SB2

It’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown since I arrived in the Capitol. The last week and a half has been a whirlwind of activity, and I’ve been working hard to settle into my routine here in Jefferson City. Every day brings new opportunities to learn, grow, and make a real impact on the lives of Missourians.

One of the highlights of the last couple of weeks has been being assigned to and attending hearings on a variety of important topics. From veterans' affairs to local government operations, I’ve been learning about the issues that matter to our citizens and communities. The work can be complex, but it’s incredibly rewarding to dive into these subjects and understand more how policy decisions will affect the people of Missouri.

I’m also proud to share that I’ve cast my first three votes in committee on bills related to veterans, county officials, and financial statements filed by the county.These votes reflect my commitment to supporting our veterans, ensuring transparency in county governance, and safeguarding the financial integrity of our local governments. Every vote is not one that effects big headlines or is something that is earth shattering.  Some are more involved and more interesting that others, but all are important and it's my desire to be as transparent as possible with my constituents in Jackson County as well as all the citizens of Missouri.

It is not lost on me that my vote as a Jackson County senator does, indeed, affect every person who lives and works in Missouri.  My passion for this office is fueled by my heart to protect the rights of all people and to make this process transparent, accessible and understandable.  In that spirit, I've committed to share my votes here in order to make them easy to find for those who are interested.  I will highlight those I feel most important and will keep a spreadsheet file updated with my complete voting record.

I voted no on this bill due to concerns I have selling tax delinquent properties online vs in person only at the yearly county tax sale.  In Jackson County, we have a serious property tax problem and I'm concerned about our citizens losing their homes due to outrageous, unfair tax bills then having them purchased by corporations such as hedge funds or large investors who would take advantage of these circumstances.  Large corporations buying up residential property and turning it into rentals is not in line with supporting our citizens' ability to become home owners, gain wealth and be prosperous.  When large areas of property become rental property, we generally see a decline in those areas.  My desire is to see our tax sales benefit local citizens first and to keep those properties as residential properties vs rentals as much as possible.

The bill sponsor has said she would work on the language and I'm hopeful this language is amended.  I'd love to be able to support the bill on the floor as it does also pertain to salaries of county officials.

This bill pertains to counties publishing financial statements.  

This bill allows the family of veterans to claim income tax deductions for survivor's benefits.

Last Friday, I had the privilege of visiting two charter schools in Kansas City—Brookside Charter and Academy Lafayette. I can’t express enough how impressed I was by the students, teachers, and staff at both schools. These are bright, hardworking kids who are receiving an outstanding education, and it’s clear that the dedication of their teachers and communities plays a huge role in their success.

During my visit, I had the opportunity to learn more about charter school policy, how these schools are structured, and how they are funded. This is a critical area of education policy that we will continue to address in the coming months, and I’m grateful to have had the chance to see firsthand how these schools operate. I left with a better understanding of how we can support Missouri students and teachers to ensure that every Missouri child has access to a quality education.

I want to thank Brookside Charter and Academy Lafayette for allowing me to tour their campuses and engage with students and staff. The learning experience was invaluable, and I’m excited to carry this knowledge with me as we work toward improving educational opportunities for all Missouri families.

As we move forward, I’ll continue to focus on my commitment to service, learning, and representing the people of our great state. It’s an honor to serve in the Missouri Senate, and I look forward to what lies ahead as we work together to make Missouri stronger, safer, and more prosperous for all.

Thank you for your support, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.

Onward and upward,
Senator Joe Nicola