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District 21 Column
Elected as Missouri State Senator for District 21, Denny Hoskins is a Certified Public Accountant from Warrensburg. Hoskins previously served as state representative for Johnson and Pettis counties, and also served as the Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri House.
A graduate of University of Central Missouri with a bachelor's degree in accounting, he is the only CPA in the General Assembly.
In his both his personal and public life, Denny has worked on veteran's issues and has been awarded the 2014 Legislator of the Year by the Missouri American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Missouri Association of Veterans' Organizations. He is a veteran of the Missouri Army National Guard and serves on the Missouri Veteran's Commission.
Senate District 21 includes Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline counties.
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Honoring UCM
Posted Friday, April 9, 2021, at 9:09 AMI was honored this week to welcome a delegation from the University of Central Missouri to the Capitol. During their visit, I presented them with a Senate resolution recognizing the university on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. Among those present to receive the resolution were UCM President Dr. ... -
Moving Legislation Forward
Posted Friday, March 26, 2021, at 10:12 AM(March 26, 2021) — The Legislature returned to Jefferson City this week following a one-week spring recess. During our time away from the Capitol, I was honored to participate in a ground-breaking ceremony marking the beginning of the construction phase of the Little Otter Creek Reservoir project. ... -
A mid-session recap
Posted Monday, March 22, 2021, at 8:37 AMThe Missouri General Assembly is on spring recess this week, so there was no legislative activity at the State Capitol. Most senators and representatives have spent the week back in their respective districts, meeting with constituents, while also trying to catch up on the details of their regular jobs and lives... -
A Taxing Week Ahead of Recess
Posted Monday, March 15, 2021, at 9:41 AM(Friday, March 12, 2021) — For myself, the past week felt like “win-some, lose-some” in the Missouri Senate. I was in the minority voting against a measure that would raise the cost of gasoline at the pump, but was happy to see a version of legislation I sponsored to level the playing field for Missouri merchants advance onto the House of Representatives. ... -
Perfecting education savings
Posted Friday, March 5, 2021, at 1:21 PMAs we near the half-way mark in the 2021 legislative session a number of important bills continue to be heard in committee, while others are being brought up for deliberation in the Senate chamber. Monday was the last day to submit new Senate bills, so any new proposals will have to come in the form of amendments or bill language substitutes... -
Busy days and a late night
Posted Friday, February 26, 2021, at 12:48 PMThe Missouri Senate began the week with a late night. On Monday, we took up a proposal to increase the penalties for protestors who block traffic. We worked on the legislation until well past midnight before finally perfecting Senate Bill 26. In addition to making unlawful traffic interference a crime – the first offense is an infraction – the bill also includes a provision making it illegal to deface a public monument or structure on public property. ... -
Protecting Small Business
Posted Friday, February 5, 2021, at 10:11 AMThe past year has been tough for business, and the future remains uncertain as COVID-19 continues to impact our communities. Although each business does its best to mitigate risks and protect staff and customers, there’s always a chance that someone will find fault, and try to hold businesses and their owners accountable for things beyond their control. ... -
The State of the State
Posted Friday, January 29, 2021, at 1:20 PMTypically one of the best-attended events of any legislative session, the annual State of the State Address was entirely different this year. Due to concerns over COVID-19, the decision was made to forego the usual joint-session of the General Assembly in the House of Representatives’ chamber. Instead, the governor delivered his remarks to a smaller live audience in the Senate chamber and livestreamed his address online... -
The legislative process begins
Posted Friday, January 22, 2021, at 8:29 AMWith a delayed start due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, the Missouri Senate hit the ground running this week with a full slate of committee hearings. The first step in the legislative process, committee hearings allow citizens and interested groups a chance to express their views on proposed legislations before proposals move too far along. ... -
The 101st General Assembly begins
Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021, at 1:58 PM(January 7, 2021) — This week, legislators returned to the Capitol for the start of the 101st General Assembly. Activity in the Senate got underway at noon on Wednesday with 34 members taking their places in the chamber. Among my colleagues were 11 newly elected senators who took the oath of office for the first time, as well as five members returning for a second term. I was one of the senators taking the oath for the second, and final time due to term limits... -
Extra session ends, pre-filing begins
Posted Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 1:08 PMThis week, the Missouri Senate completed the task the governor put before us when he called the Legislature back to Jefferson City for the Second Extra Legislative Session of 2020. The Senate approved a supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2021, granting the governor the authority to spend federal dollars aimed at responding to the coronavirus pandemic. The Legislature faced a “use it or lose it” deadline requiring much of the federal money to be allocated prior to Jan. 1... -
Vote ‘Yes’ on Amendment 3
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2020, at 7:25 AMAnyone who turns on the TV is well aware there’s an election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. We’re inundated with ads and, by now, I’m sure most of us have made up our minds about the various races. There may still be some confusion about the constitutional questions on the ballot, though. Missouri voters will have two opportunities to amend our state’s constitution... -
Debating solutions to crime
Posted Friday, August 7, 2020, at 12:39 PM(August 7, 2020) — After nearly 12 hours of debate, the Senate has approved a package of legislation intended to address the alarming rise of violent crime in Missouri’s largest cities. The General Assembly returned to Jefferson City on July 27 for an extra legislative session called by the governor. ... -
Moving forward from COVID-19
Posted Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 3:14 PM(Wednesday, April 20, 2020) — This week, the governor announced the first phase of his “Show Me Strong Recovery” plan, outlining steps Missouri will take to gradually reopen economic and social activity. Beginning Monday, May 4, citizens may begin returning to economic and social activities, but must adhere to social distancing requirements. ... -
We’re making progress
Posted Thursday, April 16, 2020, at 7:51 AMAs we began our fifth week under a statewide emergency due to the coronavirus pandemic, Missourians continue to follow the governor’s guidance on social distancing. As I prepare this report, nearly 4,700 Missourians have tested positive for COVID-19, including 127 within the 21st Senatorial District. ... -
Returning to the Capitol
Posted Friday, April 10, 2020, at 2:06 PM(April 8, 2020) —The Legislature returned to the Capitol this week but it was not business as usual. On Tuesday, I joined with fellow members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to review the supplemental budget bill proposed by the House of Representatives. ... -
Slowing the spread
Posted Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 7:54 AMThe Senate has been in recess this past week as our leadership extended our previously scheduled spring hiatus out of concern for the coronavirus. That means that, like you, I’ve been at home practicing my social distancing skills and trying to learn as much as I can about this global pandemic. ... -
Defending our right to hunt
Posted Friday, February 28, 2020, at 2:38 PMThis week, I presented legislation that asks Missouri voters to enshrine the right to hunt and fish in Missouri’s Constitution. Senate Joint Resolution 62 simply states that “the citizens of this state have a right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife.” The measure, which requires a vote of the people, says that no rule or regulation shall unreasonably restrict traditional methods and devices of harvesting fish and game... -
Another busy week
Posted Friday, February 14, 2020, at 2:07 PMLegislative activity continued at the State Capitol this week with a full schedule of committee hearings and a number of bills being debated in the Senate Chamber. The Agriculture Committee approved two of the bills I presented last week and sent them on to the full Senate for its consideration. ... -
Welcoming constituents
Posted Friday, February 7, 2020, at 11:07 AMYou might imagine, there was plenty of red on display at the Capitol this week. How about those Chiefs? Congratulations to Missouri’s NFL team for a much-deserved victory. The Chiefs did Missouri proud! We had an abbreviated week at the State Capitol as a forecast of severe weather raised concerns that lawmakers could get stranded in Jefferson City. The decision was made to adjourn legislative activity mid-day Wednesday and send folks home...
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