Rep. Bill Falkner

Maddy summaryHB 1135 requires telecommunications and cable television companies to remove abandoned underground lines and facilities from public roads, streets, and sidewalks within 180 days of abandonment. Companies must notify local or state agencies within 30 days of abandonment and submit a removal plan, facing daily fines of $500 until removal is complete. The bill directly affects telecom and cable providers operating in public rights-of-way, holding them financially responsible for costs related to contact with abandoned infrastructure during other projects. Enforcement is assigned to municipal, county, or state agencies overseeing public infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 143 allows individuals convicted of misdemeanor offenses to request that their court records be made confidential in automated systems after their death. Specifically, family members or representatives may file a motion with the court, including a death certificate, if the person has been deceased for at least six months. The court must then review whether making the record confidential would unfairly prejudice others before granting the request. This bill directly affects families of deceased misdemeanor offenders seeking to remove public access to those records.

Maddy summaryHB 415 repeals Missouri's Section 71.990, which previously defined "no-impact, home-based businesses" and limited local government requirements for such operations. The bill removes the requirement for home-based business owners to obtain permits, licenses, or rezone property, while clarifying that activities must stay within residential occupancy limits and not increase traffic, violate parking rules, or be visible from streets. This directly affects homeowners operating small-scale businesses (like crafts or consulting) in their residences across Missouri. The repeal eliminates specific regulatory barriers but does not establish new rules for home-based businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 142 sets maximum insurance coverage limits for local governments (like cities or counties) purchasing liability insurance to cover claims for injuries or damages. It limits total coverage to $2 million per incident and $300,000 per person, excluding workers' compensation claims. The bill requires annual adjustments to these limits based on inflation using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis' Personal Consumption Expenditures index. This directly affects local governments purchasing insurance and individuals filing claims against them, capping the amount they can recover.

Maddy summaryHB 1199 establishes new minimum base salary schedules for county officials (like commissioners) in noncharter counties across Missouri, setting pay based on the county's assessed valuation (e.g., $36,008.40 for counties under $51 million valuation). It requires county commissioners to complete 20 hours of annual training approved by a professional association to qualify for an additional $2,000 in salary. Salary commissions must adjust all county officials' pay equally within a county and cannot reduce current salaries, with limited exceptions for newly elected officials. The bill directly affects county commissioners, presiding commissioners, and other noncharter county officials in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 144 establishes rules for relocating easements on real property, primarily affecting property owners (servient estate owners) who want to move an existing easement, and the easement holders (like utility companies or conservation groups) who benefit from it. The bill requires property owners seeking relocation to file a court case proving the change won’t harm the easement’s purpose, safety, or the rights of others (such as lenders or tenants with recorded interests). It specifically prohibits relocating public utility easements, conservation easements, or easements tied to conservation uses. The law aims to balance property owner flexibility with protections for existing easement rights and related financial interests.

Maddy summaryHB 200, titled "Modifies provisions relating to environmental protection," actually focuses on park and recreation funding rather than environmental regulation. The bill allocates 50% of county sales taxes to a metropolitan park fund for maintaining recreational facilities (including 50% specifically for Gateway Arch grounds initially), while reserving 40% of that portion for municipal grants to support park projects and recreation programs. It also includes minor provisions about sewer fees for residential properties and condominiums, requiring annual fees for lateral sewer repairs. The bill’s core mechanism is a tax revenue-sharing system for parks, not environmental protection as the title suggests.

Maddy summaryHB 716 modifies how nuisance lawsuits can be filed against deteriorated properties in specific cities. It allows property owners within 1,200 feet of a deteriorated property or neighborhood organizations to sue for injunctive relief (to force repairs) without proving financial damage, after sending 60 days' written notice via certified mail. The bill applies only to home rule cities with over 350,000 residents, cities spanning multiple counties, or cities with 71,000-79,000 residents. Successful plaintiffs in commercial/industrial cases may also recover attorney fees, but the law only covers these specific city types.

Maddy summaryHB 717 updates rules for Missouri land banks, which are local agencies that acquire and manage tax-delinquent properties. It restricts who can bid at land bank auctions (barring current tax delinquents, land bank staff, officials, and close relatives), requires non-residents to appoint a Missouri agent, and prohibits residents of certain cities from bidding if they own properties with building code violations. The bill also clarifies that land banks are exempt from property taxes while owning land and must notify county assessors when acquiring or selling property. Land banks must operate within their county or municipality boundaries and can only purchase adjacent property when buying directly.

Maddy summaryHB 1719 updates Missouri state law by redefining "law enforcement animal" to include dogs, horses, and other animals used by police, fire, search and rescue, and correctional facilities. The bill establishes that intentionally harming or disabling these animals while they are working or in the custody of an officer is a crime, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the severity of the injury or death. It also clarifies specific situations where harming an animal is not a crime, such as veterinary care, hunting, and normal farm practices, while explicitly excluding attacks on working law enforcement animals from these exemptions.