Report from the 143rd District

Passage of HB313

I was proud to have offered HB 313 to the House this week and was glad to see the bipartisan support for the bill.

HB 313 proposes modifications to the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) while aiming to enhance patient care and support for EMS professionals. By revising the council’s composition to include members with backgrounds in mobile integrated health care and community paramedicine, the bill ensures diverse expertise in addressing patient needs. Empowering the council to elect its chairperson and other officers annually fosters leadership that is responsive to the evolving challenges in emergency medical services. Recognizing the State EMS Medical Directors Advisory Committee and regional EMS advisory committees as subcommittees promotes better coordination and communication across different levels of emergency care. The bill’s emphasis on geographical representation and inclusion of various healthcare professionals ensures that policies and recommendations are well-rounded and considerate of both urban and rural patient populations. By advising the governor, general assembly, and the Department of Health and Senior Services on policies, plans, procedures, and proposed regulations, the council plays a crucial role in shaping a more efficient and patient-centered EMS system.

HB495 Signed Into Law

This week, we watched as Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an important public safety bill into law. Republicans are committed to improving public safety and creating a Safer Missouri.

I was proud to vote for House Bill 495, which was the first bill passed out of the House and sent to the Governor’s desk. This legislation establishes a new Board of Police Commissioners to oversee and to provide direct authority over the city of St. Louis’ police department. It also increases penalties for child trafficking, protects domestic abuse victims, adds fentanyl to child endangerment statute and improves school safety.

Governor Kehoe was joined by the sponsors of the bill, Rep. Brad Christ and Senators Nick Schroer and Travis Fitzwater, as well as Attorney General Andrew Bailey, Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Mark James, Missouri State Highway Patrol Colonel Michael Turner and leaders from statewide law enforcement associations, including the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, Missouri State Troopers Association, Missouri Police Chiefs Association, the Missouri Sheriffs Association and the Ethical Society of Police.

Upcoming Events

District 143 Day at the Capitol will take place on April 8 and provide constituents with the opportunity to visit the Missouri State Capitol and engage with their legislators. This event allows residents to learn more about the legislative process and discuss key issues affecting our district. Those interested in attending can secure a spot or request more information by contacting Rep. Cook’s office at 573-751-2264 or emailing Bennie.Cook@house.mo.gov.

Royalty Day at the Capitol 2025 will be a special event set for April 15 to celebrate local fair and festival royalty from south-central Missouri. It is a chance to recognize their dedication to representing their communities and promoting Missouri’s rich traditions. We look forward to welcoming these outstanding young leaders and honoring their contributions to our state. For more information, please contact Rep. Cook’s office.

If you are planning a trip to the Missouri State Capitol, I am happy to help make your visit informative and enjoyable. Whether you are a school group, organization, or individual, we can assist with scheduling tours, arranging meetings with legislators, and providing information on the legislative process. Visitors can explore the historic Capitol building, observe committee hearings and floor sessions and learn more about Missouri’s government in action. To plan your visit, please call me or email me.

Proposed State FY 2026 Budget Headed to House Floor

The House Budget Committee has advanced the $47.9 billion plan for the FY 2026 state operating budget with changes to Governor Mike Kehoe’s proposal, which reduce general revenue spending by nearly $750 million and overall spending by $2.1 billion. These changes prioritize fiscal responsibility by eliminating unnecessary spending, redirecting funds and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.

A key cost-saving measure shifts $421 million in Medicaid expenses to another fund, which reduces the burden on general revenue. Additionally, unfinished earmarked projects from last year are moved to a reappropriation bill while preventing them from inflating new spending totals. Nearly $1 billion in non-general revenue reductions come from cutting spending authority for underutilized programs. By making tough but necessary cuts, this budget ensures Missouri lives within its means while keeping taxes low and prioritizing essential services.

