Rep. Mike Costlow

Maddy summaryHB 1727 updates Missouri's anti-discrimination law by clarifying key definitions and protections. It allows mandatory retirement at age 65 for certain executives with substantial pension benefits (≥$44,000 annually), expands "disability" to include people in rehabilitation programs, and specifies that discrimination includes unfair treatment based on protected characteristics like age or disability - even if the assumption about those traits is incorrect. The law applies to employers (with 6+ employees), housing providers, and public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, and public facilities. It modifies how the Missouri Commission on Human Rights enforces these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1725 requires transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber or Lyft to verify driver qualifications through mandatory registration, criminal background checks (including sex offender registry checks), and driving history reviews. It prohibits TNCs from allowing drivers with certain violations (e.g., three moving violations in three years, recent violent crimes, or sex offenses) or lacking valid licenses/insurance to operate. The bill also creates a new offense for impersonating a TNC driver, punishable as a misdemeanor or felony depending on the circumstances (e.g., causing injury or death during a felony). This law directly affects TNCs, their drivers, and riders by setting standardized safety requirements and criminal penalties for fraud. Drivers may no longer need additional state or local licenses to provide rides under this bill.

Maddy summaryHJR 113 proposes a constitutional amendment to grant Missouri veterans with service-connected disabilities partial or full property tax exemptions proportional to their disability rating. It directly affects veterans who are Missouri residents and have a disability rating determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption reduces real and personal property taxes by a percentage equal to the veteran’s disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% tax reduction), with 100% disability providing full exemption. This change would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2561 updates Missouri's earnings tax exemption rules by replacing the current list of tax-exempt income with a revised, reorganized version. The bill maintains the same categories of exempt organizations, including non-profits (like charities and educational groups), mutual associations (such as credit unions and farm cooperatives), and employee benefit trusts, without adding new exemptions. This change directly affects qualifying entities that currently receive tax-exempt status under the earnings tax. The bill does not alter the scope of exemptions but clarifies the legal structure for existing exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 2406 requires state agencies to notify Missouri's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules before finalizing any new rule that would cost over $250,000 annually for state agencies or significantly impact businesses or individuals financially. The bill mandates a 30-day waiting period after committee notification and requires the legislature to approve such rules via a concurrent resolution before they can take effect. This applies to most administrative rules, making them unenforceable without following these steps, though exceptions exist for rules needed for federal compliance or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 3105, titled the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," protects Missouri residents' right to possess firearms by declaring federal gun regulations within the state invalid if they exceed constitutional limits. It grants the state attorney general or county prosecutors authority to sue federal officials for infringing on these rights and requires disciplinary action for law enforcement officers who knowingly violate them. The bill also affirms Missouri's exclusive authority to regulate firearms, including maintaining the existing federal excise tax on firearms, which it states does not restrict lawful ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 2388, the "Clean Skies Act," prohibits all geoengineering, cloud seeding, and atmospheric interventions in Missouri. It directly affects any entity - including individuals, corporations, government agencies, or organizations - conducting such activities within the state. The bill requires the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create a public reporting system, investigate violations, issue enforceable cease-and-desist orders, and impose penalties: felony charges with fines of at least $100,000 or up to two years in prison per violation (with separate penalties for each day of continued activity). The law explicitly excludes pesticide use in farming and ranching operations from the prohibition.

Maddy summaryHJR 153 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri courts. It would replace current election-based selection with a system where the governor appoints judges (with Senate approval) from a list of nominees recommended by a nonpartisan judicial commission. The amendment also establishes a new seven-year term for all judges, including circuit and associate circuit judges, instead of varying terms under current law. Voters in certain counties could later choose through a ballot measure whether to maintain this appointment system or revert to elections. This change would affect all judges serving in Missouri's circuit courts, associate circuit courts, and higher courts, with the proposal requiring voter approval in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 primarily defines "firearm silencer" (or "firearm suppressor") as any device designed to muffle firearm noise, updating legal terminology under existing statutes. This bill does not change current regulations on suppressor possession or use but clarifies the definition for enforcement and legal consistency. It directly affects law enforcement, courts, and anyone interacting with firearm laws in the state. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, read first time) and focuses solely on definitional precision, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHCR 29 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress to reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat products. It specifically calls for requiring labels to show whether beef or pork was born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S., reversing a 2015 repeal of a similar 2008 law. The resolution states this labeling would help consumers identify truly American-made meat and support U.S. farmers and ranchers by distinguishing domestic products from imported ones processed in the U.S. It does not create new law but formally expresses Missouri's support for this policy change.