Greetings Friends of the 151st District!
First, I want to start off by thanking you for electing me to take on this very important role for the 151st District. As your State Representative, I promise to do everything in my power to help accommodate the district and the citizens that live in the 151 district. If you need any state support, please reach out to my office. No issue is too small for us to handle. If I can not handle it, then I will direct you to someone who can help you with your issue. Our office does receive quite a few federal calls and I would love to help you with those issues but we do not have contacts on the federal level. What I can do, is provide you with a phone number to your Congressman or Senator if you need that number.
The First day of session was amazing. I was lucky to get to have my family by my side as I was being sworn in. This is a day that I will never forget. I remember when I was first approached to run for state representative of the 151st district. I remember speaking to my wife about this opportunity and she has been my support from that first day. We did not know what we were getting ourselves into, but I am so glad we jumped into this position. If you see me out an about in the district, be sure to stop me and say hi!
A Look Back at 2024 and a Look Ahead to 2025
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s hard to believe the year has passed in what seems like the blink of an eye. As we enter this new year, this time offers an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and the triumphs and tribulations that came along with them. It also prompts us to look ahead to this year and all the promise and potential the future holds.
Every year has its challenges, and 2024 was no exception. Yet time and again, Missourians rose to the occasion. Missouri’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience, with steady growth and strong revenue projections that support the state budget. The state maintained its AAA credit rating, paid down debts, and kept more than $1 billion in reserves for future needs. Unemployment stabilized at 3.7%, and employment rose by 2.4%, placing Missouri among the nation’s leaders in job growth.
Legislatively, 2024 was marked by significant achievements, particularly for young Missourians. The General Assembly approved a $51.7 billion budget—a $1.3 billion decrease from the previous fiscal year—that prioritized critical infrastructure projects, including improvements to some of our major roadways. The budget also addressed rural road enhancements, broadband expansion, border security, education, and support programs for veterans and first responders. K-12 education was fully funded, career and technical education saw new investments, and state employees, along with higher education faculty, received pay raises.
Education reform was another key focus. Lawmakers passed a major bill expanding tax-credit programs for private school tuition and charter school initiatives. Efforts to raise teacher pay underscored a commitment to providing every child in Missouri access to quality education and to supporting the educators who make it possible.
Missouri also advanced measures to protect life, including legislation barring Medicaid reimbursements for abortion clinics. Renewing the Federal Reimbursement Allowance ensured critical funding for hospitals, pharmacies, nursing homes, and ambulance services essential to the Medicaid program. Additional legislation promoted public safety, safeguarded property rights, and bolstered rural economic development and job growth.
As Missouri turns the page to 2025, the legislature is set to return to work on January 8. The House and Senate will begin their work with a focus on a number of important issues during the 2025 session including the state operating budget, protections for the unborn, reducing tax burdens, election integrity, school accountability, government transparency, and protections against overly burdensome mandates.
2024 was a year that saw both highs and lows, but once again affirmed the strong spirit and perseverance of Missourians. As the legislature returns to work in 2025, lawmakers will once again look to provide commonsense solutions that will continue to make Missouri an ideal place to live, work, and raise a family.
103rd General Assembly Officially Underway
New and returning lawmakers made their way to the Missouri Capitol this week to begin their service in the Missouri House of Representatives. On Wednesday, January 8, all 163 members of the House gathered in the House Chamber to take the oath of office and officially begin the First Session of the 103rd General Assembly.
The day began at noon in the House with outgoing Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft calling the chamber to order as he temporarily presided over the proceedings. Ashcroft delivered a short address, reminding members of the great honor they have received in being chosen to represent and serve the people of Missouri, and of their profound duty to create greater opportunities for the next generation.
“Remember that the people of your district are counting on you,” Ashcroft told the body. “You are their representative. You are the person they know they can call, that they can reach out. They know that they have a voice because of you…You don’t serve for yourself. No good elected official serves for themselves. You were elected because the people of your jurisdiction wanted you.”
After Ashcroft’s address, members were administered the oath of office by the Honorable Mary Russell, Judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. House members then elected State Representative Ann Kelley to serve as the temporary Speaker to oversee House proceedings. With Kelley presiding, the members of the House selected State Representative Jon Patterson to serve as Speaker of the House for the next two years.
House members also elected State Representative Chad Perkins to serve as Speaker Pro Tem of the House, and electing Joseph Engler to serve as the Chief Clerk of the House before wrapping up session with a reading of the United States Bill of Rights and adopting various resolutions that will allow the body to function during the 103rd General Assembly.
Members now await their committee assignments so they can begin work on the legislation that will be considered during the 2025 session. The next order of business for the House is to discuss and adopt the official House Rules that will govern the proceedings of the House.
If any of you want details on legislation we pass, please email me a request to Steve.Jordan@house.mo.gov. If you ever have, any questions or concerns feel free to call me at 573-751-1494.
