Rep. Mike Costlow

Maddy summaryHB 2234 requires Missouri counties to report and transfer unclaimed surplus funds from real property tax sales to the State Treasurer's Unclaimed Property division after three years. It directly affects counties (which handle the funds) and former property owners or lienholders who might reclaim unclaimed money. The bill mandates that counties hold surplus funds for three years (or 90 days after the redemption period ends), prioritize distribution to lienholders and owners, and notify former owners before transferring unclaimed funds to the state. Counties must provide written claim procedures and file claims with the county commission within 90 days of the redemption period's end.

Maddy summaryHB 3351 creates a process for property owners or voters in a water district to request detachment from the district under specific conditions. It requires that no outstanding bonds or debt over $25,000 exists for infrastructure, or that creditors consent to the detachment. Petitions must be signed by a majority of voters/landowners in the affected area (5+ if over 10, 50% if fewer) and filed with the court, which then reviews whether detachment benefits both the district and the detached territory. The court must approve detachment only if it serves the best interest of all parties without harming the remaining district.

Maddy summaryHB 1728 allows St. Charles County cities with matching library tax levies to merge their city libraries with the county library system. It establishes a new nine-member board of trustees whose composition depends on population comparisons between the city and county (e.g., county appoints 5 members if county is larger, city mayor appoints 5 if city is larger). The bill requires merging all funds, property, and tax systems into one library district by January 1, 2027, with the merged entity operating under Missouri's county library laws while maintaining separate budgeting and financial reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 2808 makes it a crime for a parent to knowingly permit, encourage, aid, or cause a minor (under 18) to commit a violation of state or federal law. If the minor commits a felony, the parent faces a Class A misdemeanor; if the minor commits a misdemeanor, the parent faces a Class C misdemeanor. Each separate act by the parent constitutes a distinct offense, and courts may order the parent to pay restitution to victims harmed by the minor's crime. This law directly affects parents whose actions directly facilitate a minor's criminal behavior, adding new penalties and victim compensation mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHJR 115 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a property tax exemption for Missouri disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It defines a "disabled veteran" as a Missouri resident honorably separated from military service with a 100% VA-certified service-connected disability, and a "homestead" as their primary residence (not exceeding 2.5 acres). The exemption would apply to real property used as a primary home, excluding portions rented for more than six months annually. This amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and would replace the current property tax exemption provisions in Missouri's constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 3292 creates Missouri's "Motivational Boot Camp Incarceration Program" within the Department of Corrections, targeting individuals aged 17-22 with two prior nonviolent convictions who receive a third nonviolent conviction (excluding serious offenses like murder or rape). The program requires a two-year commitment involving rigorous physical activity, counseling to address criminal behavior, and strict discipline, with successful completion leading to expungement of the criminal record. Failure to complete the program results in the original jail or prison sentence being imposed. The program is set to expire six years after implementation unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHJR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri. It would require the governor to appoint judges from three nominees provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission for vacancies in the supreme court, court of appeals, and St. Louis city/Jackson County circuit courts. For other judicial circuits, voters would decide at elections whether to adopt this appointment method (instead of the current system) or maintain the existing process, with changes allowed only once every four years. The amendment must be approved by voters in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 3176, the Missouri Declaration and Bylaws Modernization Act, updates rules for homeowners' associations (HOAs), condominium associations, and cooperative housing in Missouri. It establishes clearer processes for amending governing documents (like bylaws or declarations), including automatic approval if no objection is received from 20% of members within 60 days. The bill also shortens deadlines for legal challenges to amendments (1 year for declarations, 6 months for bylaws) and allows HOAs to pursue unpaid dues in small claims court without legal representation. These changes apply to events occurring after January 1, 2027, and directly affect HOAs managing residential communities statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 2760, the "PRAISE Act," prohibits state and local governments from restricting religious services during emergencies declared under specific laws, directly affecting places of worship and their attendees. It ensures religious services cannot be made impractical by emergency orders, unless the emergency involves imminent dangers like wildfires or terrorism that apply broadly to the area. The bill allows places of worship to be exempt from general emergency restrictions and provides a legal path for civil lawsuits seeking injunctions, damages, or declarations if violations occur. It explicitly excludes emergency evacuations for immediate threats but requires services to resume once the danger passes.

Maddy summaryHB 2658 creates a state "no-call database" allowing Missouri residential phone subscribers to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls at no cost. It requires telemarketers to check both the FCC's reassigned number database and the state database before calling, and prohibits "call spoofing" (faking caller ID to defraud or harass). The law also mandates that telemarketers clearly identify themselves at the start of calls and blocks efforts to circumvent caller ID services. This directly affects residential subscribers (who can join the database) and telemarketers (who must comply with the rules and database checks).