With its passage out of the House Budget Committee, the Missouri House is set to take up the appropriations bills next week. When House members offer amendments to the budget plan, it is important to note that such changes must remain revenue positive or revenue neutral. If a member wants to add money to a specific area of the budget, he or she must first find another area of the budget from which the funds can be transferred. There is no way to simply add funding to a particular program without first cutting it from somewhere else in the budget. This process ensures the budget remains in balance. Once passed out of the House, it will move to the Senate for further consideration. To keep up to date with the budget proceedings, please visit house.mo.gov/Budget.aspx.

Defending Life and Missouri’s Most Vulnerable

This week, the Missouri House passed legislation prioritizing the safety of the most vulnerable. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, also known as HBs 195 and 1119, seeks to ensure that children born alive during or after an abortion receive the same legal protections and medical care as any other live-born child.

Under this bill, healthcare providers present during such an event would be required to provide the same level of care and attention to the child as they would to any infant born at the same gestational age, including ensuring that the child is immediately transported to a hospital for necessary treatment. The bill mandates strict legal consequences for healthcare professionals who fail to report violations, including penalties of up to five years of imprisonment or fines ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

Additionally, any person who intentionally causes harm to a child born alive, including performing actions that result in the child’s death, would face first-degree murder charges. The bill also introduces civil liability for individuals involved in performing, aiding, or facilitating unlawful abortions or self-induced abortions. Victims or their families could pursue lawsuits for personal injury, bodily harm or wrongful death with provisions for attorney’s fees and damages. The legislation reinforces that children born alive following an abortion attempt deserve the full legal protections of any other living person, as well as the obligation to ensure proper medical care is provided.

With a vote of 109-32, the bill now heads to the Missouri Senate for further consideration.

Reenacting the Second Amendment Preservation Act

The Missouri House is reaffirming the state’s commitment to protecting citizens’ Second Amendment rights while emphasizing the Tenth Amendment with the passage of HB1175 this week. HB1175 reestablishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act in Missouri by declaring that Missouri will defend the U.S. Constitution and affirms the state’s authority to legislate on matters related to firearm ownership. It specifically condemns actions like taxes, registration, or confiscation of firearms by the federal government, deeming them as infringements on the Second Amendment.

The bill specifies that any federal actions such as taxes, registration, or confiscation of firearms and ammunition will be considered invalid in Missouri. Additionally, Missouri’s courts and law enforcement are tasked with ensuring these rights are protected, and they are prohibited from enforcing federal laws that violate the Second Amendment. Any political subdivision or law enforcement agency employing individuals who violate Second Amendment rights will face a $50,000 civil penalty per occurrence. It also allows for legal recourse for individuals whose Second Amendment rights are infringed, including the ability to seek injunctive relief or a temporary restraining order, with no sovereign immunity defense available for those violating these rights. The provisions in this bill would take effect starting August 28, 2025.

This bill would protect Missouri citizens’ Second Amendment rights, promote the principles of the Tenth Amendment, and underscore that states have the right to enforce their own laws without federal interference.

Strengthening School Safety Across Missouri

The Missouri House has taken a major step in enhancing school safety with the passage of HB416, a comprehensive bill designed to protect students, teachers, and school staff across the state. This legislation strengthens emergency preparedness, crisis response, and security measures in both public-school districts and charter schools. It requires schools to develop emergency operations plans in coordination with local law enforcement and emergency responders, prioritizing proactive planning to ensure student safety during crises. Additionally, schools must conduct annual physical security assessments to keep safety measures up to date.

One of the bill’s most critical components is the “Stop the Bleed Act,” which mandates that schools implement a traumatic blood loss protocol and maintain bleeding control kits in high-traffic areas to equip staff with the necessary training and resources to respond to life-threatening injuries.

HB 416 also strengthens physical security by requiring anti-intruder door locks, bullet-resistant window film, and materials to conceal students during lockdowns. These security upgrades will be mandated in all new school construction projects starting in 2029, creating multiple layers of protection to deter threats and secure classrooms during emergencies.

