Rep. John Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 1156 changes Missouri's primary election rules by requiring voters to be officially affiliated with a political party to vote in that party's primary, based on their registration status as of the 23rd Tuesday before the election. The bill also restricts public access to detailed voter information (like full addresses), allowing only specific entities like candidates or parties to obtain limited data (names, addresses, party affiliation) for election purposes, with strict limits on commercial use or public internet release. It includes new protections for vulnerable individuals (e.g., domestic violence victims, undercover officers), enabling them to petition courts to close their residential addresses in voter records to prevent safety risks. Additionally, voters changing party affiliation within 23 weeks of a primary election must retain their prior affiliation for that election, with changes taking effect only after the primary.

Maddy summaryHB 869 requires all state departments, the general assembly, judiciary, and executive branch offices (including the governor's office, attorney general, and state treasurer) to undergo an independent audit every four years. The Office of Administration must select an independent auditor through competitive bidding and submit audit results to the legislature within 30 days of completion. All results must be publicly posted on the agency's website, and non-compliant entities face legal action by the attorney general to enforce participation. This law mandates regular financial oversight and transparency for all major state government entities.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish strict spending limits for Missouri's state government. It requires that annual spending not exceed a baseline amount (based on prior year appropriations) adjusted by the state's population growth rate (e.g., 100% of prior spending for population decline, 101% for small growth). It creates a "Tax Reform Fund" within the state treasury to cover budget shortfalls only when spending limits are triggered, using revenues from specific tax changes. The amendment also mandates a two-thirds legislative vote to temporarily exceed the spending limit, with the exception lasting no more than 12 months. This directly affects state budgeting decisions and future tax policy implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 100 temporarily lowers Missouri's top income tax rate to 4.95% for tax years 2023-2025, then sets a permanent 4% rate starting January 1, 2026. It allows for future rate reductions (down to 0.1% per year) if state revenue exceeds prior years by specific dollar thresholds. The bill affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax by modifying how income is taxed across different brackets. The legislation is currently pending in committee after being postponed for further review in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 539 changes Missouri school board election rules, affecting all public school districts in the state. It mandates that school board elections occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years starting in 2026, with all members serving two-year terms. The bill also establishes an eight-year cumulative term limit for board members (counting service before 2026) and requires partisan elections beginning in 2026, where candidates must declare party affiliation or run as independents. These changes replace existing election schedules, term lengths, and voting procedures for school boards statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 656 requires school districts to obtain written or electronic parental consent before making specific changes to a child's individualized education program (IEP), including initial placements, placement changes, service removals, or service minute reductions exceeding 25%. It directly affects parents of students with disabilities and school districts (LEAs), mandating they use a standardized consent form in the parent's native language that includes options for full consent, refusal, or partial consent. The bill also requires schools to document consent dates and allows parents to visit proposed programs before agreeing to changes. If disagreements arise, schools must amend the current IEP to include agreed-upon services and add a resolution timeline. The law takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 309, titled the "Patients First Act," prevents health insurance plans and issuers from discriminating against healthcare providers based on their state licensure or certification. It requires all health benefit plans to reimburse providers equally for the same service within their licensed scope of practice and prohibits exclusion from coverage due to licensure type. The Department of Commerce and Insurance must enforce these rules, aligning with federal nondiscrimination standards under Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act. This bill directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors, nurses, and therapists) and insurance plans operating in the state, ensuring fair access to coverage and payment.

Maddy summaryHB 771 changes how long eligible Missouri workers can receive unemployment benefits based on the state's unemployment rate. It sets specific benefit durations: 20 weeks when the rate is 9% or higher, decreasing to 13 weeks when the rate falls below 6%. The duration is calculated using the average unemployment rate from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for January-March and July-September each year. This directly affects workers who qualify for unemployment insurance in Missouri, as their benefit period length will adjust automatically with statewide joblessness trends.