Rep. Terri Violet

Maddy summaryHB 553 allows students with asthma or severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to self-administer prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors or nasal spray at school under specific conditions. Schools must permit this if a doctor approves the medication, the student demonstrates proper use, parents sign a liability form, and a written treatment plan is provided. The bill also requires schools to maintain emergency epinephrine supplies accessible to staff and ensures trained school personnel can administer it during life-threatening reactions without liability for non-negligent actions. This replaces vague prior rules with clear protocols for student safety and school responsibility.

Maddy summaryHB 1268 allows qualifying local governments (like counties with specific population sizes or municipalities in large counties) to fund fire and ambulance services through new property or sales taxes. It requires voter approval for any new property tax (capping at 25 cents per $100 property value) or sales tax (up to 1% for fire, 0.5% for ambulance), with the sales tax revenue directly reducing the property tax bill by 50% annually. Voters must approve each tax proposal via a specific ballot question before implementation. The bill applies to local governments in defined areas and is currently pending after passing the House committee (8-0).

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 1075 allows individuals already convicted of a crime to file a separate legal claim arguing they are factually innocent, directly affecting those challenging their conviction through postconviction proceedings. The bill requires courts to vacate a conviction if clear and convincing evidence shows the conviction is unreliable, considering new evidence not presented at trial, original trial evidence, and prior appeal records. It creates a specific process for courts to evaluate innocence claims without requiring a new trial. The bill does not change sentencing or create new crimes, focusing solely on reviewing existing convictions based on new factual evidence. This is a procedural change for postconviction cases, not a substantive policy shift in criminal law.

Maddy summaryHB 1048 adds occupational therapists to the list of healthcare providers authorized to certify disabilities for Missouri disabled placards and license plates. Specifically, it amends the definition of "other authorized health care practitioner" to include licensed occupational therapists (under Chapter 324), joining existing providers like physical therapists and nurses. This change directly affects disabled Missourians who rely on occupational therapists for care but previously could not obtain certification for placards from them. The bill does not alter disability criteria or placard rules - only expands who can issue the required physician's statement.