Crazy Lawsuits, Illegal Workers & Open-Container Zones | What Missouri Just Changed (Ep. 42)

In this episode of Take on the Lake, host Nathan Bechtold sits down with Missouri State Representative Jeff Vernetti for a wide-ranging conversation that hits some of the biggest issues affecting the Lake right now. From predatory ADA lawsuits targeting local businesses, to illegal labor in construction, to the creation of open-container entertainment zones at the Lake—this was a legislative session with real, local impact. Rep. Vernetti also opens up about stepping back from social media after receiving a death threat during session, why that boundary has made him healthier and more effective, and how he dropped 30 pounds during the grind of the legislative calendar. The conversation then dives into his biggest wins from the 2025 session—including legislation that passed with zero opposition—before landing on the ongoing debate around data centers, AI infrastructure, and whether any of it actually benefits communities like Lake of the Ozarks. What changed. What didn’t. And what it actually means for people at the Lake.