Rep. Steve Gaw, a Democrat, represents Randolph County and parts of Howard, Chariton and Boone counties (District 22) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Rep. Gaw served as Moberly city prosecutor and practiced law prior to being elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1992. Gaw was elected Speaker of the House in 1996, the fastest rise to the Speaker's dais since 1935.

As a legislator and Speaker, Steve Gaw has been a leader on education, supporting the Outstanding Schools Act and sponsoring the Read to be Ready Act. In 1998, his work on education earned him the prestigious Geyer Award, the Horace Mann Friend of Education for Legislation Award and the Distinguished Legislator Award from the Missouri Community College Association.

Rep. Gaw has been an aggressive advocate for the protection of Missouri's children and families. He has sponsored and pushed for legislation to give sexual predators lifetime sentences for their crimes. In addition, he authorized legislation to make sexual offenders register with local law enforcement agencies. Gaw also co-sponsored Missouri's tough juvenile justice bill that was passed into law.

Gaw has built a record of providing tax fairness and equity to Missouri families. In one of his first acts as Speaker, he sponsored legislation that eliminated the state's three-cent sales tax on food. In the last three years, Gaw has led efforts to cut taxes in Missouri by over $700 million, primarily focusing on Missouri's working families.

As Speaker, Steve Gaw has instituted reforms to make the House of Representatives more open and fair. Under his leadership, the Missouri House was the first legislative body in the country to have it's sessions broadcast live over the internet. In addition to openness, Gaw has made the House more accountable to taxpayers by establishing a committee to review House travel expenditures. The reforms instituted by Gaw were instrumental in restoring confidence in the House and in the Speakership.

Rep. Gaw was born on July 7, 1957 in Moberly, Mo. He grew up on a family farm and attended elementary school in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in the state.

A graduate of Moberly High School, he graduated summa cum laude from Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University) in 1978 with a bachelor of science in physics and received a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1981.

Rep. Gaw resides in Moberly with his wife Fannie. They attend West Park United Methodist Church. In addition, Gaw is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Moberly Rotary Club, the KIDS Count advisory committee, the Missouri Children's Services Commission, and is a past member of the Westsiders Gospel Quartet. In his spare time he raises saddle horses.