Rep. Justin Sparks

Maddy summaryHB 363 modifies self-defense laws to clarify when force, including deadly force, is justified. It removes the "duty to retreat" requirement when defending one's home, vehicle, or private property where the person has a legal right to be. The bill specifies that deadly force is permitted to protect against unlawful entry into a dwelling, vehicle, or occupied private property, or to prevent death/serious injury. It also creates a presumption that a defendant's belief in needing force was reasonable and shifts the burden to the prosecution to prove otherwise in self-defense cases. This directly affects individuals using force in self-defense, particularly in home or property defense scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 165 allows students with asthma or anaphylaxis to self-administer prescribed medication in school under specific conditions. It requires a physician's written treatment plan, student demonstration of proper technique, parental consent with a liability acknowledgment, and school staff verification. Schools must maintain emergency epinephrine supplies (auto-injectors or nasal spray) accessible to staff trained to use them during emergencies. The bill also clarifies that administering epinephrine under these rules counts as first aid for liability purposes and prohibits unauthorized use of the devices. This directly affects students with chronic conditions, schools, and school staff.

Maddy summaryHB 164 prohibits any local government (such as cities or counties) from using taxpayer funds to provide reparations based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or economic class. The bill directly affects municipal budgets and local government spending decisions by banning these specific uses of public money. Key provisions explicitly state that political subdivisions cannot allocate tax dollars for reparations programs targeting any of the listed protected characteristics. The bill is currently pending in the House Emerging Issues committee, with no further action taken beyond initial readings.

Maddy summaryHB 160 would create a new criminal offense for adults (18+) who intentionally use minors (under 18) to commit a crime or help avoid detection/apprehension for a crime. The law defines "use" as employing, hiring, persuading, inducing, enticing, or coercing a minor, and sets escalating penalties: class E felony (first offense), class D felony (second), and class C felony (third or subsequent). This bill directly affects adults who exploit minors in criminal activities, establishing specific penalties for this conduct. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 157 requires state agencies to list a person's gender on identity documents (like driver's licenses) based solely on biological sex, defined as determined by sex chromosomes. It prohibits changing gender designations based on self-identification, medical procedures, or hormones, and mandates reissuing documents if the gender doesn't match biological sex. Exceptions apply for individuals with medically verified disorders of sex development (e.g., ambiguous external characteristics or specific genetic conditions). The bill directly affects people seeking or holding state-issued IDs, particularly transgender and intersex individuals, by restricting how gender markers can be updated. It does not apply to birth certificates or other documents covered under separate provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 158 strengthens confidentiality rules for juvenile court records in Missouri. It generally keeps these records private, but allows disclosure to victims, schools, law enforcement, or treatment providers in specific situations - like when a juvenile is charged with serious offenses (e.g., rape, murder, or kidnapping) that would be felonies if committed by an adult. The bill also requires juvenile court reports to include a list of such serious prior offenses when preparing presentence reports. Additionally, it permits courts to seal all non-court-file records and seal the official court file when a juvenile turns 18, unless the case remains open. These changes aim to protect minors' identities while balancing transparency for serious cases and victim information.

Maddy summaryHB 162 prohibits state transportation agencies from creating new highway signs honoring individuals convicted of killing or attempting to kill a law enforcement officer. It also requires the removal of any existing such signs by August 28, 2025. The bill directly affects highway signage systems and any memorials currently displayed on public roads. It establishes a clear policy change by banning new honors for these individuals and mandating the removal of existing displays.

Maddy summaryHB 542 modifies Missouri's discrimination law to prohibit places of public accommodation (like restaurants, stores, and gyms) from designating changing rooms or restrooms for both sexes, except for family restrooms meeting ADA standards. It defines "sex" as the physical condition based on genetics and physiology as listed on a person's original birth certificate. The bill requires facilities to restrict changing rooms and restrooms to use by persons of the sex assigned at birth, banning access to facilities designated for the opposite sex. This applies to all public accommodations, including membership-based businesses that accept public members.

Maddy summaryHB 156 redefines key terms like "female," "male," and "gender" in state law to explicitly reference biological sex based on reproductive anatomy, rather than gender identity. It specifies that "gender" in state law must mean biological sex (not gender identity, expression, or role), and defines "female" and "male" as individuals with naturally developing reproductive systems for egg or sperm production. This bill directly affects all state agencies, laws, and administrative rules that use these terms, requiring them to align with the new biological definitions. The change aims to standardize terminology across state policy without creating new programs or altering existing rights.

Maddy summaryHJR 95 proposes amending Missouri's state constitution to allow children of U.S. citizens (who are eligible to vote in Missouri) born outside the United States to register to vote as Missouri residents. This change directly affects individuals born abroad to U.S. citizen parents who reside in Missouri and meet standard voter residency requirements. The bill adds a specific provision to Missouri's voting eligibility rules, explicitly stating that children born outside the U.S. shall not be excluded from registration if their parent is a U.S. citizen eligible to vote in Missouri. The amendment would take effect after voter approval at a future election, modifying existing constitutional language that previously excluded such individuals from voting registration.