MIBA Lobbying Report As I previously reported, there were two special sessions this summer, and three bills advanced by the legislature currently have litigation pending. The ballot issue to change the threshold for passing a constitutional change is being opposed by the Missouri Realtors Association and organized labor; the new congressional redistricting map is proving contentious, with a petition campaign underway to have the map put on the ballot; and the stadium funding bill that contained the property tax rate freeze is being litigated. The courts’ ruling on these lawsuits could dictate the success of the 2026 session. There is already a tremendous amount of animosity in the Senate. The issues being litigated, as well as contested House and Senate seats and leadership races in both chambers, will add additional pressure. As we enter the holiday season, jockeying for open State House and Senate seats is in full swing. House members in both parties are declaring their intentions to run for open Senate seats. Term-limited representatives who are not running for Senate are considering county offices, while term-limited senators are examining the newly drawn congressional lines to assess their chances. It’s truly a game of musical chairs. The current Republican leadership in the Senate, Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin and Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, are term-limited; therefore, jockeying for those two leadership positions has also begun. There is a little more certainty in the House, as the Republican majority has already tapped current Majority Leader Alex Riley as the speaker-elect. However, there is a real horse race for Riley’s position between Representatives Jeff Myers, Brad Christ and Wendy Hausman. The majority floor leader will be elected in late 2026 after the primaries. Stay tuned: According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, next year is the Year of the Horse. The horse is characterized as “confident, agreeable and responsible, although they tend to dislike being reined in by others and often lose interest due to boredom.” Andy Arnold Arnold & Associates The Show-Me Banker Magazine | 15
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