Governor Kehoe says the risk of losing the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals is real

STATE CAPITOL — Governor Mike Kehoe called for a special session. Kehoe wanted Missouri lawmakers to return to Jefferson City on Monday, June 2, 2025. Kehoe had several priorities for the special session.

The Republican Governor aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri, providing resources to recent storm victims, and appropriating $25 million in state funding to help pay for a new Mizzou research reactor.

Kehoe wanted Missouri lawmakers to enact the Show Me Sports Investment Act. The legislation would help keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. Kehoe said the 2 teams needed to stay in Missouri because they were a huge part of the state’s economy.

Kehoe said, “I have talked not only to the owners of both of the teams multiple times about their management. They have some significant options on the table. I believe if Missouri does not put some sort of offer forward, I’m not speaking for any of those teams, I think the risk is real that they don’t stay here. I believe the package that we can present to them with the help of the local communities will be serious enough for them to give it great consideration.”

Kehoe said the recent structural storm damage in St. Louis was worse than the damage from the Joplin tornado. He was asking lawmakers to give Missouri tornado victims tax deductions and emergency aid during the special session. Kehoe said he also depended on non-government agencies to help storm victims such as churches and charities.

Kehoe said, “It’s going to take a lot of coalitions like that to help solve some of these of communities whether that’s in Scott County, St. Louis, Piedmont, and any of the affected areas.”

University of Missouri leaders have a billion-dollar project underway to replace their old research reactor in Columbia called MURR. Kehoe wanted lawmakers to appropriate $25 million toward the construction of the new research reactor during the special session.

Kehoe said, “MURR has developed lifesaving medicines for patients around the world. Missouri is proud to be home to this incredible nuclear resource.”

Kehoe said work during the special session was too important to leave unfinished.