(Editor’s note: This is the second of a two-part series covering information provided by state Rep. Bill Hardwick (R-Dixon) in an interview with Pulaski County Weekly. Part One of the series was published Jan. 22.)
State Rep. Bill Hardwick (R-Dixon) recently discussed with this newspaper several bills he’s sponsoring this year, including one which, if passed, would increase the number of circuit court judges from two to three in the 25th judicial circuit which includes Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Texas Counties.
“A lot of my bills are about asserting what's good for individual citizens, trying to help working people, and then trying to make sure we're giving power back to people, but also we're making good economic sense looking in the future,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick took the oath of office for the third time on Jan. 8 as the 103rd General Assembly reconvened in the Missouri House of Representatives in Jefferson City. It marks his fifth year as the representative for the 121st District which encompasses much of Pulaski County and Fort Leonard Wood.
In this report, Hardwick explains his reasons for sponsoring bills 434 (establishes the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act”), 435 (adds a third circuit judge to the 25th judicial circuit) and 913 (creates provisions relating to covenants not to compete involving physicians).
For more information and full text of all the bills Hardick is sponsoring this year, visit https://house.mo.gov/LegislationSP.aspx.
“I’m excited for these next two years in Missouri General Assembly. My goals are supporting and standing up for our district, protecting Missourians freedoms, and making life better for the individuals and families in our state,” Hardwick said.
Lawmakers have until 6 p.m. May 16 to get their legislation passed at which time the Session must end.
House Bill No. 434
This bill establishes the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act.”
Hardwick said red flag laws allow a person to say another person is a danger to themselves or others and seek a court order to have that person’s firearms removed.
“It’s about the Second Amendment, but it's really a lot about the Fourth, that you need due process of law,” he said, adding it’s important there’s a finding of probable cause by a law enforcement officer, a charge, an arrest, or findings in a court hearing so the government is not going into people’s homes and taking their property away from them without due process.
“That's something I thought was important to my district, and it's also important I'm a veteran,” he said. “There are a lot of veterans who have raised that as a concern to them. They're afraid of even getting mental health treatment because they're afraid of having their firearms taken away. And I think there are situations where people are going through crisis, and we want to help them, make sure they're safe, but I also think that we have to make sure that we affirm due process and that there's limitations on police power and government power.
“I want people to know that I am going to stand up for their freedoms, and I am going to stand up for limitations on government power, and I am going to respect individual rights of due process,” he added. “I want to be somebody who stands up for these principles of the Constitution and the principles that there are limitations to what the government can do to you. So that's why that's important to me.”
House Bill No. 435
This bill adds a circuit judge to the 25th judicial circuit which includes the counties of Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Texas.
Currently, there are two judges in the circuit.
If passed, the governor will appoint a third for division three and that judge shall serve until Jan. 1, 2029. A circuit judge for division three would then be elected in 2028.
Hardwick said currently the two circuit judges in place are covering a large volume of cases, in in some instances, more than in larger cities.
“The law days are long, and trial dates are far out,” Hardwick said. “So, we want, whether it's a civil case, whether it's a family law case, whether it's a criminal case, we want our citizens to be able to get heard by a judge in a timely manner, and we want our judges and prosecutors and clerks to have as much help as they can, and resources they can, to do their job. The caseload demand certainly justifies, in my mind, a third circuit judge.”
Hardwick said if passed, the third just could be approved by the end of this year.
“I think one of the issues is funding,” he said. “You know, a new circuit judge is going to be a budget item, about $200,000 a year. But I think that's resources that will be good for our circuit, for our criminal justice system, for our civil docket for everything from probate estates to divorces and custody cases. More help is going to be better for people getting heard. That's what the court process is about, about being heard.”
House Bill 913
This bill creates provisions relating to covenants not to compete involving physicians.
Hardwick said right now, some doctors are put into situations where if they want to work for a hospital, they must sign an agreement, a lifetime contract, so if they leave that hospital, they are unable to practice medicine in Missouri in a way that competes with the hospital.
“I want our hospitals to do well, and I want doctors to be able to open practices in rural Missouri, and ultimately, I want folks who live in our area to have more access to doctors in our area,” he said. He plans to discuss the matter with hospitals, including Phelps Health.
Hardwick said his goal is to have more doctors who want to sign up to work in hospitals and make it possible for more doctors to open private practices, because the way things are right now, they sign the contract with a hospital and “they’re just off of the market as a doctor,” in the state.
“And I'd rather them be more comfortable with working for the hospital for 5 to 10, years,” and then having other options if they wish.
As it is now, because of the non-compete contracts, there are few doctors in private practice in the small towns he represents and he’d like that to change, Hardwick said.
Missouri House 2025 priorities
Hardwick said the Missouri House Republican majority has outlined its priorities for the 2025 session which include making Missouri a Pro-life state, lowering the cost of living for working families, addressing public safety including attracting and retaining more law enforcement officers in the state, and promoting business and entrepreneurship in the state.
“It’s my job to carefully consider each proposal and think about how it impacts the lives of us who live here,” Hardwick said. “I don’t want to grow government; I oppose the continual erosion of our individual liberties. What I want is to restore power back to everyday citizens and enable conditions for every person to be as successful as they can be.”
Hardwick added, “Serving in the House of Representatives is an upmost honor for me, and I take my responsibilities seriously. I want to make the most of the next two years to make a difference and make a positive impact for our state. I am thankful to everyone in our district who helped me get here, and my heart is to serve the people as best I can.”
