Members of the Warren County Republican Committee hosted a small, town hall-style meeting with state Rep. Jeff Porter Feb. 18, offering locals a chance to engage with what’s going on in state government.

Porter represents all of Montgomery County and the western and southern portions of Warren County. Fellow Rep. Richard West was also invited, but was caught in a lengthy budget hearing, organizers said. West represents the eastern portion of Warren County along with Wentzville.

The town hall gathering was held in a classroom at Liberty Christian Academy in Wright City. Porter opened his updates from Jefferson City with an explanation of the Second Amendment Preservation Act that was recently passed by the Missouri House. The bill would direct all state and local police departments to not assist with federal gun restrictions.

“We’re reaffirming the Second Amendment. We can’t stop the Fed from coming here and doing what they do, but we’re also going to make sure our local police forces at all levels are not helping find the guns,” Porter explained. “If any department does do so for whatever reason, it would be a fine of at least $50,000.”

While the bill has passed in the House, Porter said it still has to overcome the hurdle of making it through the Missouri Senate.

Porter also provided updates about a number of his own legislative bills, including an “anti-spoofing” bill that would criminalize falsifying caller ID information; revisions to insurance provider regulations; a ban on texting and driving; and a new law that would tie a portion of public welfare assistance to school attendance for families with children.

Porter said the bill making parents more accountable for their children’s school attendance might not get traction, but he wants to start the conversation.

“(The bill) is not refined yet, but you’ve gotta start somewhere,” Porter commented. In response to a question about how many children or families would be affected, Porter said getting an answer to that question is part of the reason he filed the bill.

“When you put a bill out there, all these people come to you (with information like that),” Porter said. 

Questions from attendees spanned a broad range of topics, from state and local COVID restrictions, to suggestions of tax reductions, to reforms for the state’s initiative petition process.

Porter said the Legislature is currently examining a gradual increase to the state gas tax of 2 cents per year for five years. The change would provide a boost for the Missouri Department of Transportation, which has been struggling to fund its operations with a gas tax that hasn’t increased in decades. Porter said only one state in the U.S. has a lower gas tax than Missouri, while our state has the seventh-most highway miles to maintain.

For everything going on in the Legislature, Porter said it’s important to be open to conversations and improvements.

“Any bill, you’ve gotta have conversation and see all the different viewpoints,” Porter commented.