Rep. Mike Costlow

Maddy summaryHB 3100 creates a new class C misdemeanor offense for intentionally approaching within 25 feet of a first responder after being orally warned to stop, when the person knows the responder is performing duties. It specifically targets actions intended to block the responder’s work, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them (defined as causing substantial emotional distress with no legitimate purpose). The law applies to individuals who ignore such warnings while law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, or hospital emergency staff are on duty. Violators face misdemeanor penalties, with the bill defining "first responder" to include emergency medical personnel and security staff in hospital emergency settings.

Maddy summaryHB 3126 allows local election authorities to publish redacted images of voted ballots and their electronic ballot selections (called cast vote records) on their official websites. It requires that all personally identifiable information be removed before publishing any ballot image or record. These published records must be retained by election authorities following the same rules that apply to other election records. The bill directly affects election offices and voters seeking transparency about how votes were recorded, without disclosing individual voter identities.

Maddy summaryHB 3110 would change how child support is calculated when parents share equal physical custody. Specifically, it requires courts to stop or reduce child support payments for any period exceeding 30 consecutive days that a child spends with the parent who would otherwise pay support, if the other parent voluntarily gave up custody. This directly affects parents in divorce or custody cases with near-equal time-sharing arrangements. The bill does not eliminate support entirely but automatically adjusts payments based on actual custody time, rather than requiring separate court orders for each custody period. This change aims to align support obligations more closely with the actual time each parent spends caring for the child.

Maddy summaryHB 2042 changes Missouri's child support law to adjust payments when parents share physical custody equally. Specifically, it prohibits courts from requiring one parent to pay child support for expenses during periods exceeding 30 consecutive days when the other parent voluntarily gives up physical custody of the child. This means child support obligations pause or reduce during extended times the child spends with the paying parent, aligning payments with actual caregiving time. The law applies to cases where parents have equal physical custody arrangements, ensuring support reflects the child's time with each parent.

Maddy summaryHB 1670 corrects a misleading title; it does not address income tax on tips but modifies Missouri's tax calculation rules for adjusted gross income. The bill repeals existing tax provisions and adds new rules to adjust federal tax items when calculating Missouri income tax, including: adding back certain federal tax refunds (excluding pandemic-related credits), including interest on specific government bonds, and adjusting deductions for property purchases and net operating losses. These changes affect all Missouri taxpayers who file state income tax returns, as they alter how federal tax items are treated for state tax purposes. The bill focuses on aligning Missouri's tax code with federal adjustments rather than creating new tax rates or exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 2338 would allow courts to order fathers to pay child support retroactively for the pregnancy period, starting six weeks after conception (as determined by the mother's doctor), if the mother petitions within two years of the child's birth. It applies only after paternity is established for the biological father or a putative father (alleged father) formally claims paternity. The court would set payment amounts considering the mother and child's best interests, and a putative father who pays support can seek reimbursement from the actual biological father if paternity is later confirmed to belong to someone else. This bill directly affects fathers whose paternity is legally established and mothers seeking support for prenatal care and expenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1726 requires all public K-12 school districts in Missouri to implement enhanced safety standards at every school building they own, operate, or lease. It mandates automatic locking for all exterior doors (except designated emergency areas), visual identification systems at main entrances, and shatter-resistant glass on windows near doors and ground-level windows. The bill specifies that main entrance windows must use bullet-resistant glass while other entry points require riot-resistant glass, and all doors must close automatically when opened. These requirements apply to all public school buildings, excluding private schools, home schools, correctional facilities, and higher education campuses.

Maddy summaryHB 1729, the "Defend the Guard Act," prohibits Missouri National Guard members from being deployed into active duty combat without a formal U.S. Congressional declaration of war. It directly affects the Missouri National Guard and its members by requiring the governor to block such deployments unless Congress officially declares war under the Constitution. The bill defines "active duty combat" as participation in armed conflict, hazardous foreign service, or duty involving war instruments, and mandates the governor take necessary actions to comply. It explicitly allows the governor to deploy Guard members under Title 32 (state-focused federal duty) but bars deployment into combat without a congressional war declaration.

Maddy summaryHB 1723 raises the age of consent from 17 to 18 years for sexual intercourse and lowers the age difference threshold for certain offenses from 4 to 3 years when involving minors. It modifies statutory rape and child molestation classifications (e.g., second-degree child molestation becomes a class B felony if the offender is over 3 years older than a minor under 18). The bill updates sex offender registration requirements, establishing tiered registration periods of 15 years (Tier I), 25 years (Tier II), or for life (Tier III), with potential reductions for clean records. These changes directly affect individuals engaging in sexual activity with minors under 18 and those subject to sex offender registration laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1724 exempts owners of "prior salvage" vehicles (vehicles declared salvage by insurance but retained by the owner) from mandatory vehicle examinations when applying for a new title. This applies specifically to vehicles where an insurance company paid a claim on a salvage vehicle and the owner kept it, or where the insurance company transferred the salvage vehicle to a buyer. The bill removes the requirement for a vehicle examination certificate under section 301.190, subsection 10, simplifying the title process for these applicants. It directly affects owners of salvage vehicles who retain them after an insurance claim. The exemption would streamline title applications for this specific category of vehicles.