Bill Hardwick
Bill Hardwick | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 121st district | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Lynch (redistricting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rolla, Missouri, U.S.(United States) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Dixon, Missouri, U.S. |
| Education | University of Missouri (BA, JD) |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | Missouri National Guard |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Sadr City, Iraq War |
Bill Hardwick is an American attorney, combat veteran, and politician serving as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Elected in November 2020 from district 122, he assumed office on January 6, 2021. After redistricting in 2022, he was reelected in district 121
Early life and education
[edit]Hardwick was born in Rolla, Missouri and graduated from Dixon Senior High School in Dixon, Missouri. His father, Lonnie Hardwick was a carpenter and construction worker and his mother, Millie Hardwick, worked in home healthcare until she become a school teacher.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in classics from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law.[2] At Mizzou Law School, he was Associate Editor in Chief of the Missouri Law Review.[3]
Career
[edit]
Hardwick served in the United States Army and Missouri National Guard. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College with honors and served as an engineer platoon leader, company commander, and battalion commander. Hardwick attended Officer Candidate School and was awarded the leadership award for having the highest ratings while in a leadership position and receiving the highest score on the leadership exam.[4]
Hardwick served as a special assistant U.S. attorney and prosecutor for Pulaski County and St. Robert, Missouri. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in November 2020 and assumed office on January 6, 2021.[5][6]
In the 2022 Missouri House of Representatives election, he was redistricted to the 121st district.
In 2021, Bill Hardwick sponsored the Missouri Cybersecurity Act, designed to help the state identity cyber vulnerabilities and develop attack response plans for critical infrastructure as well as state and local agencies. [7] In that same session, Hardwick passed language into law that would allow a person wrongfully convicted of crimes who were actually innocent to have the conviction set aside or vacated. [8] In 2022, Hardwick worked on a constitutional amendment which eventually created the Missouri Department of the National Guard and added language to the proposal that the Guard must uphold the United States and Missouri Constitutions and protect the rights and civil liberties of all Missourians.[9]
In 2023, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) identified Bill Hardwick as one of the most conservative members of the Missouri Legislature and awarded him and twenty-five other members of the House of Representatives the Conservative Excellence award for voting with the conservative position over ninety percent of the time.[10]
In 2022 and 2023, Hardwick sponsored legislation to prohibit COVID-19 vaccine requirements for public schools and public agencies, and would require vaccine exemptions for universities and private sector employers. In testimony, Hardwick stated uncertainty if the vaccine saved more lives than taken.[11]. In 2023, on the floor of the Missouri House of Representatives, Hardwick stated that the mRNA COVID vaccines were causing myocarditis.[12]
In 2023, Hardwick supported legislation that would prevent minors from receiving gender affirming care, including access to hormones and puberty blockers. Hardwick stated that he does not support restrictions on transgender health care for adults.[13]
In the 2024 U.S. Presidential primary election, Hardwick publicly endorsed Donald Trump.
In the 2024 election cycle, Missouri Right to Life endorsed Hardwick due to his anti-abortion stances and votes.[14]
In 2025, Hardwick introduced legislation to license and regulate video lottery terminals to replace "no chance" gaming machines, which have been subject of dispute with Missouri Gaming Commission as unregulated gambling and subject of lobbying by Steven Tilley representing Torch Electronics.[15]
Hardwick was an early supporter of Missouri's Second Amendment Preservation Act arguing that local police refusing to enforce federal gun laws was an important part of vertical federalism and that compelling them to do so was a violation of the anticommandeering doctrine described by Justice Antonin Scalia in Printz v. United States.[16] In 2025, Hardwick sponsored a bill to revive the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which was blocked by federal courts after passage in 2021. Members of law enforcement have opposed the legislation, saying that it presents risks to police and public safety.[17] Hardwick's 2025 version adapted language in response to previous pushback, however legal experts say that it still opens police departments to liabilities that interfere with law enforcement. Similar legislation has been promoted in other states by the American Firearms Association, whose director, Alex Dorr, has targeted opposing police and legislators on social media.[18]
Electoral history
[edit]State representative
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Hardwick | 6,133 | 69.30% | ||
| Democratic | Yvonne Reeves-Chong | 2,717 | 30.70% | ||
| Total votes | 8,850 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bill Hardwick | 3,671 | 100.00% | +30.70 | |
| Total votes | 3,671 | 100.00% | |||
References
[edit]- ^ "Obituary for Lonnie Leslie Hardwick at Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home". www.birminghammartinfuneralhomes.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
- ^ "Bill Hardwick". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ https://training.efactory.missouristate.edu/wconnect/InstLookup.awp
- ^ Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (2021-04-20). "Freshmen to Watch: Bill Hardwick". The Missouri Times. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "Representative Bill Hardwick". www.house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ "Rep. Bill Hardwick On His Early Impressions Of Missouri Legislative Life". STLPR. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
- ^ Times, The Missouri (2021-07-15). "New commission to take on cybersecurity threats". The Missouri Times. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ "Missouri may pass bill that can help Jackson County prosecutor free Kevin Strickland".
- ^ "Missouri National Guard becomes its own state department this month. Here's what that means". STLPR. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ https://x.com/mschlapp/status/1742988687531491646
- ^ Pfeil, Alyse (March 22, 2023). "Bill banning COVID vaccine requirements gets initial approval from Missouri House". Missouri Independent. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L8n9vB2xAs
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jason; Kellogg, Sarah (June 6, 2023). "Rep. Hardwick expects Missouri lawmakers to come back to ballot item curbs". STLPR. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
- ^ https://missourilifepac.org/candidate-endorsements/
- ^ Keller, Rudi (2025-02-04). "Missouri House committee votes to legalize video slot machines • Missouri Independent". Missouri Independent. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
- ^ Guest (2021-02-08). "Opinion: Missouri's Second Amendment Preservation Act and a closer look at vertical federalism and the Supremacy Clause". The Missouri Times. Retrieved 2025-06-04.
- ^ Shorman, Jonathan; Bayless, Kacen (April 2, 2025). "Missouri GOP wants to revive 2nd Amendment law. KC-area top cops say it's a bad idea". Kansas City Star.
- ^ Mansouri, Kavahn (2025-04-16). "Police warn Missouri Republicans against reviving a controversial gun rights law". STLPR. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
- ^ "Election Results; Unofficial Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "Election Resuults; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. December 9, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2023.