Rep. Justin Sparks

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Missouri Constitution that defines the term "person" to include every human being with a unique DNA code from the moment of conception until birth. The amendment explicitly states that the constitution does not secure or protect a right to abortion nor requires funding for such procedures. If passed by voters, this change would legally protect the right to life for in utero children at all stages of development, while the state government expects no financial impact from the amendment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new income tax deduction for Missouri residents who work as law enforcement officers, including federal agents subject to state taxes. Starting in 2025, eligible officers can deduct a growing percentage of their first $100,000 in annual salary or retirement income from their state taxable income, with the deduction increasing from 25% to 100% over four years. The law applies to income already included in their federal adjusted gross income and requires the state Department of Revenue to create rules for administering the deduction.

Maddy summaryHB 2697 establishes stricter confidentiality rules for juvenile court records in Missouri, primarily affecting the privacy of minors involved in the justice system. The bill generally keeps social reports and case details private, allowing public access only for serious offenses like murder or rape, or when a judge orders disclosure. It also mandates that peace officer records for juveniles be kept separate from adult files and allows courts to seal or destroy these records once a child turns eighteen if it serves their best interest. Additionally, the legislation permits releasing a juvenile's name and photo to the public only if they escape from detention while charged with a dangerous felony.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions from entering into contracts with companies that engage in economic boycotts based on specific environmental, social, or governance criteria. The law defines an economic boycott as a commercial action taken without a standard business purpose to penalize or limit dealings with companies involved in fossil fuels, firearms, or those that fail to meet certain standards regarding emissions, workforce diversity, or access to reproductive and gender-affirming care. To comply, companies with ten or more employees seeking contracts valued at $50,000 or more must provide written verification that they are not currently engaging in such boycotts and will not do so during the contract term. The legislation allows for enforcement by the attorney general or county prosecutors and imposes a penalty of triple damages on any company that violates these requirements while under contract.

Maddy summaryHB 1698 establishes limits on how long local governments can enforce orders that close businesses, schools, or other public gatherings to prevent the spread of contagious diseases. During a statewide emergency, such orders cannot last longer than thirty days within a one-hundred-eighty-day period without a simple majority vote from the local governing body to extend them. Outside of a declared emergency, similar orders are restricted to twenty-one days and require a two-thirds majority vote for extension, along with prior approval from the state legislature. The bill also affirms an individual's right to refuse various health-related countermeasures, including vaccination and mask mandates, while allowing isolation or quarantine only if the person is infected or exposed to a communicable disease. Additionally, the legislation holds local officials financially liable for damages if they issue orders that violate these new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for when individuals are legally allowed to use physical force in self-defense. It clarifies that a person can use force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves or others from unlawful harm, with specific exceptions for initial aggressors and those committing felonies. The law also establishes a "no duty to retreat" rule in homes, vehicles, and private property, meaning people do not have to flee before using force. Additionally, it creates a legal presumption that a person's belief in the need for defense was reasonable and sets a higher burden of proof for prosecutors to overcome self-defense claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits medical schools in the state from offering training specifically focused on performing abortions to their students and residents. It also bars these schools from collaborating with facilities in other states to provide such instruction. The law defines "abortion-specific training" as education on methods to intentionally end a pregnancy, but it allows for teaching procedures when they are performed strictly as a medical emergency. Consequently, the legislation directly impacts the curriculum and educational partnerships available to medical professionals within the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2694 prohibits the use of fetal organs or tissue obtained from elective abortions for medical, scientific, research, or therapeutic purposes. The bill specifically bans individuals and entities from utilizing these tissues if they know the abortion was performed to harvest them, and it forbids offering financial or other inducements to parents to conceive or undergo an abortion for this specific purpose. Additionally, the legislation restricts the exchange of valuable consideration for fetal tissue derived from abortions, while explicitly allowing payments for burial, autopsy, or pathological examinations. This law applies to all persons and entities involved in the process and includes a severability clause to ensure remaining provisions stay in effect if any part is ruled invalid.

Maddy summaryHB 2829 requires political campaign committees to include specific details about their financial transactions in their disclosure reports. The bill mandates that reports list the names, addresses, and employers of contributors who gave more than $100, as well as information about loans and significant expenditures. Committees must also itemize payments to campaign workers and disclose any transfers of funds between related committees. This legislation applies to all committees required to file financial statements, aiming to increase transparency in campaign funding and spending.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the legal procedures for sentencing individuals convicted of first-degree sodomy or first-degree murder when the death penalty is a possible outcome. It establishes a two-stage trial process where a jury first decides guilt or innocence, and only if the defendant is found guilty does a second stage occur to determine the specific punishment. During this second stage, the law allows for evidence regarding the victim's impact on their family and considers specific factors, such as the defendant's intellectual disability, prior criminal history, and the nature of the crime, before deciding between life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty. The bill also clarifies how judges and juries must evaluate these factors and sets the rules for when these new procedures apply to offenses committed after August 28, 2001.