Days 1 & 2 Were Quiet - And That's Normal
The 2nd regular session of the 103rd General Assembly has gotten underway.
Getting a session started in the legislature is a lot like the first few days of school. Slow. It often looks unproductive to the public. But laying the foundation and getting the necessary rules and paperwork in place is necessary and required.
Each session begins new. This is the 103rd General Assembly and each assembly consists of two regular sessions over a two year period.
At the beginning of each session there are actions that have to be taken in order for the senate to conduct business. Among those actions are:
- Reading the senator's names & district numbers
- Offering resolutions that adopt rules and open the senate for business
- Accepting messages from the Governor for appointments
- Listening to an opening address made by the President Pro Tem
- Accepting concurrent resolutions made by senators
- First reading of all pre-filed bills on Day 1, of which there were over 600
- Second reading & referring bills to committee on Day 2, of which there were around 200
- Setting committee schedules
There was no debate on the senate floor, just necessary procedural motions which is normal. And that's exactly what these couple of days have been - a normal start to a legislative session.
If you'd like to read what happened, check out the daily journals. They are posted each day and are the minutes recorded for each session. The journals are where you'll find the official voting records as well.
If you'd like to learn more about the rules of the senate and procedures that we follow, you can read them on the Missouri Senate website.
What's Next
Next week, beginning January 12, committee hearings will begin and the pace and activity will pick up. But, we will be interrupted by the Governor's State of the State Address.
If you'd like to listen to committee hearings, the audio is streamed live. You can find all the committee related information on the senate website.
There still won't be any bills out on the floor for debate, so if you are listening in or watching from the gallery and there seems to be very little happening rest assured senators are hard at work prepping for committees, presentations, meeting with people, having conversations, reading bills and doing all the work required to be prepared for the important floor action when the time comes.
While things are moving more slowly on the floor, the necessary meetings, decisions about policy details and required administrative work is the focus.
By week three, things should be running at a little quicker pace although it will be a short week due to the holiday.
That's what we've been focused on the first couple of days of session and we will continue until bills are voted out of committee and are ready for debate on the floor.
What It Does & Why It Matters
My job is simple: protect liberty and freedom for Missourians.
That's why I filed SB 1011, The No Sharia Act.
This bill makes sure that Missouri law comes first - not international laws, international groups, and not religious legal systems from outside the United States. The No Sharia Act makes it clear that international organizations have no authority in Missouri. This includes groups like:
- The World Health Organization (WHO)
- The United Nations (UN)
- The World Economic Forum (WEF)
- Any other international body
Under this bill their laws, their mandates, their policies or rules cannot be enforced in Missouri. Only laws passed by our elected leaders - grounded in our Constitution - apply to Missourians.
No Foreign Law in Missouri Courts
SB 1011 also protects our court system.
It says that foreign law cannot be used in Missouri courts if it infringes on the natural or constitutional rights of another person.
That includes:
- Religious laws used instead of U.S. or Missouri law
- Legal systems from other countries
Protecting Basic Rights
This bill protects natural rights, including:
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of speech
- Equal protection under the law
- Due process
- Rights involving marriage, children and property
If a foreign law would violate any of these rights, it would not be enforceable in Missouri. That's common sense.
Why This Bill Is Important
Missourians didn't vote for international groups. We didn't approve foreign legal systems. We should never allow them to override our freedoms.
SB 1011 draws a clear line.
- Our God-given natural rights always come first.
- Missouri sovereignty is the priority.
- NO foreign control. Ever.
I will always stand strong for Missouri sovereignty, Missouri values, and liberty for all Missourians.
Parents — not government and not schools — have the fundamental right to raise their children. That principle is at the heart of Sage’s Law, the legislation I filed to protect Missouri families and ensure schools do not keep critical information about a child’s well-being from parents.
Across the country, school districts have adopted policies allowing school staff to withhold information when a child begins identifying as a different gender at school. These policies cut parents out of deeply personal and life-altering conversations — and that is wrong.
