Missouri Governor Presents State of the State Address

Jan 31, 2025

Governor Mike Kehoe (R), the state’s 58th Governor, presented his State of the State Address on Tuesday in the chamber of the House of Representatives. The nearly hour-long speech before members of the House, the Senate, Mrs. Claudia Kehoe and family, top statewide officials, members of the Missouri Supreme Court, the Governor’s Cabinet, and many special guests, focused on his priorities for the coming year and a few highlights for the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget.

Kehoe received a very warm welcome as he was escorted into the House chamber by the Senate and House escort committee. The Governor said he was truly humbled to be sworn in on January 13th. He said his story is truly one of the American Dream as the son of a single mother, raised in St. Louis. Throughout his years in the capitol building, he has followed the advice of always remembering his roots and staying humble.

Areas he touched on included expanding education opportunities, cutting taxes, and expanding childcare. But he said none of it matters if Missourians are not safe. “Securing Missouri’s future begins with public safety,” he said. His administration is committed to equipping law enforcement with the tools, training, and resources they need to succeed, he said. He noted the six executive orders dealing with public safety he signed on his day of inauguration, launching our Safer Missouri initiative.

He said to support law enforcement recruitment and retention efforts, he is recommending funding in the budget to bolster the existing Missouri Blue Scholarship Program for law enforcement basic training, and also recommending $10 million in funding to assist local communities who prioritize public safety with equipment and training needs through our Blue Shield Program. His budget is adding $2.5 million to support the sheriffs’ retirement system for another year. Funding for a new crime lab in Cape Girardeau serving the Highway Patrol Troop E region is also in the budget.

As part of the Safer Missouri crime plan, Kehoe said he urges the General Assembly to increase penalties for crimes like violent rioting and fleeing in a vehicle. “We’re going to crack down on criminals who participate in reckless stunt driving and street racing. And the legislation also includes increasing oversight and accountability of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department,” he said. “The current status quo in St. Louis is unacceptable. As the economic powerhouse of our state, we cannot continue to let crime kill growth in the region and drive businesses and families to move outside of our state’s borders.”

Kehoe discussed the tragic fentanyl crisis in Missouri, and $4 million is being added to the budget for fentanyl testing in wastewater systems at schools, a $2 million increase since last year. He mentioned, “Missouri will work with President Trump to crack down on illegal immigration and the deadly drugs and criminals that have flooded through our borders.”

The Governor highlighted the need for a robust economy and aggressive economic development efforts. He said he supports legislation to extend the Deal Closing Fund as a continued tool for our economic development teams. He is reappropriating last year’s $100 million for rural road improvements. And the applause was wild when he said, “I have directed the Missouri Department of Revenue to work with my staff on a sustainable and comprehensive plan to eliminate the individual income tax once and for all. Missourians can spend their money a whole lot better than government.”

Other topics of his speech included:

CHILDCARE – The Governor said he will be issuing an executive order charging the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-Office of Childhood with a complete re-write of the childcare regulations to make them easier to understand and navigate. He wants the state to partner with families, employers, and childcare providers, and he is including $10 million in the budget to offer grant funding opportunities to support such partnerships and to make more childcare slots available for Missouri families.

Starting in Fiscal Year 2026, childcare providers will receive payments from the state at the beginning of the month, and they will be paid on enrollment, just like private pay. “We will not allow late payments or technology issues to put these small businesses at risk of not being able to provide for families in need of childcare,” Kehoe said.

TECHNICAL EDUCATION – To do more to increase technical education “to skill up our current and future workforce,” Kehoe is proposing $15 million in new funding to address equipment, space, and operational needs of career and technical centers across the state, as well as $5 million more on an annual basis to support increased operational costs. He also is proposing an increase of $1 million in funding to expand career counseling to more high schools across the state to help students with their future career paths.

AGRICULTURE – The next budget includes $800,000 in permanent funding for Missouri FFA. Also Kehoe is proposing a substantial investment in new bonding to support the construction at the Missouri State Fair of a 40,000 square foot covered multi-use livestock barn and 80,000 square foot stalling barn to house equine and other livestock at the Fair’s new arena which is under construction. The budget will also include funding to expand Missouri’s meat and poultry inspection and production capacity which will aid in minimizing delays for producers.

QUALITY EDUCATION – The Governor urged the General Assembly to expand school choice by passing voluntary open enrollment in public schools. Also included in the budget is $50 million in general revenue funding to bolster the Education Savings Account program in Missouri. He is proposing additional funding for charter schools to address capital improvement needs. And, he is recommending a $200 million increase for the Foundation Formula, the largest increase since the current Formula was created. Also in the budget: $370 million to fully fund the state’s commitment for school transportation needs, $33 million to fund teacher salaries, and $30 million for Small School Grants to support small rural school districts.

“I want to be clear that I am a proud supporter of education,” Kehoe said, noting that the state has invested over $4 billion in K-12 education “and we still aren’t seeing acceptable results across the state.” He said the Foundation Formula in its current form has gotten out of control since it was written 20 years ago. He announced an executive order establishing the School Funding Modernization Task Force to recommend changes to better serve students and families. Kehoe noted he is working with Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger and has his eye on the Missouri State Board of Education. “I want to be clear, this administration will not retain or appoint members of the State Board of Education who do not align with our vision. We must commit to teaching our kids how to think, not what to think. Because in Missouri, we educate, we do not indoctrinate.”

Kehoe also seeks legislation requiring agencies to meet regularly to discuss school safety concerns, planning, and prevention efforts and to require schools to report school safety incidents and threats to DESE for better data on trends and occurrences.

STATE WORKERS – The Governor announced a proposed statewide retention pay plan increase for state employees, and he said his administration will be built on merit and “we will not support DEI programs in state government.” He said he would be taking action on this in the coming weeks. He is also working on a DOGE (department of government efficiency) initiative.

LIFE AND FAMILIES – Kehoe said regardless of how Missourians voted on Amendment 3, the state has so much more to offer women. “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.” Kehoe said he is seeking to support alternatives to abortion with $4 million in additional funding to benefit expecting and new mothers.

Near the end of his speech, the Governor announced he is proposing an additional $10 million of general revenue funding for Missouri Veterans Homes. “Under the Kehoe Administration, no veterans home will close due to a lack of state funding,” he said.

“I believe the budget and legislative priorities we outlined today will be a first step in securing an even safer, stronger, and more prosperous Missouri,” he concluded.