House Speaker Steven Tilley announced today — Aug. 13 — that he will resign the office of speaker and his position as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.

Tilley’s resignation was effective at 11:59 p.m. today.

In a news release, Tilley stated his optometry practice, working on campaigns and spending time with his two daughters as the key factors in his decision.

“Over the past eight years I sometimes put the interest of the caucus and the House ahead of my family,” he stated in the release. “My decision to resign early is one I made with my daughters and that puts my family first”

Tilley will continue his optometry practice in Perryville and will remain active in politics and public policy.

“I look forward to helping my friends and ensuring the Republican Party is successful in November and going forward,” he stated.

First elected in 2004, Tilley has served almost the full eight years allowed under the Missouri Constitution. His term would have expired in January. He served as the majority floor leader for three years and was elected speaker in January of 2011.

Under his leadership, the Legislature was able to pass some landmark pieces of legislation that included eliminating the franchise tax, requiring drug testing for welfare recipients, imposing stiffer penalties on human trafficking, providing a permanent funding source for veterans homes and reforming the judicial selection process, according to the release.

Tilley also led the divisive redistricting process in 2011 resulting in a bipartisan override of the governor’s veto.