Freedom Caucus and Leadership Roles
With Sen. Nick Schroer and Rep. Darin Chappell chosen as floor leaders, the Missouri Freedom Caucus is moving into a position it has not known. Instead of critiquing leadership from the outside, they now are leadership. It will create some competing interests for them…
· Serving their Republican caucuses.
· Working with their Republican governor.
· Staying true to their core principles.
Child care offers a potential test.
Expanding access has been a priority for Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Chamber. They made a child-care tax-credit package a top priority in the 2026 session. The package included incentives for employers to help provide child care for their workers.
It passed the House 97 - 44, with bipartisan support. Chappell voted no. It won Senate committee approval but never received a Senate floor vote. Freedom Caucus members had helped block earlier versions.
If the proposal returns, the new floor leaders could face a choice between their own objections and their Republican caucuses’ desire to advance a business priority.
A floor leader can vote against a bill while still giving colleagues the opportunity to pass it. But how would other Freedom Caucus members view that decision?
PSC Proposes Data-Center Reality Check
The Public Service Commission wants utilities to handicap how likely it is that proposed data centers will come online.
Under proposed rules published November 2, utilities would track projects by development stage and produce three forecasts for the first five years:
· High probability: Projects with signed electric-service agreements or already receiving power.
· Medium probability: Projects with construction agreements.
· Low probability: Projects still being studied.
The database would use anonymized project identifiers.
What It Means
There’s a fear that utilities will overbuild capacity based on “the AI bubble.” This rule could become an important test for utilities’ expansion plans, giving regulators a clearer view of how much planned generating capacity depends on demand that may never materialize.
Meanwhile
Despite data centers being used in campaigns on both sides of the aisle just weeks ago, it wasn’t mentioned as a priority by legislative leaders in the immediate aftermath of the election.
OA Safeguarding Data for AI Use
The Office of Administration has issued a Request For Information asking vendors how they’d scan 1.5 petabytes of state files and databases for sensitive information, including health and criminal justice records. Some agencies already label certain records, but OA says Missouri has no standard system across agencies. It wants labels that stay with files when they’re moved or shared.
Missouri bars employees from putting sensitive records into public AI tools. But state employees are already using approved tools like Microsoft Copilot Chat. As AI tools gain the ability to search internal files, the contents of a folder that was shared too widely could suddenly show up in an AI answer.
· 1.5 petabytes is roughly the capacity of 1,500 one-terabyte laptop drives.
Cannabis Still Can’t Cross State Lines
Federal marijuana changes haven’t opened Missouri’s borders. In its November 2 guidance, DHSS says Missouri businesses still cannot move regulated cannabis across state lines – even if they receive federal authorization.
The guidance follows April’s federal order moving state-licensed medical marijuana into Schedule III, a less restrictive drug classification.
What It Means
Missouri producers remain shielded from legal out-of-state competition, but they also can’t ship their product into other states. DHSS says Missouri’s rules and regulatory systems must change before interstate trade can begin. The guidance gives no timetable for those changes.
Daugherty Named SFCC Pres
Press release: State Fair trustees choose Caron Daugherty as next president. She starts January 1, 2027; Brent Bates is retiring. The former Missouri community college administrator currently leads Flint Hills Technical College in Kansas.
eMailbag: Bailey’s Attack on SB 4
Mr. Bailey, opinions are fair game. Facts matter. SB 4 was bipartisan and focused on lowering energy costs, protecting customers and improving long-term planning. Thanks to the strong leadership of the Governor and General Assembly, it requires data centers to pay their own way and strengthens funding for the utility watchdog. A reading of the bill [bill text here] tells the story -- hard stop. It’s policies like these that help Missouri continue to enjoy some of the lowest energy costs in the country.
Gubby Appts
Governor Mike Kehoe announced seven gubernatorial appointments…
· Chief Floyd Blake III and Jason Olliges were appointed to the Missouri Fire Safety Education Advisory Commission.
· Timothy Flora and Charles Giessing were reappointed to the Missouri State Board of Private Investigators, Private Fire Investigators and Professional Surety Bail Bond Agents.
· Gregory Frencken was reappointed to the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission.
· Roy Pace was appointed to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators.
· Scott Ream was reappointed to the State Board of Optometry.
Help Wanted
Feeding Missouri seeks Policy and Advocacy Manager. This position will have a deep understanding of food insecurity, its impact on Missouri, and how our Food Banks and pantries are addressing those needs. They will help ensure that leaders, stakeholders and partners at all levels understand the needs and impacts of our network and develop messaging and strategies to advocate effectively. The successful candidate will have the ability to collect and convey important information in a compelling way while considering multiple audiences. Our work is fast-paced and can be urgent, requiring work to be completed in short timeframes with changing conditions.
Lobbyist Registrations
Nexus added AccuCare EMS, LLC.
Jay Reichard and Bradley Cooper added Horizon Energy Storage DevCo Aggregator, LLC.
Jorgen Schlemeier, David Jackson, Sarah Schlemeier, Elizabeth Riley, and Nikki Strong added Institute For Justice.
$5K+ Contributions
American Dream PAC (pro-Kehoe) - $15,000 from Spire Missouri, Inc.
American Dream PAC - $10,000 from CN-MO PAC.
American Dream PAC - $7,175 from Hahn DeBoef – PAC.
Conservative Justice for Missouri PAC (pro-Hanaway) - $10,000 from Sports Betting Alliance (Lubbock, TX).
Conservative Justice for Missouri PAC - $10,000 from The 1821.
Her Health, Her Future PAC - $10,000 from Jason Smith for Congress.
Heartland Action PAC - $10,000 from South County Warehouse, LLC.
Heartland Action PAC - $10,000 from GJ Grewe Inc.
Heartland Action PAC - $7,400 from Iron Workers Local 396 Voluntary Fund.
Citizens for Stronger Libraries, Stronger Communities - $20,000 from Friends for St. Charles.
Best Start for Kids STL - $9,478 from WEPOWER.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC - Federal Committee - $23,306 from International Brotherhood of Teamsters Missouri PAC- Federal Committee.
Committee to Elect Shannon Hills for Presiding Commissioner - $5,943 from Operating Engineers Local 101 Political Action Committee.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Sophia Shore (the big 2-9), and Kathy Swan.