The bill enhances behavioral risk assessments and improves information-sharing between schools and law enforcement. Schools will now be required to notify officials when a student is involved in juvenile court proceedings, allowing educators to make informed decisions about student safety while ensuring at-risk youth receive appropriate support. The legislation also mandates active shooter training for teachers and staff, along with regular emergency drills, so that school personnel are well-prepared to respond swiftly in a crisis.

Two key amendments were added to the bill on the House floor. The first encourages schools to restrict cell phone use, requiring policies that at minimum ban phones during instructional time while allowing districts flexibility in implementation. The second mandates that schools develop a cardiac response plan, further expanding the bill’s focus on student health and safety.

School safety is about more than just physical security—it includes preparedness for medical emergencies, natural disasters, and emerging threats such as online violence and social media dangers. By taking a comprehensive approach, Missouri is ensuring that students not only feel safer in their learning environments but truly are safer. When children and educators have confidence in their security, they can focus on what matters most—education and personal growth.

Reforming Missouri’s Initiative and Referendum Process

Missouri’s initiative and referendum process plays a crucial role in direct democracy, allowing citizens to propose and vote on laws independently of the legislature. HBs 575 & 551 introduces several reforms aimed at ensuring the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of this process. Key changes include requiring standardized petition forms provided by the Secretary of State, implementing clearer guidelines for petition circulators, and refining the signature verification process. By establishing uniform requirements, such as using black or dark ink, the bill seeks to minimize errors that could lead to disqualified signatures and disputed petitions.

A significant provision of the bill restricts who may circulate petitions by requiring circulators to be U.S. citizens and Missouri residents or individuals physically present in the state for at least 30 consecutive days before collecting signatures. Additionally, circulators can no longer be paid based on the number of signatures they collect, a measure aimed at reducing potential fraud or coercion in the petitioning process. These changes are designed to enhance public confidence in ballot initiatives by ensuring petitions are gathered through fair and transparent means.

The bill also tightens legal challenges surrounding initiative petitions. Currently, any citizen can challenge the ballot title or fiscal note of a proposed measure, but under this bill, only registered Missouri voters would have that right. Furthermore, legal challenges must be resolved at least eight weeks before an election, preventing last-minute court battles that could disrupt the process. Another key change is that the Secretary of State and Attorney General will review initiative petitions not only for formatting compliance but also for adherence to the Missouri Constitution. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for a legislative hearing once a petition is certified, streamlining the process and reducing bureaucratic delays.

With a vote of 103-49, the bill now heads to the Missouri Senate for further consideration.

Expanding Telehealth Services

HB825 would modernize Missouri’s telehealth laws by expanding the definition of telehealth services to include both audiovisual and audio-only technologies. Additionally, the bill ensures that healthcare providers can use any electronic platform to deliver telehealth or telemedicine, if it complies with HIPAA regulations. This flexibility allows providers to reach more patients, particularly those in rural or underserved areas, without unnecessary technological restrictions. Telehealth is a critical tool for increasing access to medical care, particularly for patients who face barriers to in-person visits due to distance, mobility issues, or limited provider availability. By expanding the ways in which telehealth can be delivered, the bill helps improve patient outcomes and reduce strain on the healthcare system.

Protecting Homeowners from Rising Property Taxes

In an effort to stabilize property tax assessments for primary residences, the Missouri House has signed off on HB780, ensuring that the assessed value of a home remains the same as the most recent assessment before December 31, 2025. After January 1, 2026, a home’s assessment cannot exceed the purchase price upon sale and will only increase if new construction or improvements result in a 50% or greater increase in value. Homeowners must notify the County Assessor of any improvements for reassessment, and participation in this program is optional, allowing property owners to opt in to maintain their 2025 valuation.

This bill would protect long-term homeowners from being taxed out of their homes due to rising property values, ensuring they aren’t burdened by unpredictable tax hikes. It also gives homeowners more control over how their property is assessed. Opponents raise legal and constitutional concerns, arguing that the bill does not create an equitable system for all homeowners. Despite these concerns, supporters emphasize that tax stability is crucial for protecting homeowners, particularly seniors and long-term residents.