Rep. Ben Keathley

Maddy summaryHB 662 creates a three-year community solar pilot program (2026-2028) in Missouri, allowing residents and organizations to subscribe to shared solar facilities. The bill requires electric suppliers to implement the program, enabling subscribers - especially low-income households - to receive bill credits for solar energy generated by facilities (100-5,000 kW) serving at least 10 subscribers. Key provisions include setting a 5% annual target for community solar in suppliers’ electricity sales, mandating bill credit transfers if subscribers move, and requiring the state commission to establish separate bill credit values to ensure low-income subscribers save money. The program directly affects Missouri residents, community solar operators, and electric suppliers, promoting accessible solar energy without regulating subscription prices.

Maddy summaryHB 660 modifies Missouri's rules for local tax proposals by prohibiting political subdivisions (like cities or counties) from resubmitting a rejected tax proposal to voters for two years after rejection. It allows exceptions if the new proposal changes the tax amount or applies to areas affected by a declared natural disaster. The bill also updates petition requirements for creating special taxing districts, requiring 50% of property value and 50% of property owners to sign, plus detailed service and funding plans. This directly affects local governments seeking to raise taxes through voter approval. The changes take effect August 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1045 modifies Missouri's first-degree murder statute by adding a specific scenario: knowingly distributing fentanyl, carfentanil, or their derivatives that cause another person's death. This change directly affects individuals who supply these potent synthetic opioids, making such acts punishable as first-degree murder. The bill specifies that adults convicted face either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, while minors under 18 would be sentenced under separate juvenile laws. The law aims to address drug-related fatalities by treating fatal distribution as a capital offense, consistent with existing murder penalties for premeditated killings.

Maddy summaryHB 661 requires municipalities and the Missouri Department of Transportation to reimburse non-rate-regulated utilities (such as cable or telecom providers not subject to standard utility rate regulation) for costs incurred when relocating their infrastructure during road maintenance projects. The bill mandates that these entities cannot proceed with public right-of-way projects requiring utility relocations without first paying the affected utility provider. Key provisions include requiring reimbursement for relocation, adjustment, or removal of facilities, and allowing costs to be included in the project budget. This directly affects non-rate-regulated utility companies whose equipment must be moved for roadwork, while placing the financial responsibility on local governments and the DOT.

Maddy summaryHB 1386 creates up to four pilot recovery high schools in Missouri to serve students with substance use disorders (as defined by the DSM) alongside their regular high school education. These schools, established by school districts or partnerships, must meet state education standards and recovery program requirements, including accreditation by a recognized body. Eligible students (including those with co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression) cannot be denied enrollment based on race, disability, or other protected factors. The bill outlines how sending districts pay tuition based on state formulas, covers special education costs separately, and prohibits attributing school performance data to the sending district or sponsoring entity.

Maddy summaryHB 495 revises Missouri's public safety laws for cities not within a county by creating a new board of police commissioners. The board will include the mayor plus four citizen members: one appointed by the governor and three appointed from panels submitted by the mayor and police officer organizations. The bill removes the previous population requirement (500,000+ residents) for cities to form such a board, making it applicable to all independent cities. It also establishes procedures for board member removal and appeals to the court. This change directly affects governance of police forces in Missouri's independent cities.

Maddy summaryHB 1217 creates Missouri's "Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund" in the state treasury, allowing the treasurer to accept Bitcoin donations from eligible Missouri residents. The fund requires all Bitcoin to be held securely offline for a minimum of five years before conversion or sale, with strict rules prohibiting transactions involving foreign entities or illegal activities. The treasurer must publish biennial reports detailing holdings, value, transactions, and security measures, and develop protocols for secure storage using cold storage technology. This bill directly affects Missouri residents who donate Bitcoin and the state treasurer's office, which gains authority to manage the fund under specific investment and reporting rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1092, titled the "Uniform Public Expression Protection Act," creates a new legal process to dismiss lawsuits targeting public speech. It applies to civil cases involving communications in government proceedings, on public issues, or protected speech rights (like free press or assembly), directly affecting individuals, organizations, or media facing such lawsuits. The bill requires defendants to file a "special motion to dismiss" within 60 days of being sued, automatically pausing all court proceedings (including discovery) until the motion is decided. This aims to prevent lawsuits that could chill public debate by making it easier to quickly end cases focused on protected expression.

Maddy summaryHB 665 requires Missouri's Department of Transportation to obtain written consent from the local government of any city, town, or village with a population of 10,000 or more before making major changes to state-maintained roads (excluding highways). It defines "major alteration" to include widening/narrowing roads, changing routes, adding traffic features like signals or bike lanes, or altering speed limits by more than 5 mph. Local governments must gather resident input on how projects affect businesses and neighborhoods, then respond to the DOT within 30 days. This bill directly affects communities over 10,000 residents and ensures their input is required for significant road modifications.

Maddy summaryHB 341 requires school districts to allocate a minimum percentage of total compensation (salary, wages, and fringe benefits) toward teachers. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, districts must spend at least 88% of total compensation on teachers, increasing by 1 percentage point each year until reaching 95% by the 2032-33 school year. The bill defines "total compensation" to exclude extra pay for roles like coaching or advising. This directly affects school districts' budgeting for staff salaries, impacting both administrative staff and teachers. The legislation applies to all public school districts in the state.