Rep. John Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 2381 restricts foreign influence in election administration by prohibiting government entities and election officers from accepting funds or in-kind services for election work from non-government sources (except very small-value items). It requires election officers to verify that vendors or programs they engage with have no foreign donations through annual certifications, including specific declarations about foreign funding. Election officers must publicly disclose any such memberships or programs on their websites with detailed formatting, content, and duration requirements. Violations are classified as class B misdemeanors, and voters can sue to enforce the law.

Maddy summaryHB 1 establishes Missouri's congressional district boundaries for federal elections using U.S. Census data. It specifies that Missouri will maintain eight congressional districts for the 117th through 120th Congresses, with boundaries based on the 2020 Census. The bill sets effective dates for different district maps, ensuring districts align with population data after each census cycle. This directly affects Missouri voters by determining which district they are assigned to for federal elections.

Maddy summaryHJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment titled "Protect Missouri Voters" to restrict foreign influence in statewide ballot measures. It would ban contributions from foreign adversaries (as defined by U.S. designations) and foreign nationals to support or oppose such measures, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, or triple the illegal contribution amount. The amendment also criminalizes petition signature fraud, requires public hearings before initiative petitions are submitted, mandates majority approval in each congressional district for constitutional initiatives, and ensures the full text of initiatives is provided to voters with their ballots. If approved by voters, these provisions would become part of Missouri's constitution.

Maddy summaryHJR 73 proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would restrict abortion access and regulate reproductive health care. It allows abortions only in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest (with a 12-week limit for rape/incest), bans abortions based on disability diagnoses (except fetal anomalies), and prohibits public funding for most abortions. The amendment also bans gender transition surgeries and puberty-blocking drugs for minors under 18, with exceptions for medical conditions, and requires specific medical safeguards for abortion providers. If approved by voters in 2026, these provisions would become part of Missouri’s constitution, directly affecting patients, medical providers, and minors seeking reproductive or gender-affirming care.

Maddy summaryThe bill title ("Authorizes income tax deductions for employee compensation received as overtime pay or tips") does not match the actual content of the bill text provided. The text describes complex modifications to Missouri's income tax calculation by adjusting federal adjusted gross income (e.g., adding certain federal tax refunds, interest, or net operating losses, and subtracting specific items like federal tax-exempt interest). It does not include provisions for overtime or tip deductions. The bill focuses on aligning Missouri tax computations with federal rules, affecting all Missouri taxpayers subject to state income tax. The title appears to be inaccurate based on the actual legislative text.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" that allows temporary or permanent seizure of firearms without a court hearing where the individual had a chance to be heard and a finding of probable cause for criminal activity (sections 3-5). It specifically bans the use of federal funds to enforce such laws (section 4) and creates civil penalties, including $50,000 per violation, for agencies that enforce them (section 7). The bill directly affects Missouri citizens who might be targeted by federal or state red flag laws, preventing state entities from complying with such orders. It exempts firearm seizures as evidence in criminal investigations (section 6) and states the law is an emergency measure for public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 163 prohibits using fetal organs or tissue from *elective* abortions for medical, scientific, research, therapeutic, or any other purpose. It specifically bans offering money or incentives to conceive a child for organ harvesting, to obtain an abortion for that purpose, or to sell fetal tissue (except for burial or medical exams). The law applies to medical professionals, researchers, and anyone handling fetal tissue, requiring knowledge of intent to harvest before prohibitions apply. Exceptions include standard burial costs and pathology examinations, but the bill explicitly targets tissue use tied to elective abortions rather than medical necessity.

Maddy summaryHB 658 prohibits Missouri counties, cities, towns, and state agencies from using automated red light cameras and automated license plate reader systems for traffic enforcement. The bill bans installing red light cameras at intersections and using license plate readers that capture data like location, time, and license plate numbers on public roads. Exceptions allow peace officers to use such systems in patrol vehicles and permit third-party vendors to access captured plate data under specific state laws (sections 303.420-303.440). This law directly affects local governments and agencies that currently operate these automated enforcement technologies.

Maddy summaryHJR 52 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Missouri voters approve constitutional amendments. It would require 60% of votes cast (instead of a simple majority) for constitutional amendments to pass, and raise signature requirements for initiative petitions: 8% of legal voters in two-thirds of congressional districts (up from 5% for regular laws). The bill also mandates a 15-day public review period for petitions after filing and restricts foreign entities from sponsoring or funding such initiatives. These changes directly affect citizens and groups seeking to propose constitutional changes through the initiative process.

Maddy summaryHB 1152 strengthens safeguards against foreign influence in state ballot initiatives by requiring petitioners to certify that no prohibited foreign-funded activity supported their measure and that contributors comply with campaign finance rules. It mandates detailed record-keeping for all contributions and expenditures (including small donations), requires donors to affirm they are not foreign nationals and haven’t received over $100,000 from banned sources in the prior four years, and sets strict deadlines for petition submission (by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing day). These provisions apply directly to individuals, committees, and organizations collecting signatures for ballot measures or managing campaign finances for such initiatives. The bill also requires segregated records for candidate and ballot measure spending, and mandates three years of record retention for audits.