Rep. John Simmons

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 2033, known as the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," prohibits health care providers in Missouri from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to individuals under 18 years old. The law includes a temporary exception allowing continued treatment for minors who began such care before August 28, 2023, until March 1, 2027. Violations would be deemed unprofessional conduct, risking license revocation for providers, and could lead to civil lawsuits against them. This bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse minors under 18 seeking medical transition care and the health care providers who treat them in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1894 prohibits health insurance plans and issuers from discriminating against healthcare providers based on their license type when determining participation or reimbursement. It requires equal reimbursement rates for the same service within a provider's scope of practice, while allowing varying rates based on quality measures. The bill applies to group health plans and individual insurance coverage but excludes physicians licensed under Chapter 334 of Missouri law. The Department of Commerce and Insurance will enforce these provisions, implementing federal nondiscrimination protections from Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2879 requires individuals acting as agents for "hostile foreign principals" (defined as entities from countries designated as U.S. "foreign adversaries" by the Commerce Department) and foreign-supported political organizations to register with Missouri's Ethics Commission. Agents must file detailed registration statements within 10 days of starting work, disclosing their business, funding sources, activities, and contacts, with quarterly updates required. Foreign-supported political organizations (those receiving foreign funds in the past five years) must register by January 1, 2027, providing information on their funding and activities influencing Missouri policy or elections. The bill directly affects foreign-linked actors engaging in political activity within Missouri, mandating transparency about their foreign ties and financial relationships.

Maddy summaryHB 3069 allows school districts to deduct specific payments from employee paychecks when requested by a group of ten or more employees. These deductions cover items like retirement accounts, credit unions, or dues to qualified professional associations (defined as groups handling workplace issues, not political funds). The bill prohibits districts from deducting dues for political funds or restricting employees from joining or leaving these associations at any time. It also requires districts to remit deductions within 15 days and protects them from liability for good-faith errors. This directly affects school district employees and their employers by changing payroll deduction rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies various sections of Missouri election law by repealing existing provisions and enacting new definitions for key election-related terms. It directly affects election officials, candidates, political parties, and voters by establishing standardized terminology for concepts such as air-gapped voting systems, audit logs, cast vote records, and curing of absentee ballots. The bill clarifies definitions for electronic voting systems, political party status, and voter activities to ensure consistency in how election procedures are documented and enforced. These changes aim to create a more uniform framework for election administration without altering specific voting rules or outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 2380 changes Missouri's primary election rules by requiring voters to be registered with a political party at least 23 weeks before a primary election to participate. This affects voters who wish to change party affiliation near election time, as such changes won't take effect until after the primary. The bill also restricts public access to voter data, limiting released information to basic details like names, addresses, and party affiliation (with sensitive information like domestic violence victims' addresses protected), and requires fees for data requests by candidates or campaigns. Election authorities must maintain specific voter data fields and follow strict protocols for sharing information under the Help America Vote Act.

Maddy summaryHJR 140 proposes a constitutional amendment to adjust term limits for Missouri's state legislators. It would increase the total service limit across both houses of the General Assembly from 16 to 20 years, while limiting service in a single house to 12 years starting January 1, 2032. The bill also sets a 4-year cap on serving as House Speaker and a 6-year cap for Senate President pro tempore. These changes would apply to legislators elected after the amendment's effective date, not affecting current members' existing terms. The amendment requires voter approval in a 2026 election before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2382 removes the authority for cities, counties, and hospital districts to impose sales taxes on domestic utility services like water, electricity, natural gas, and home heating oil. It repeals existing local tax powers, making any current taxes on these services void after August 28, 2026. This directly affects local governments that currently levy such taxes on residential utility use. The bill ends a specific local revenue option for these services without creating new exemptions.