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While new Senate leaders are pledging to tamp down some of the tactics that led to a historically low number of bills being passed last year, the House could be in for a rockier start amid a leadership challenge to the man elected to serve as speaker more than a year ago.

Rep. Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, has assembled his team to take over for the term-limited and scandal-plagued Dean Plocher, but he faces a long-shot bid by Rep. Justin Sparks, R-Wildwood, for the position.

The entire House is set to vote on Patterson’s promotion to speaker at the beginning of session at noon. In recent history, until this year, the speaker election has largely been a formality.

Sparks, a former police officer who is starting his second term, has criticized Patterson’s statements opposing changes to the abortion ballot question Amendment 3, as well as Patterson’s vote against restrictions on transgender health care.

Sparks has won support from some county-level Republican organizations but has shown few signs of robust support among his own colleagues.

The Missouri Independent that Sparks is working for a group running a child care program that received millions of state dollars he advocated for.

Republicans have a strong 111-52 majority in the House. It takes 82 votes to control the House. Patterson could lose some Republican support and still take the speakership.

Sparks earlier told the Post-Dispatch he didn’t challenge Patterson “with the condition of winning. I did this because it’s the right thing to do.�

Patterson, for his part, has already moved into the Capitol offices reserved for the speaker.

Of the 163 representatives being sworn in, 55 are new.

In the Senate, Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe will preside over the swearing-in ceremonies in one of the final duties of his current role as lieutenant governor. His inauguration to replace fellow Republican Mike Parson takes place Monday.

Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, is set to be formally elected as president of the upper chamber, while Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, will take over her spot as majority floor leader.

Although Republicans hold a 24-10 majority, the duo will face a splintered GOP caucus with at least five members aligned with the Freedom Caucus. It’s anchored by much of the same group as last year minus Sen. Bill Eigel, who lost a bid for governor in the August primary, and Denny Hoskins, who is set to become the next secretary of state.

Some incoming senators, including Republican Kurtis Gregory of Blackburn, say they agree with many of the positions of the Freedom Caucus, but don’t like the antics that led to gridlock on issues like ballot initiative reform.

“I just probably didn’t agree with the tactics they were using to try and get that brought to the forefront,â€� Gregory told ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Public Radio in a story broadcast Monday.

O’Laughlin has pledged to keep the chamber on track, but the contentious list of issues facing lawmakers could put her to the test.

In the November election, 51.6% of the voters overturned one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans via a constitutional amendment.

The new measure legalizes abortion up to the point of fetal viability, which can occur at about 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Despite the results and ongoing legal maneuvers, Republican lawmakers are expected to press new efforts to restrict abortion.

Incoming Sen. Adam Schnelting, a Republican from St. Charles, for example, filed a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting abortion, with an exception for survivors of rape or incest prior to 12 weeks gestation and only if the crime was first reported to law enforcement at least 48 hours before the procedure.

Kehoe says he will push for a state takeover of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Metropolitan Police Department to address concerns about crime, which also could become a time-consuming slog if Democrats in the chamber representing the city seek to block the plan.

Rank-and-file Republicans appear to be on board with making crime a focal point.

“Crime and safety issues remain top concerns in many parts of the state, and I’ll be working hard to pass meaningful legislation that supports both law enforcement and the communities they serve,� Sen.-elect Joe Nicola wrote in a letter to his Jackson County constituents.

Republicans also want to eliminate a 2027 expiration date on a 2023 law banning gender transition surgeries for minors.

Those issues could trigger pushback from Democrats in the minority, who last year successfully filibustered for 50 hours to block GOP attempts to put a question on the ballot making it harder for residents to change the state constitution.

Republicans also are attempting to overturn all or parts of a voter-approved increase in the minimum wage.

Freshman Rep. Bryant Wolfin, R-Ste. Genevieve, filed legislation to repeal the phased-in $15 per hour minimum wage, calling it a “disaster.�

“This minimum wage increase along with its other mandates will be another heavy burden Missouri business owners and our economy,� he wrote in a post on X. “Not even sworn in yet, and I’m already hated!