Rep. Bill Falkner

Maddy summaryHB 3259 modifies laws related to unlawful gatherings by making organizers and sponsors jointly responsible for any property damage or injuries caused by the group or connected individuals. It specifically expands liability to include those who solicit participation in such events, holding them accountable alongside participants. The bill directly affects event organizers, sponsors, and anyone promoting unlawful assemblies, requiring them to share financial responsibility for resulting harm. This is a policy change to existing liability provisions, not a new program or procedural measure.

Maddy summaryHB 2703 requires community water systems to implement mandatory inspection and maintenance programs for water valves and hydrants. Specifically, it mandates that all valves be inspected every ten years, broken valves repaired or replaced promptly, and all valve/hydrant locations mapped using digital systems within five years. Systems must also test all hydrants regularly, flush dead-end water pipes, and maintain inspection records for six years. This applies to most community water providers, excluding state parks, cities with over 30,000 residents, and certain large-county systems.

Maddy summaryHB 2687 requires telecom and cable companies to remove abandoned underground lines and facilities from public streets, sidewalks, and similar public areas within 180 days of abandonment. Companies must notify local agencies within 30 days and submit a removal plan, facing $500 daily fines until removal is complete. The bill also holds owners financially responsible for costs if other infrastructure projects encounter abandoned lines. Local agencies enforce these requirements to improve public safety and infrastructure maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 3105, titled the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," protects Missouri residents' right to possess firearms by declaring federal gun regulations within the state invalid if they exceed constitutional limits. It grants the state attorney general or county prosecutors authority to sue federal officials for infringing on these rights and requires disciplinary action for law enforcement officers who knowingly violate them. The bill also affirms Missouri's exclusive authority to regulate firearms, including maintaining the existing federal excise tax on firearms, which it states does not restrict lawful ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to establish state-wide soil-based standards for septic system installation and maintenance, replacing outdated rules. It defines qualified professionals (including licensed engineers, certified soil scientists, and sanitarians) who can conduct required soil evaluations and mandates a contractor registration program with continuing education requirements by 2027. Homeowners, contractors, and local governments (counties/cities) must comply with these standards, with the state enforcing them if local jurisdictions fail to adopt the rules. The law also creates training programs for contractors and requires counties to adopt the standards or risk state enforcement, with temporary percolation tests allowed until 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3237 directs municipalities collecting tourism taxes to deposit 75% of proceeds into an "Infrastructure Account" for building/maintaining tourism-related facilities like roads, parks, and sports venues (including indoor facilities), and 25% into a "Tourism Promotion Account" for marketing. It requires that tourism tax funds be kept separate from general municipal funds and cannot be commingled. The bill also specifies that if existing bonds were issued for infrastructure before 1997, a portion of the 75% must instead fund debt retirement. Municipalities must seek voter approval before implementing or expanding these tourism taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 2394 creates a new law requiring Missouri cities and counties to recognize valid plumber licenses issued by other Missouri localities if the license holder passed a state-approved exam. It applies to plumbers (apprentices, journeyman, and master) who obtained their licenses before August 28, 2026, and are moving between jurisdictions. Local governments must waive their own licensure requirement for these individuals but license holders still need a separate local business license. The law does not apply to plumbing foremen or licenses obtained without passing an approved exam.

Maddy summaryHJR 171 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Missouri school districts to include tax-exempt industrial properties owned by municipalities (for development projects) in their property valuation calculations when determining debt limits. This would enable school districts to borrow more funds - up to 15% of the total taxable property value, including these previously excluded industrial sites - without exceeding current borrowing caps. The amendment would apply specifically to properties exempt from taxation under municipal industrial development laws. It requires voter approval at a future election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 199 requires public entities (like cities, counties, or school districts) to mandate payment bonds for contractors on public works projects costing over $50,000. These bonds must cover materials, labor, insurance, and other costs, but include a new rule: remote suppliers (those working through lower-tier subcontractors) must notify the contractor in writing within 90 days of nonpayment before claiming under the bond. The bill excludes licensed professionals (like engineers), environmental assessors, and art suppliers under formal city programs from being classified as "contractors" under this requirement. It directly affects contractors, suppliers, and public entities managing public construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 145 amends Missouri's sunshine law to update the list of exemptions allowing public governmental bodies to close meetings, records, or votes. The bill specifies 11 exemptions, including legal proceedings (requiring public disclosure of settlement agreements after final resolution), real estate transactions (requiring disclosure after execution), and employee personnel matters (requiring voting records to be public within 72 hours). It clarifies that personal information in health, student, or welfare cases remains closed, but voting records on final decisions must be disclosed. This change replaces the existing exemption language with updated provisions to modernize transparency rules.