation and even less accountability. Families who did nothing wrong suddenly found themselves paying hundreds or thousands more just to stay in their homes.
And as if home owners in crisis wasn't enough, this year our commercial businesses got hit with the same outrageous increases!
So when the idea of new taxes or extensions came up — even tied to beloved teams — taxpayers pushed back. Not because they don’t value the Chiefs or the Royals, but because they are already stretched way too thin. Families were already struggling to pay their mortgages, afford groceries, and stay in their homes when—just months after those tax hikes—the Chiefs and Royals placed a 3/8-cent sales tax renewal on the ballot.
That pushback wasn’t anti-Chiefs or anti-sports. It was about survival.
People who were being taxed out of their homes were not going to approve any additional tax, even a renewal. The vote failed because taxpayers drew a firm and justified line.
Silence Spoke Volumes
Governor Kehoe called the Missouri General Assembly back into a special session for the primary purpose of passing a bill that would fund renovations to Arrowhead and help pay for a new baseball stadium for the Royals, as well.
I was not part of any negotiations with the Chiefs. No one from their organization ever contacted me, visited my office, or came to the Capitol to lobby for the stadium legislation that passed. I stated that plainly on the Senate floor during debate.
That silence was telling. It strongly suggested to me that the Chiefs were never committed to staying in Missouri.
That impression was confirmed when I attended a meeting recently at Arrowhead Stadium. When the Chiefs’ president was asked directly about relocation plans, his response made it clear to me that the organization was more concerned about a billion-dollar, state-of-the-art stadium rather than remaining loyal to the people of Jackson County and renovating the place that helped put them on the football map - Arrowhead.
Leadership Failed
Losing the Chiefs is the predictable result of failed leadership at the city and county level, runaway taxation, and a state legislature that allowed politics to block real relief for the people who are paying the bills.
During special session’s stadium debate, I was clear with the governor: I would not vote for a stadium bill unless we delivered real property tax relief for Jackson County homeowners.
That relief never came.
Democrat senators representing Jackson County chose to filibuster and block that relief, leaving Jackson County homeowners suffering.
Once again, politics won — and taxpayers lost.
The state offered the Chiefs a deal that would allow the team to keep all the tax revenue they generate and use it to fund up to 50% of stadium renovation costs, with additional local investment required. But local government failures and a broken tax system made it impossible to build the trust needed to move forward.
This is Bigger Than Football
The potential loss of the Chiefs isn’t just about sports pride. It’s about jobs, tourism, economic growth, and the signal we send to families and employers deciding whether Missouri is a place worth investing in.
When government fails at the basics — fair taxes, honest assessments, and fiscal responsibility — everything else becomes harder to sustain.
The Fight Isn't Over
My priority in this upcoming session is property tax reform and I've filed SB 919 as a vehicle for that change. Click on the links below to see the official bill page where you can read a summary as well as the full text, or read more practical information in The Senator's Digest article.
SB 919 does the following:
1. 5% cap* on property tax liability increases. *Or CPI, whichever is less.
2. Ensures transparency in property reclassifications
3. 15% cap on residential assessment increases
4. Mandates the State Tax Commission lower the valuation threshold from 90-110% to 75-100%.
Missourians deserve a government that works for them — not one that prices them out of their homes, ignores their concerns, and then asks for more.
If Missouri wants to keep its teams, its jobs, and its people, we must start by respecting the taxpayers who make all of it possible.
Because when taxpayers are ignored long enough, they don’t just vote “no.” They leave. And that's a bigger loss than any stadium.
Digit ID Should Be a Choice Not a Mandate
In Missouri, freedom, privacy, and safety are priorities. We should never sacrifice any part of these values because technology advances. As government and private entities increasingly move toward digital identification systems, serious questions arise about privacy, security, access, and control over our most personal information.
SB 921 is about protecting your freedom to choose.
It ensures that no Missourian is forced into using a digital form of identification and that a non-digital option will always remain available. This legislation recognizes the convenience technology can offer while protecting our citizens against mandates that could expose them to surveillance, data breaches, discrimination, and more.
SB 921 puts the safety & security of our people first.
What SB 921 Does
- Prohibits public entities from requiring a digital form of identification. A physical form of ID must always be offered as a choice.
- Anyone who has agreed to use a digital form of ID, must always be permitted to view, correct, remove, destroy or restrict the usage of the digital ID.
- Written consent must be given by the individual for each purpose for which the digital ID will be used.
- Personal data may only be collected by a public entity for the purpose stated and only with consent of each individual. Personal data may not be sold or transferred to any public or private entity without written consent.
- A digital form of ID will not be required by any public entity for entry into any place of public accommodation.
- Cause of action suits may be brought for violations.
- Drivers licenses are prohibited from being connected to automated license plate readers.
Why It Matters
Loss of Liberty
Digital ID systems have the potential to be the source of tracking, tracing and inventorying of everything about your personal life.
From your medical records to the drive through order you place at lunch time, there is potential for 24/7 surveillance and monitoring without transparency or consent. This could destroy liberty and privacy.
