Land surveyor Mark Nolte will officially add his new title next month in Jefferson City: State Representative for the 51st District.

The Republican Nolte won election in November to represent Saline and most of Lafayette counties, including Higginsville. As a freshman lawmaker, Nolte recently took part in a bus tour with other first-term lawmakers, making stops in every corner of Missouri. Nolte tells KMMO News of one highlight from the tour.

Nolte said the tour wasn’t just a chance to become familiar with other parts of the state, but also get to know his fellow lawmakers.

Nolte succeeds Kurtis Gregory, who will now represent the area in the State Senate. Nolte adds that he’s prefiled two bills that Gregory had sponsored in previous sessions.

State representative-elect Mark Nolte says that he had spoke to incoming House Speaker Jon Patterson about both bills while the tour went through the Kansas City area.

The 103rd Session of the Missouri General Assembly begins January 8th.