A Full House

By Kathy Feist

Please note: This article appeared in the December 31, 2025 print edition. Numbers in this article were current as of December 8th.

Wish lists regularly pop up this time of year. And no more so than in the Missouri House of Representatives in the form of bills pre-filed by lawmakers that maybe, perhaps, will become law.

On December 1st, 485 bills were pre-filed in Jefferson City for the 2026 General Assembly. That’s a record. Since then, over 500 more have been added.

The session begins January 7th. Most of those bills will be living on a prayer. Last year, only 48 bills were passed into law.

Area legislators gathered at a South Kansas City Alliance meeting on December 8th to discuss the bills they are sponsoring this year. The Telegraph has highlighted a few from their lists.

Mark Sharp, District 37

Sharp announced this will be his last year as a state legislator. He has so far pre-filed 10 bills.

Chief among them is House Bill 1804, which gained a lot of support last year, according to Sharp. The bill would make an ignition interlock device required for first-time intoxicated driving. The device shuts off the vehicle ignition when it detects a high level of alcohol. Currently those devices are required for a second or subsequent DUI offense in Missouri. Sharp’s bill would make it effective after the first DUI.

Sharp is also introducing HB1808, which would hold residents liable if someone leaves their house intoxicated and proceeds to get into a vehicle accident. (This proposed legislation produced many questions from the audience.)

Sharp says he’s most concerned about public safety and at least four other bills address gun, drone and domestic violence issues.

Anthony Ealy, District 36

Representing the Grandview area, Ealy hopes to establish a protocol for emergency childcare allergies with HB 2249. “Essentially, we’re requiring childcare providers to have one written allergy action plan, trained staff capable of responding to anaphylaxis and readily available emergency medication,” said Ealy.

Other bills Ealy is sponsoring include issues regarding safe storage of firearms, AI-generated depictions of minors and due process rights for firefighters.

Ealy has so far pre-filed four bills, but discussed many more including restrictions on bus emissions and reforming “Pay When Paid” contract clauses with subcontractors.

Pattie Mansur, District 25

Pattie Mansur has completed her first year as a representative of the Waldo/Brookside area. This year she has pre-filed five bills, primarily addressing health issues. HB Bill 822 would prevent the marketing of AI platforms as mental health services or therapy. “There’s a growing concern about the risks to minors, and even to adults, using AI to get guidance for depression, anxiety and feelings around suicide,” Mansur explained.

She also plans to file a bill that will extend tax credits for food pantries and soup kitchens that are set to expire in 2026.

Finally a bill (HB 1023) that she and Mark Sharp are co-sponsoring will help designate St. Joseph Hospital as a trauma center, preventing ambulance services from bypassing the hospital to other official designated trauma centers based on proximity.

Sherri Gallick, District 62

Representing Belton and 14 other municipalities in Cass and Bates counties, Gallick has pre-filed 13 bills.

Most important to Gallick is setting an age verification that protects minors from online pornography (HB 1841). Gallick introduced the bill last year. “I got a little pushback, and that was shocking,” she said. A similar Texas law was headed to the Supreme Court at the time and the Missouri legislature chose to wait for the court’s decision. Despite concerns over freedom of speech, the Supreme Court this summer ruled in favor of the Texas law. (Pornhub shut down its site entirely in Texas.)

Gallick is also pushing for a Purple Alert (HB 1840) that gives law enforcement, firefighters and emergency responders the knowledge they need to respond to those with disabilities, such as autism.

Emily Weber, District 24

Representing the Midtown area, Emily Weber has pre-filed 15 bills. Like Sharp, Weber is in her last year as a state legislator.

Weber highlighted a couple of favorites. HB 2492 requires reporting lost and stolen fired arms within 72 hours.

HB 2491 addresses senior rental housing for the lower middle class. “We have [subsidies], of course, for low income folks,” she explained. “But when you make just a tad too, too much, you don’t qualify for any of those subsidies. That’s where the assistance gets lost. Middle income seniors are one of the fastest growing groups that are becoming houseless.”

Melissa Douglas, District 27

Melissa Douglas represents the Paseo to Swope Park area and has completed her freshman year in the House. Her primary concern is working with Republicans on the budget.

Douglas has not filed any bills for this legislative session.

To view all the bills sponsored by your legislator, visit house.mo.gov and click on members. The legislator’s biography page provides a running list of his or her sponsored bills during the upcoming General Assembly.