Kehoe lays out vision for a safer state; pledges cooperation with immigration enforcement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe marked several firsts Tuesday.

It was his first State of the State address and to start the speech, Kehoe ticked off a list of firsts: Missouri's first World Cup hosting gig coming in 2026; Jon Patterson as the first Asian American Missouri House speaker; and Kehoe's own status as the first governor raised by a single mother.

"I said earlier that I will never forget my roots," Kehoe told the joint session of the General Assembly. "Well, I’ve sat where you sit. I understand the pressures you face. And I want to work with you—not against you—because I believe we can only secure Missouri’s future if we work together."

Kehoe's primary focus was on public safety and he highlighted the six executive orders he signed after he was sworn in last week. Safety is the bedrock toward progress in the state.

"Any efforts we may make to improve the lives of Missourians–whether it be education opportunities, cutting taxes, or expanding childcare–none of it matters if Missourians aren’t safe," Kehoe said. "Securing Missouri’s future begins with public safety."

Kehoe pledged his administration will focus on prevention and enforcement and crack down on violent crimes. But the executive orders were just the start.

“These executive orders were a first step ... our work on day one was just the start," Kehoe said.

Kehoe said his budget will increase funding for law enforcement retention and recruitment and that the state will use Missouri State Highway Patrol resources to help the Trump administration enforce immigration law, echoing the refrain that "every state is a border state."

The governor, who was elected to his first term in November and was a lieutenant governor and a legislator before that, also pledged that the state will crack down on fentanyl.

"If a drug dealer sells fentanyl that kills a Missourian, they should be tried for first-degree murder, period," Kehoe said to applause. The state will also double funding for testing school sewer systems for fentanyl.

Kehoe laid out some of his economic agenda, which will include slashing taxes, lawsuit reform and expanding child care access. He said the state will streamline regulations for child care providers.

"While the state can't carry the entire burden of this issue, we can be a partner alongside families, employers and child care providers," Kehoe said. "We must provide a viable path for businesses who want to offer childcare as a fringe benefit to their employees."

He also pledged to clear a backlog of payments to child care providers. Payments to providers will now go out at the beginning of the month and will be based on enrollment rather than attendance. Democratic lawmakers praised Kehoe's ideas to fix the issue that's snarled the industry in Missouri for a year due to tech issues at the Office of Childhood

"I think it's going to take a governor being willing to hold the department accountable when we weren't able to do that successfully over the last six months," Rep. Betsy Fogle (D-Springfield), the party's ranking member on the House Budget Committee said.

Kehoe touched on policy items like crime, education and taxes in his inauguration speech on Jan. 13. Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) told ABC 17 News on Inauguration Day that he expected Kehoe and his administration to work closely with the legislature on bills the governor found important.

"This is my promise to you: I will talk to anyone, work with anyone, and root for anyone who has a good idea to make our state safer, stronger, and better," Kehoe said.

Kehoe signed six executive orders, all focused on reducing crime, his first day in office where he officially launched his Safer Missouri public safety initiative.

Safer Missouri was developed with multiple law enforcement agencies and representatives from across the state to create a multi-phase plan that focuses on reducing crime, supporting law enforcement and community partnership. 

His executive orders called for the Department of Public Safety to put troopers through further immigration enforcement training.

Kehoe's recommended operating budget for fiscal year 2025 includes a total budget of $51.8 billion. Most of the total budget will consist of federal funds, accounting for $25.7 billion.