Rep. John Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 810 designates a specific 2.5-mile segment of U.S. Highway 60 in Newton County (from Kodiak Road east to Cemetery Road) as the "Lloyd Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this highway, with all costs covered by private donations. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on laws, regulations, or public services. It does not affect residents, businesses, or government operations beyond naming a highway segment.

Maddy summaryHB 477 requires school districts to obtain written or electronic parental consent before making certain changes to a child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), such as initial placements, service removals, or changes exceeding 25% in service minutes. It mandates a standardized consent form with options for full consent, refusal, or partial consent, and requires schools to document parent signatures. The bill also establishes a 10-business-day timeline for resolving disagreements and allows parents to visit proposed programs before consenting. This bill, which would take effect July 1, 2026, is currently inactive after being dropped from the legislative calendar in May 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1175, titled "Reestablishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act," prohibits Missouri state officials from enforcing federal laws, regulations, or executive orders related to firearms within Missouri. It declares that federal actions restricting firearm ownership, possession, or use in Missouri are "unauthoritative, void, and of no force," and grants Missouri exclusive authority over such matters under state law. Key provisions include imposing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation on state officials who knowingly enforce federal gun laws, allowing citizens to sue for damages, and removing sovereign immunity as a defense in such cases. The bill directly affects Missouri law enforcement officers and state agencies operating within Missouri’s borders, ensuring they cannot comply with federal firearm regulations. It does not alter Missouri’s own firearm laws but asserts state authority against federal overreach in this domain.

Maddy summaryHJR 54 proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would restrict abortion access, allowing it only in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest (with a 12-week gestation limit and 48-hour law enforcement reporting required for rape/incest). It also prohibits abortions based on disability diagnoses, bans public funding for most abortions, and prohibits gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones, and puberty-blocking drugs for minors under 18 (except for treating certain medical conditions). The amendment includes a provision ensuring access to care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and medical emergencies, and would require voter approval to take effect. This measure would directly affect individuals seeking reproductive health services, medical providers, and minors seeking gender-related care in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHJR 26 proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would mandate life imprisonment without parole for first-degree sexual trafficking of a child, defining "life" as incarceration for the offender's natural life. This change would directly affect individuals convicted of the most severe child sex trafficking offenses under current law. The amendment, if approved by voters, would alter sentencing requirements by eliminating parole or probation eligibility for these specific crimes. The bill has passed the Missouri House of Representatives but requires voter approval in a future election to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 328 updates regulations for public mass transportation systems, including light rail and buses operated by the bi-state development agency. It prohibits carrying weapons (including firearms) on transit facilities and conveyances, with limited exceptions for law enforcement officers or unloaded rifles/shotguns in a closed container. The bill also bans alcohol consumption, smoking, littering, and obstructive behavior on transit, requiring fare payment and compliance with agency directives. These rules apply directly to all passengers and employees using public transportation services.

Maddy summaryHB 315 restricts how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefit cards can be used. It prohibits cash withdrawals at ATMs, cash back on purchases, and purchases of alcohol, lottery tickets, tobacco products, or adult-oriented entertainment. Recipients who violate these rules face benefit suspensions (3 months for first offense, up to 5 years for repeat violations), while stores accepting TANF funds for banned items can be fined. The bill also requires TANF recipients to make at least one electronic benefit transfer (EBT) purchase within Missouri every 90 days to maintain benefits, with non-compliance triggering temporary suspension.

Maddy summaryHB 195, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers in abortion settings to provide the same medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any other newborn, including immediate hospital transport. It mandates providers to report failures to follow these standards to law enforcement and imposes criminal penalties - up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines - for non-compliance, while classifying intentional killing of such a child as first-degree murder. The bill also establishes civil liability for causing death or failing to comply with these provisions, allowing victims’ families to seek damages for injury or death. It directly affects abortion providers, patients, and children born alive during abortion procedures, with no impact on natural miscarriages before fetal viability.

Maddy summaryHB 742 prohibits Missouri state departments from using public funds for any programs, staffing, or initiatives related to "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (or similar terms) that promote preferential treatment based on race, gender, religion, or other protected characteristics. It specifically bans funding for initiatives advancing concepts like "disparities are solely due to oppression" or "collective guilt," while allowing compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill also prevents state departments from requiring private companies to adopt such programs as a condition of receiving state contracts. This law directly affects all state agencies and their budget allocations for workplace programs.