During his speech on Tuesday afternoon on the House floor of the Missouri State Capitol, Governor Mike Kehoe addressed several areas he intends the state to focus on during the 2025 legislative session, including public safety, education funding, care for mothers and children, eliminating the state income tax, and tackling Missouri’s growing fentanyl problem.
The governor highlighted a number of new budget items that seek to reduce the state’s crime rate, which include a new $12.8 million crime lab in Cape Girardeau, support for legislation making it easier for law enforcement officials to come to Missouri from another state, and an additional $10 million to help departments with equipment and training needs. Kehoe also reiterated his support for a gubernatorial board overseeing the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Governor Kehoe also indicated his support for school choice in Missouri. He proposed putting an additional $50 million into Missouri’s private school scholarship program, MOScholars and urged lawmakers to pass a public school choice bill.
After Missourians narrowly passed Amendment 3 legalizing abortion in the state, Governor Kehoe said that lawmakers are there to “be a voice for families, children and those who can’t speak for themselves. That includes the unborn.” He announced a proposed $4 million increase to Missouri’s Alternatives to Abortion program that offers support services, counseling, and adoption assistance for pregnant women in the state.
“Regardless of how you voted on Amendment 3, Missouri has so much more to offer women,” Kehoe said. “In Missouri, there are better, safer choices than abortion, and we are committed to helping pregnant women know these exist, including the incredible Pregnancy Resource Centers across the state.”
Further details of these issues can be found here at NPR’s St. Louis affiliate or here on the governor’s website. You can watch the State of the State Address here.