Rep. Jim Kreider, a Democrat, represents part of Christian and Greene counties (District 142) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Rep. Kreider has been Speaker Pro Tem since 1997 and was the Missouri House of Representatives Freshman Class President in 1992. He is distinguished as the first Democrat to hold a legislative seat in Christian County since 1904 and the first member of leadership from Southwest Missouri since 1955.

Rep. Kreider is recognized as a leader among his colleagues in cutting taxes, improving education and supporting the state's vital agricultural economy. Some of his recent legislative accomplishments include expanding Missouri Circuit Breaker Program for seniors, increasing the personal exemption, expanding the tax exemption for private pensions, cutting taxes on food, eliminating the franchise tax on small businesses and providing a tax credit for businesses that must renovate to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This past session Rep. Kreider sponsored the most comprehensive farm legislation in the country. Through this legislation, the state provided tax incentives for the formation of new age cooperatives for meat packing, ethanol production and other crop processing plants. Rep. Kreider also introduced legislation allowing Missouri to join the proposed Southern Dairy Compact Association to help stabilize milk prices for Missouri's dairy farmers.

Rep. Kreider has also passed legislation that would: allow a "three strikes and out" law for repeat domestic violence offenders, limit the number of frivolous suits prisoners are able to bring against the state, limit the amount of taxes and fees the General Assembly can impose in any one year without a vote of the people, and protect Missourians' rights against managed care companies.

In addition to his legislative duties, Rep. Kreider is a farmer and rancher.

Rep. Kreider has received the American Police Hall of Fame award (1998), the Spirit of America award(1998), the Missouri School Boards Association Friend of Education award (1997), the Missouri Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture award (1996-1998), and the Farm Family of the Year award(1992).

Rep. Kreider is a member of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church; a past board member and current member of the Christian County Farm Bureau; a past member and vice president of the Christian County University Extension; a former member of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Board; a member of the Nixa and Ozark Parents as Teachers advisory board; and a member of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

A 1973 graduate of Nixa High School, Rep. Kreider holds a degree in agricultural business and economics from Southwest Missouri State University.

Born June 24, 1955, in Nuernberg, Germany, Rep. Kreider currently resides in Nixa with his wife, Debbie, and their children, Lacey and Neeley.