Legislative Update

January 21, 2025

MAHC Members:

Legislative Update

The First Regular Session of the 103rd General Assembly convened shortly after noon on Wednesday, January 8th. All 163 members of the House, including 54 new House members (38 Republicans and 13 Democrats), and half of the Senate, including 10 new Senators (7 Republicans and 3 Democrats), were sworn into office and pre-filed legislation was read for the first time. New leadership in both chambers were also formally elected as well.

Representative Jon Patterson (R-Lee’s Summit) was elected House Speaker and Senator Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) made history by being the first woman officially elected as President Pro Tem by the Senate.

On Monday, January 13th, Governor Mike Kehoe took the oath of office, and in a brief address, pledged to make public safety, education opportunities and economic development his top priorities during his administration.

Tuesday, legislators started their return to the floor by debating the rules for which each chamber will operate during session and determining committee chairmanships and assignments.

Rules of the House - A number of changes were submitted for the approval of the full House. The number of bills House members may file during session was eliminated and the limitations of the number of bills which may be voted out of a single committee was also removed. The number of House committees was reduced by four. A new Commerce committee was added which will address the commercial interests of the state. The most controversial rule change proposed was to reduce the time members may speak from 10 minutes to 5 minutes during Third Reading debate.

Rules of the Senate - President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin submitted a resolution slightly altering the Senate committee structure. While there were no substantive changes, there are a few naming switches of the committees.

Committee Assignments - Both chambers have announced their Committee Chair’s and released their full committee assignments.

Click here to see links to House Committees

Click here to see links to Senate Committees

Other Announcements:

SFY26 Budget

The Governor’s State of the State Address is scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th at 3:00 pm where he will release his budget. MAHC will report on any home care related funding and/or reductions included in the Governor’s SFY26 Budget.

Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and Department of Social Services Directors Announced – both with ties to the home care industry

Also on Monday, former Governor Mike Parson announced that Paula Nickelson will be retiring as  the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on March 1, 2025, after more than 25 years at DHSS. She will continue to serve as the Director of DHSS under Governor Mike Kehoe until her retirement. Director Nickelson has led DHSS since March 2022, when she was appointed by former Governor Parson. She specialized in public health and health care management, emergency planning and response, chronic disease prevention and maternal-child health.

Then on Tuesday, Governor Mike Kehoe announced his appointment of Sarah Willson as Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. Willson will assume the role on February 14th, and will await Senate confirmation. Willson has served as the Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs for the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) since 2016 and collaborated with lawmakers to develop healthcare legislation at both the state and federal level. Prior to MHA, Willson held leadership roles with Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care, where she oversaw operations in multiple states. Willson earned her Master of Business Administration in health management from William Woods University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Previously, on December 18th, Governor-Elect Mike Kehoe announced the appointment of Jessica (Jess) Bax as Director of the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS). Bax assumed the role of DSS Director effective January 13, 2025, and is awaiting Missouri Senate confirmation.

Bax most recently served as the Director of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH). Prior to joining the Department of Mental Health, Bax served for three years as the Director of the Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS) for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, with responsibility for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services, Adult Protective Services, and Older Americans Act programs. She has nearly 20 years of government and leadership experience, including serving as the Constituent Services Manager, Bureau Chief of Medicaid Long Term Services and Supports, and Deputy Division Director for Senior and Disability Services and served as a National Board Member for ADvancing States.

Bax holds a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Thanks,

Carol Hudspeth

Executive Director