Rep. Ben Keathley

Maddy summaryHB 2666 establishes the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act" to protect certain communications from lawsuits. It applies to individuals, businesses, or nonprofits who communicate about public concerns in government proceedings or exercise free speech rights (as guaranteed by U.S. or Missouri constitutions), excluding government employees acting officially, public health/safety enforcement, or commercial speech about goods/services. The key mechanism allows defendants in qualifying lawsuits to file a "special motion to dismiss" within 60 days, triggering an automatic stay of all other court proceedings until the motion is decided. This aims to reduce legal costs and delays for protected expression by enabling early dismissal of frivolous claims.

Maddy summaryHB 3054 changes where certain lawsuits must be filed in Missouri. It requires that any case challenging the validity of Missouri laws - such as disputes over whether a statute was properly enacted or a constitutional provision is valid - must be filed in Cole County. For personal injury and similar cases (tort cases), the bill sets new rules: if the injury occurred in Missouri, the case must be filed in the county where the injury happened; if outside Missouri, filing location depends on whether the defendant is a corporation or individual and the plaintiff's residence. The bill also updates definitions of "principal place of residence" to clarify venue rules for other cases.

Maddy summaryHJR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri. It would require the governor to appoint judges from three nominees provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission for vacancies in the supreme court, court of appeals, and St. Louis city/Jackson County circuit courts. For other judicial circuits, voters would decide at elections whether to adopt this appointment method (instead of the current system) or maintain the existing process, with changes allowed only once every four years. The amendment must be approved by voters in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2777, the "Public Nuisance Reform Act," restricts public nuisance lawsuits by setting strict rules for who can file claims and what remedies are allowed. It exempts legal product sales (like approved medications), government-authorized activities, and aggregated private injuries from being classified as public nuisances. Plaintiffs must prove a defendant’s actions directly caused the nuisance with specific evidence, and private individuals can only sue for unique "special injuries" (not general public harm), with limited recovery limited to compensatory damages. The bill also limits government lawsuits to local jurisdictions, requires governor approval for attorney general claims, and bans awards for future abatement costs or emotional damages.

Maddy summaryHB 2667, titled the "Eliminate Criminal Profiteering Act," modifies negligence claims in Missouri. It prohibits individuals engaged in "wrongful conduct" (defined as criminal activity or intentional torts) from suing for negligence related to that conduct, shifting the burden of proof to the defendant (Section 3). Additionally, it bars unauthorized immigrants from recovering general damages or lost wages in negligence claims arising from automobile accidents, requiring plaintiffs to prove lawful status via documentation (Section 4). The law directly affects plaintiffs in security negligence cases involving criminal activity and immigrant plaintiffs in car accident claims. It does not change criminal laws but alters civil liability for specific negligence scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 3465 clarifies how courts handle invalid sections of laws. If a court finds part of a bill unconstitutional or invalid, the rest of the law remains in effect unless the court determines the legislature would not have passed the remaining parts without the invalid section. To declare the rest invalid, the court must find clear and convincing evidence that the valid parts are incomplete or unworkable alone. This bill affects courts and future legislation by setting a standard for when law sections can be removed without voiding the entire law. It is a procedural rule, not a policy change affecting residents or businesses.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2080 creates Missouri's "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund" in the state treasury, allowing the state treasurer to accept, hold, and invest Bitcoin donations from eligible Missouri residents or entities. The fund requires all Bitcoin to be stored securely in cold storage for a mandatory five-year period before conversion or sale, with strict rules prohibiting transactions involving foreign entities or illegal activities. The state treasurer must implement security protocols, conduct regular audits, and publish biennial reports detailing the fund's value, transactions, and security status. This bill directly affects state financial management and Missouri residents who donate Bitcoin, establishing new procedures for handling digital assets within state finances.

Maddy summaryHB 2427 would add one circuit judge position and two associate circuit judge positions within Missouri's eleventh judicial circuit, effective January 1, 2007. The bill also establishes future additions, including a seventh circuit judge starting in 2029 and additional associate judges in 2015, 2019, and 2027. These changes reclassify existing commissioner roles (family court and treatment court) into associate circuit judge positions, with specific election timelines. The bill directly affects the staffing structure of the eleventh judicial circuit's court operations.

Maddy summaryHB 3160 modifies Missouri's rules for appealing preliminary injunctions. It allows any party enjoined by a circuit or associate circuit judge (such as a business or individual) to appeal the injunction, expanding appeal rights beyond the current system. The bill also clarifies that the state attorney general can appeal preliminary injunctions against the state or statewide officials, including those issued before August 28, 2025. These changes directly affect state officials, legal parties in court cases, and the process for challenging court orders that stop laws or regulations from taking effect. The bill replaces existing provisions in Missouri law regarding injunction appeals.