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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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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... -
Happy Holidays
Posted Monday, December 16, 2019, at 2:58 PMAs we approach the holiday season, I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. From my family to yours, I hope you have a joyous holiday surrounded by friends and loved ones. If you are on the road this holiday season, I wish you safe travels. Please keep those less fortunate or alone in mind and let’s all share the holiday spirit... -
A day to honor all veterans
Posted Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at 3:30 PMMonday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. One of three federal holidays that honor military service, Veterans Day recognizes all men and women who have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States. The two other holidays, Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, are reserved for active duty military and those who have lost their lives in service to our nation... -
An Extraordinary Week at the Capitol
Posted Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 8:30 AMLast week, lawmakers were in Jefferson City for the annual veto session, as well as an extraordinary session called by the governor. The veto session was brief, since none of the six bills rejected by the governor were overridden. Legislators seemed content to revisit the provisions of the vetoed bills again in the spring, if necessary... -
Taking a stand for good government
Posted Friday, May 10, 2019, at 3:29 PMThis week, with just days remaining in the 2019 session – and only hours left to pass the state budget – I stood in the Senate chamber and brought legislative proceedings to a standstill. Typically, I’m not prone to rash behavior or sensational acts, but I had reached my limit with the inaction of some of my legislative colleagues in the House of Representatives and believed it was necessary to take a stand... -
Crunching numbers and serving pie
Posted Friday, April 26, 2019, at 10:46 AMThe Missouri Constitution requires the General Assembly to balance the state budget every year. The process begins in the House of Representatives, where lawmakers draft 13 budget bills that outline revenue and expenses for the various state government agencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee completed its review of the House budget proposals last week and the full Senate reviewed and passed the Senate’s substitute bills this week... -
Watching the numbers
Posted Friday, April 12, 2019, at 12:36 PMThe Senate Appropriations Committee has met almost every day this week to pour over the budget recommendations sent over from the House of Representatives. According to the Missouri Constitution, budget legislation originates in the House. The Senate reviews the House’s budget and offers changes. The two versions are eventually reconciled by a conference committee before final numbers are presented to both chambers for approval... -
Cultivating Agricultural Knowledge
Posted Monday, April 8, 2019, at 9:09 AMWhere does milk come from? The answer to that question will vary, depending on a person’s age and where they were raised. Increasingly, Missourians are disconnected from the farm and many young people today have no understanding of how a gallon of milk ends up in their grocer’s dairy case... -
REAL ID available March 25
Posted Monday, March 18, 2019, at 3:02 PMImagine stepping up to TSA security check-in at the airport and being told your Missouri driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification for boarding your flight. That could actually happen beginning Oct. 1, 2020. On that date, TSA and other federal authorities will only accept identification that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005... -
Advancing bills and honoring friends
Posted Friday, March 8, 2019, at 3:21 PMAs the mid-point of the 2019 legislative session rapidly approaches, the Senate is busy perfecting legislation, passing bills and sending them on for review by the House of Representatives. March 1 was the last day bills could be introduced in the Senate, with 575 bills and resolutions submitted in the upper chamber this year. ... -
Defending the Unborn
Posted Friday, March 1, 2019, at 10:59 AMThis past week brought both disappointing news and positive developments for champions of human life. In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Senate failed to pass legislation that would require physicians to provide care to infants who survive an attempted abortion. While those who uphold the sanctity of life recoiled at the defeat of the federal “Born-Alive Bill,” we took heart from the passage of House Bill 126 in the Missouri House of Representatives... -
Welcoming friends from 4-H
Posted Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 1:02 PMThis week, I was pleased to welcome two terrific young people from the 21st Senatorial District to my office. Kara Smith and Morgan Starbuck were selected as delegates to the 2019 4-H Legislative Academy, which was held in Jefferson City, Feb. 18-20. As part of their participation in the three-day conference, the delegates had the opportunity to job shadow me as I carried about my daily duties in the Missouri Senate... -
Following the Legislative Process
Posted Friday, February 15, 2019, at 2:31 PMAnyone wanting a lesson in the legislative process could gain some insight by watching the actions of lawmakers at the Missouri State Capitol this past week. Several measures that occupied the attentions of senators in committee hearings the previous week made it onto the floor of the Senate chamber in recent days... -
Moving bills through committees
Posted Friday, February 8, 2019, at 1:29 PMBefore a bill can become law, it must first be considered by one of the Senate’s committees. As bills are brought before a committee, the sponsor explains the measure and witnesses are called to speak in favor or opposition of the proposed law. Committee hearings provide an opportunity for people and groups with an interest in the bill to have their opinions heard... -
Our first look at the budget
Posted Friday, January 25, 2019, at 2:51 PMIt was a short week at the Missouri State Capitol as offices were closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Senate quickly got down to business on Tuesday as the remainder of the week was full of floor sessions, committee hearings, and visits with constituents... -
A week to set priorities
Posted Friday, January 18, 2019, at 2:39 PMWe’ve had a busy week at the Missouri State Capitol. On Wednesday, Jan. 16, we met in a joint session with the House of Representatives to hear the governor’s legislative agenda and his budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year. We also received committee assignments for the 100th General Assembly. These two events set the stage for the coming session and gave lawmakers a better picture of the work before them... -
A milestone legislative session
Posted Friday, January 11, 2019, at 12:53 PMAs lawmakers began the 2019 legislative session on Jan. 9, we took note that we were marking a milestone – the 100th time a new class of legislators had gathered since Missouri’s statehood in 1821. Mindful of the historic significance, the First Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly of the State of Missouri got underway in typical fashion, with ceremony and traditional rituals... -
Reflecting on the Past and Looking Forward to a Prosperous 2019
Posted Monday, December 31, 2018, at 1:00 PM(December 31, 2018) — If your family is like mine, the past few weeks have been eventful. We’ve enjoyed time with loved ones and reconnected with old friends. We’ve exchanged gifts, traveled here and there, eaten too much and stayed busy nearly every day...
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