Rep. Mark Matthiesen

Maddy summaryHB 519 amends Missouri's definition of "qualified student" for the Empowerment Scholarship Program. It requires students to be Missouri residents, not "illegal aliens" (defined as individuals not lawfully present in the U.S.), and meet one of two criteria: having an Individualized Education Program (IEP) under federal special education law, or coming from a household with income at or below 300% of the free/reduced lunch income standard while also meeting specific enrollment or age requirements. The bill directly affects students seeking scholarships to attend private, public, charter, or virtual schools in Missouri. Key provisions clarify eligibility by adding the "illegal alien" exclusion and defining income thresholds for non-special education students.

Maddy summaryHB 100 temporarily lowers Missouri's top income tax rate to 4.95% for tax years 2023-2025, then sets a permanent 4% rate starting January 1, 2026. It allows for future rate reductions (down to 0.1% per year) if state revenue exceeds prior years by specific dollar thresholds. The bill affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax by modifying how income is taxed across different brackets. The legislation is currently pending in committee after being postponed for further review in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 35 proposes a constitutional amendment to set annual spending limits for Missouri's state government based on population changes. The amendment establishes a spending cap that adjusts yearly: it increases by the population growth rate if growth exceeds 1%, stays at 101% of the prior year's spending for 1% or less growth, and decreases for population decline. A two-thirds legislative vote could temporarily raise the cap by 2% for up to one year to address budget needs. The amendment also creates a "Tax Reform Fund" in the state treasury, funded by tax revenues, to cover budget shortfalls, and includes changes to sales tax policies and other tax provisions. This amendment would require voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryHB 515 allows Missouri residents to petition their local government for a reduction in property tax rates. Taxpayers must gather signatures from at least 5% of voters who participated in the last election for the governing body, with local election authorities verifying signatures and charging up to $0.50 per signature. The bill limits reductions to 5% of the current rate (or less if debt payments exceed the cap) and prohibits changes to taxes funding bond debt or interest payments. If approved by a majority vote at the next municipal election, the local government must implement the rate reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that urges state officials to oppose and the U.S. Congress to prohibit the creation of a central bank digital currency. The measure argues that such a currency would harm financial privacy, reduce credit availability by draining funds from commercial banks, and disrupt the existing banking system. Because it is a resolution rather than a law, it expresses the legislature's position without creating any new legal obligations or changing federal policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum staffing requirements for hospitals to ensure adequate nursing care for patients. It mandates that hospitals maintain specific nurse-to-patient ratios in various units, such as one nurse per patient in trauma or operating rooms and one nurse per four patients in medical-surgical units. The legislation also requires hospitals to develop staffing plans based on patient acuity and grants registered nurses the right to refuse assignments that compromise patient safety or their ability to provide competent care. Additionally, the bill clarifies that administrative staff cannot be counted toward staffing ratios unless they are actively providing direct patient care.

Maddy summaryHB 1673 creates a dedicated fund within the hazardous waste fund to finance investigations into potential radioactive waste contamination. Local governments can request these investigations by submitting a written request detailing a specific area of concern, which the state department of natural resources must prioritize based on receipt date or proximity to known federal sites. The bill outlines a process where qualified contractors collect soil, dust, and water samples to test for radioactive isotopes, with homeowners consenting to testing inside their residences. Results from these investigations must be reported to local officials and made publicly available online within 45 days of receiving the final data. The legislation also sets annual spending limits of $300,000 for both the transfer into the new fund and the actual investigation costs.