Federal Courts Agree: This is Government Overreach
In a recent federal court ruling issued by US District Court Judge Roger T. Benitez, a California law that allowed schools to hide a child’s gender transition from parents was struck down, affirming that such policies violate parents rights.
Schools notify parents in every other area when students health or wellbeing is at risk or compromised. If they get hurt at school, if they have a fever or get sick, if there is a fight or even a threat, when there is bullying, and of course when they are struggling with academics.
Schools should not be keeping secrets from parents. Ever. And certainly not when there is something as serious as a child choosing to change their identity.
It's Happening Right Here in Missouri
Unfortunately, the heart of America is not immune to this problem.
Missouri school districts including Hazelwood, Kansas City Public Schools, St. Louis Public Schools, Springfield Public Schools, North Kansas City Public Schools, Liberty and Mehlville Public Schools, Parkway, Ladue, Webster Groves, and Rockwood have adopted policies that allow secrets to be kept from parents. Unfortunately, there are probably many more we haven't discovered yet.
That should alarm every parent in Missouri.
What Sage's Law Does and How It Works
Sage's Law was inspired by the story of Sage, a student in Virginia. who was secretly socially transitioned at school. When her custodial grandparent found out and was confused about what transgender meant, CPS took Sage from her home and put her in foster care. She ran away and was sex trafficked for months before being recovered.
Sage’s Law restores transparency and accountability by clearly defining the role of parents in their children’s education. Specifically, the bill:
- Prohibits schools from intentionally withholding information when a student expresses gender incongruence or requests a change in name, pronouns or gender presentation at school
- Affirms a parent's right to be informed, reinforcing existing constitutional protections under state law.
- Prevents school policies from overriding parental authority, ensuring that local rules cannot contradict constitutional rights.
- Protects teachers and school staff by making clear they can communicate openly with parents or guardians without fear of discipline for violating secrecy policies.
This promotes openness, trust and cooperation between schools and families where secrecy breeds division.
Standing With Parents & Families
I believe schools are meant to educate children, not make critical parenting decisions. Sage's Law draws that line clearly and ensures Missouri stands firmly with parents, families and constitutional freedoms.
The Heart of Christmas
As we gather to celebrate Christmas, this season carries a deeper meaning than lights, gifts, and traditions. Christmas is a time of joy, reflection, and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ—the greatest gift ever given. It is a powerful reminder of God’s deep and personal love for humanity.
Think about what Christmas truly represents.
God sent His Son into the world—not as a distant ruler, but as a human being. Jesus lived among us, experienced temptation, felt pain and joy, and ultimately took the weight of our sins upon Himself through a brutal death on the cross. All of this was done so that we could be forgiven, restored, and brought back into relationship with God.
That is the heart of Christmas.
A Miraculous Promise Fulfilled
Scripture foretold this moment centuries before it happened. In Matthew 1:23, quoting the prophet Isaiah, we read: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” This name is rich with meaning. Immanuel reminds us that God did not remain distant—He chose to step into our world and walk alongside us.
God promises a sign in the original prophesy found in the book of Isaiah:
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14
What makes this prophecy especially powerful is how clearly it points to Jesus’ humanity. He didn’t arrive as a grown king or warrior. He came as a baby—small, vulnerable, and dependent on others.
Isaiah continues in verses 15-16 to describe a child who would grow, learn, and mature - just like us. Jesus experienced real human development. He learned, He grew, and He matured over time.
"He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken." - Isaiah 7:15-16
The Gospel of Luke tells us in Luke 2:40 that “...the Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” It is remarkable to consider that God chose for Jesus to experience life the way we do—step by step.
Carrying Immanuel With Us Into the New Year
Jesus is not merely a historical figure; He is our Savior, our guide, and the ever-present reminder that God is with us—always. As we celebrate this Christmas season, may we remember the true source of our joy.
As we move into the new year, may the peace, love, and hope of Immanuel—God with us—remain with you in the new year and always.
Merry Christmas!
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.