The purpose of the government is to protect freedom & liberty, NOT erode it through these types of mandates.
Security
Centralized ID systems are incredibly valuable to criminals. That puts you at risk. Identity theft, account takeovers, phishing attacks and data breaches cause long term harm that can damage finances, families, reputations, credit scores and so much more.
Security depends on design and oversight usually done by one or more third parties. Risks are significant.
Access
Many Missourians may not own or want to rely on digital technology. Especially among our senior citizens, this could create a serious problem for equal access to services.
Be Part of the Solution
- Please share this article with your friends & family.
- Contact your senator and let them know you’d like to see them support SB 921 and any measures that would allow you to always have a choice regarding your personal identification. Use the link below to find your legislator's contact information.
- Subscribe to stay connected & informed.
SB 921 is about keeping choice and control in the hands of Missourians. It doesn't stop anyone from using digital IDs if they want to, but it makes sure no one is forced to go digital to access services or prove who they are. The bill protects privacy, gives people control over their personal information, and makes sure both government and businesses are held accountable. Simply put, its about making sure technology works for the people - not the other way around.
I think we can all agree on one thing: the teenage workforce is important not only to the teens but to Missouri. We need to work toward creating an environment where every young person who wants to work has the opportunity.
As of January 1, 2026, Missouri's minimum wage will be $15 per hour. But when it comes to raising the minimum wage for teenagers, we need to slow down. We have to look at the real-world consequences of raising their starting wages. Good intentions don’t always lead to good results.
In this case, raising wages for teens could actually hurt the very young people we're trying to help.
That's why I filed SB 1325. It allows the minimum wage for adults to increase, while keeping the minimum wage for minors at $12.30 or the federal prevailing wage, whichever is higher.
Teen jobs are different
For many young people, a part-time job is their first step into the workforce. These are entry-level positions that require training, supervision, and patience from employers.
Teens aren't being hired because they already have years of experience. They're being hired so they can gain it.
When the cost of hiring an entry-level worker goes up too high, employers don’t just absorb the cost. They adjust. And we're already seeing that happen.
In the Kansas City area, some businesses are cutting their teenage workforce by 25 percent or more. When tough decisions have to be made, teen workers are often the first to lose hours or lose jobs altogether. That means fewer opportunities for young people to learn responsibility, build skills, and earn their own money.
The long-term impact matters
A higher hourly wage doesn't help a teenager who can't find a job. Work experience teaches things a classroom can't. Pricing teens out of the workforce today creates bigger problems tomorrow.
It's also important to keep Missouri in perspective. Our state's minimum wage is already about $4.30 higher than many other Midwestern states. At $12.30 an hour, Missouri teens are already earning more than teens in surrounding states and only $2.70 less than adults would earn at a $15 minimum wage. That's a reasonable balance for entry-level work.
Here are current minimum wage rates for 16 mid-western states:
$7.25 - Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Iowa, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, North Dakota
$11.00 - Arkansas
$11.13 - Minnesota
$11.50 - South Dakota
$12.48 - Michigan
$13.50 - Nebraska
$15.00 - Illinois
$12.30 per hour is a fair starting wage for a 16 or 17 year old. As they gain experience and skills, employers can reward them with pay increases, with the $15 per hour mandate starting at age 18.
Most Missouri Businesses Already Pay $15 or More
While specific data on the percentage of businesses is unavailable, estimates on the workforce in Missouri indicate that approximately 75% of workers in Missouri are already paying $15 per hour or more. This suggests that the majority of businesses pay above the minimum threshold to remain competitive and retain employees.
Nothing in this legislation stops an employer from paying a teen more if they choose to. It simply gives businesses the flexibility to decide how to run their operations and how to reward hard work.
Protecting teen jobs today protects Missouri's workforce tomorrow. We can raise wages for adults while still making sure young people have a foot in the door.
This approach is practical, balanced, and focused on long-term success.
SB 920 Puts Missouri Families First
Missouri families are facing a growing challenge in today’s housing market. Across our state — from St. Louis to Kansas City to Springfield and small towns in between — hardworking citizens are finding it harder to buy a home. Instead of seeing houses returned to the market for ownership, many are being scooped up by large investment firms, kept off the market, and turned into rentals. That trend drives up prices for everyone and slowly erodes the dream of homeownership that is central to our communities and our values.
To address this issue head-on, I prefiled Senate Bill 920 for the 2026 legislative session. This bill is rooted in a fundamental belief:
Property Rights are Key to Liberty
Missourians should have the opportunity to own their home, not be priced out of by multi-billion dollar investment firms.
What SB 920 Does
SB 920 limits the residential properties these large firms are permitted to purchase.
- The definition of “business entity” in this bill specifically includes private investment firms, hedge funds and their subsidiaries, while protecting banks, mortgage companies and home builders.
- SB 920 targets existing residential property, not new construction, and includes single family homes and buildings with up to 4 units.
- A business or investment entity which owns 50 single family homes or 100 residential units is prohibited from purchasing any more.
