Rep. Richard West

Maddy summaryHB 631 changes Missouri's annexation rules for cities, towns, and villages. It replaces outdated sections with new provisions defining "contiguous and compact" land for annexation, clarifying that areas separated only by narrow strips (like railroads under 1/4 mile wide) cannot be annexed. The bill also requires cities to wait 24 months before annexing land recently added to their boundaries and allows annexation of correctional facilities within two miles of city limits if they border specific counties or have certain population sizes. These changes directly affect local governments seeking to expand their boundaries and property owners in unincorporated areas.

Maddy summaryHB 1193 allows the general assembly, House, and Senate to hire capitol security officers who may carry firearms when needed for security. These officers must be licensed peace officers under the state's POST program and have all necessary law enforcement powers to ensure legislative security, including apprehending and arresting individuals. The bill declares the security provisions an immediate emergency, taking effect upon passage to protect public safety during the legislative session. It directly affects capitol security operations by expanding the authority of legislative security staff to perform duties typically handled by law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 591 requires Missouri law enforcement agencies to submit standardized crime data to a statewide system, including quarterly clearance rates for violent crimes starting January 2026. It mandates detailed reporting on nonfatal shootings, disaggregated by victim demographics and how cases were solved (by arrest or "exceptional means"). The bill creates a grant program to fund agencies improving violent crime clearance rates through hiring, technology, and community partnerships like hospital-based violence intervention programs. These changes directly affect all Missouri law enforcement agencies and standardize crime reporting to align with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the percentage of tangible personal property used to calculate property taxes in Missouri over a three-year period, affecting business owners and other individuals who own taxable personal assets. Starting in 2026, the assessment rate for tangible personal property will decrease by approximately 5.56% each year, dropping from 33.33% in 2025 to 18% for 2028 and beyond. The legislation also establishes specific, lower assessment rates for certain categories of property, including agricultural items, historic vehicles, and pollution control equipment. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for property assessment, including requirements for assessors to create assessment maintenance plans and rules for computer-assisted valuation methods.

Maddy summaryHB 632 replaces two existing Missouri statute sections (214.270 and 214.389) with three new definitional sections (214.270, 214.272, and 214.389) that clarify key terms related to cemetery operations. The bill defines terms such as "cemetery operator," "burial merchandise," "cemetery prearranged contract," "endowed care," and "endowed care fund" for consistency in cemetery law. This primarily affects cemetery operators, associations, and consumers entering into cemetery contracts by standardizing terminology. The bill does not change substantive cemetery regulations or create new requirements - it only updates definitions for clarity. (This is a definitional/procedural bill, so a 2-sentence summary is appropriate.)

Maddy summaryHB 592 modifies Missouri's juvenile court procedures by generally prohibiting the detention of minors under 18 in adult facilities, except when a court transfers them to adult court for serious offenses. It requires a court hearing for juveniles aged 12-18 charged with specific violent crimes (like murder or assault) or certain drug offenses, and automatically transfers 18-21-year-olds to adult court upon arrest for new offenses. The bill also clarifies that juveniles who misrepresent their age cannot avoid prosecution, and evidence collected during the misrepresentation period can be used in adult proceedings. These changes directly affect minors facing criminal charges in Missouri juvenile courts and the officials handling their cases.

Maddy summaryHB 547 creates a statewide licensing system for mechanical contractors in Missouri, replacing local licenses for most mechanical work. It directly affects contractors performing HVAC, boiler, piping, and other mechanical systems (like fuel gas or refrigeration) across the state, requiring them to obtain a state-issued license instead of local permits. Key provisions define "mechanical work" broadly to include installation and maintenance of systems such as HVAC, boilers over 120 gallons, and fuel piping, while excluding residential wood stoves, fire sprinklers, and work covered by national plumbing codes. The law establishes clear license categories (contractor, journeyman, apprentice) and specifies that residential work in single-family homes or small multi-unit dwellings may have separate rules.

Maddy summaryHB 539 changes Missouri school board election rules, affecting all public school districts in the state. It mandates that school board elections occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years starting in 2026, with all members serving two-year terms. The bill also establishes an eight-year cumulative term limit for board members (counting service before 2026) and requires partisan elections beginning in 2026, where candidates must declare party affiliation or run as independents. These changes replace existing election schedules, term lengths, and voting procedures for school boards statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 857 requires all local governments (counties, cities, towns, villages) to establish public comment policies for their meetings by July 2026. It mandates a dedicated public comment period at the start of each regular meeting, allowing residents, businesses, and taxpayers to speak without content restrictions, with a minimum 3-minute speaking time per person. The bill also requires local governments to accept written comments from those unable to attend and limits public comment periods to one hour or 20 speakers (based on the 3-minute minimum), while prohibiting bans except for specific violations like peace disturbances. Written comments submitted before meetings must be shared with attendees and the public unless they violate established rules.

Maddy summaryHB 540 would create a new criminal offense for individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States and commit a violation of state or local law (such as a minor traffic infraction or misdemeanor). The new offense would be classified as a felony - class E for minor violations (like infractions) and class C for more serious violations (misdemeanors or felonies) - with penalties added to the original violation's punishment. It would not apply to individuals with federal authorization to remain in the U.S. The bill directly affects undocumented immigrants who face state-level legal consequences for minor or serious offenses.