Rep. Mike Costlow

Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.

Maddy summaryHB 927 designates June as "Fathership Month" in Missouri to promote awareness of fathers' roles in children's lives and establishes the "Missouri Fathership Project" within the Department of Social Services. The bill creates a grant program to fund community organizations that hire "fathership project specialists" who help fathers rebuild relationships with children, navigate court systems, and overcome barriers to reunification. These specialists serve as direct liaisons for fathers in family court cases, developing personalized plans to address relationship breakdowns and support compliance with court-ordered case plans. The initiative directly affects fathers seeking to reconnect with children, particularly those involved in family court or child support cases, and is funded through state appropriations and dedicated grants.

Maddy summaryHB 134 creates the "Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security" to study and recommend improvements for security at nonprofits in Missouri facing elevated terrorist threats. The task force will focus on federal grant programs for security measures (like facility upgrades and training) and develop outreach strategies to help nonprofits apply. It also establishes a state fund using dedicated moneys to cover security costs for nonprofits already approved for federal nonprofit security grants - eliminating the need for separate applications. The fund covers specific security enhancements (e.g., threat training, equipment, vulnerability assessments) and limits administrative costs to 5% of annual funds, with annual reports to state leaders.

Maddy summaryHB 548 primarily defines "firearm suppressor" as any device designed to muffle firearm noise, amending existing legal definitions in sections 571.010, 571.020, 571.935, and 571.940. The bill does not change suppressor regulations but clarifies terminology for consistency with existing statutes. It directly affects law enforcement, firearm owners, and manufacturers by standardizing definitions used in firearm-related laws. The legislation focuses on precise language rather than altering suppressor ownership or use rules. (Note: The bill text provided contains definitions but no new provisions affecting suppressor legality.)

Maddy summaryHB 530 prohibits health insurance plans and issuers from discriminating against healthcare providers based on their state license or scope of practice. It requires equal reimbursement rates for the same medical service when provided within a provider’s licensed scope, applying to all health insurance plans in the state. The law allows insurers to set different rates based on quality or performance metrics but enforces federal nondiscrimination standards under Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) and insurers operating in the state’s health insurance market.

Maddy summaryHB 1229 allows authorities managing regional sports facilities to access up to 50% of new state sales tax revenue generated within their designated project area, capped at $5 million annually per facility and $10 million total statewide. Authorities must submit detailed applications proving economic impact - including job creation, revenue estimates, and infrastructure plans - before receiving funds, with county tax rates required to be at maximum levels. The bill directly affects local authorities building or operating facilities designed to attract out-of-state visitors year-round, such as stadiums or convention centers. Funds are deposited into a separate account and distributed only after state approval, with strict limits on annual disbursements.

Maddy summaryHB 1444 allows Missouri state employees enrolled in the state's health care plan to opt out of coverage and receive an annual stipend instead. Employees must prove they have separate health insurance (either current coverage for new hires or coverage starting next year for open enrollment), and the stipend equals 50% of the state's contribution toward their coverage (excluding dependents). The stipend is treated as taxable income, and the provision does not apply to dental or vision benefits. This bill directly affects state employees who qualify for state health coverage contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 986 updates Missouri's list of diseases that healthcare providers must report to the Department of Health and Senior Services. It adds methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), alpha-gal syndrome, and Lyme disease to the required reporting list. The bill also requires the department to submit an annual report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailing the incidence and reporting of these diseases. This change directly affects healthcare facilities and providers who must now report these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 60 modifies nursery inspection certificate requirements by adding restrictions on selling specific nonnative invasive plant species. Nursery dealers must now certify in writing that they will not sell certain plants after set dates: Wintercreeper, Japanese honeysuckle, and sericea lespedeza after January 1, 2027, and Burning bush or Callery pear after January 1, 2029. The bill requires these certifications as part of annual registration-inspection applications, which expire September 30 each year. This directly affects nurseries and garden centers selling plants within the state, changing their compliance obligations under existing inspection rules.

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.