- The Attorney General may bring a cause of action suit against entities in violation and require properties to be sold within 90 days.
- Civil penalties of up to $250,000 and associated costs may be imposed for violations.
Why It Matters
- Less homeownership. It’s getting harder and harder for citizens across Missouri to own a home, especially for our young adults. Owning a home is more than a financial investment, it’s the primary way we build wealth and pass it on to the next generation. It’s part of the “American Dream”, building families, planting roots and growing communities.
- Wall street firms are increasing prices. Investment and private equity firms that offer better than market value cash purchases for homes without inspections are dangling a carrot that is hard for most sellers to pass up. But when those sales are made, they drive up prices for everyone and reduce affordable inventory. When home prices go up in value, the taxes and homeowners insurance also increase. This creates a domino effect that hurts homeowners.
- Declining neighborhoods. Oftentimes, when homes are converted to rentals owned by out-of-state conglomerates, they aren’t maintained well and the quality of neighborhoods begin to suffer. These large firms don’t care about responding quickly to complaints or maintenance issues, they don’t have a personal stake in the property or the community.
A Strong, Fair Housing Market
SB 920 isn’t about shutting out investment properties entirely. It’s about balance.
I want to encourage responsible investment while protecting neighborhoods and hardworking Missourians who are striving to build a future here.
Why SB 919 Matters
Missouri families are being squeezed out of their homes, and it’s not because they’ve suddenly done something wrong. It’s because the system that governs property assessments and taxes has drifted away from fairness, transparency, and common sense.
Across our state — not just in Jackson County, but in rural, suburban, and urban communities alike — homeowners are opening their tax bills and seeing shocking increases. Although there is a Senior Tax Credit Program, many seniors on fixed incomes are still uninformed of its benefits and how to participate. Young families trying to stay rooted in their neighborhoods, as well as working Missourians who have lived in their homes for decades are all feeling the same pressure: rising property taxes that threaten their ability to buy and keep a home.
The Missouri State Tax Commission has issued memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to more than 80 counties, directing them to raise home assessments to meet a required threshold of 90–110% of market value. As a result, many counties are now implementing drastic assessment increases — often with little warning, limited explanation, and no meaningful safeguard for taxpayers.
Property Rights are Key to Liberty.
I believe strongly in property rights. Your home is not just an asset on a spreadsheet — it’s where you raise your children, care for aging parents, build community, and put down roots. Government policy should help people stay in their homes, not tax them out of them.
SB 919 is a comprehensive, taxpayer-focused response to the property tax crisis Missouri is facing right now. The bill does four important things to restore fairness, accountability, and predictability to the system.
1. 5% Cap on Real Property Tax Liability Every 2 Years
SB 919 expands and strengthens property tax relief statewide.
Instead of limiting tax credits to certain counties, this bill ensures all Missouri counties provide a property tax credit that caps annual increases in real property tax liability at whichever is lower of:
- 5% every 2 years, or
- Consumer Price Index (rate of inflation)
For properties that are officially determined to be undervalued, a temporary cap of 15% every 2 years would apply until valuations are brought back into compliance. Once that happens, the lower cap applies again.
This approach recognizes the need for valuation corrections while still protecting property owners from sudden, destabilizing tax spikes.
2. Protecting Property Owners from Unexpected Reclassification
SB 919 prevents assessors from reclassifying real property without first conducting an in-person consultation with the property owner. Too often, property owners don’t find out their property has been reclassified until they receive their bill.
Under this bill, assessors must make a documented, good-faith effort to contact the owner before a reclassification can occur. This ensures transparency, communication, and basic due process — principles every taxpayer deserves.
3. Stopping Excessive Assessment Increases on Homes
Current law allows residential property assessments to increase by more than 15% if an assessor conducts a physical inspection. Under my legislation, the assessed valuation of residential real property may not increase by more than 15% — period. No exceptions.
Property owners would maintain the right to request a physical inspection of their property, but without fear that doing so could lead to a higher assessment.
4. Requiring Fair and Consistent Valuation Standards
SB 919 brings clarity and accountability to how the State Tax Commission equalizes property values across counties.
The Missouri Constitution requires the Commission to determine whether property is valued above or below true market value. Currently, the STC uses a threshold of 90-110% of true market value. That threshold is set by the International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO), not Missouri statute.
This bill creates Missouri statute that dictates the threshold be lowered to 75% - 100% of true market value. I don't believe anyone should be paying taxes on anything over 100%.
This ensures consistency statewide and prevents extreme valuation swings that harm local communities and household budgets.
Keeping Missourians in Their Homes
The problem of Increasing real property taxes is no longer isolated to Jackson County. It is happening across Missouri, and it demands a statewide solution.
SB 919 is about continuing to fund local government while providing fairness & predictability to taxpayers. Most importantly, it’s about keeping people in their homes rather than taxing people out of them.
I will continue to stand up for property owners, fight for transparency in government, and work to ensure that Missouri’s tax system reflects our shared values of fairness, stability, and respect for the people who call this state home.
