Rep. Renee Reuter

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 1880 prohibits Missouri public schools and charter schools receiving state funding from selling caffeinated drinks containing more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per container to children enrolled in those schools. The law applies to all school districts and charter schools that receive state aid under Chapter 163 or other state moneys. It directly limits the caffeine content of beverages sold in school settings by establishing a clear 100-milligram-per-container threshold for all drinks offered to students.

Maddy summaryHB 1878 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is defined as "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before minors can access it. If a website fails this, it could be sued for damages if a minor accesses the content. The law specifically exempts news organizations and internet service providers (like search engines or cloud services) from liability, as they aren't responsible for the content they transmit. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interest, depicting sexual acts, or lacking serious value for minors, per Missouri law. The bill includes an emergency clause citing child safety as the justification for immediate implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 2086 modifies Missouri's continuing legal education (CLE) requirements for licensed attorneys. It prohibits requiring attorneys to earn CLE credits exclusively focused on explicit or implicit bias, diversity, inclusion, or cultural competency. The bill repeals existing law and replaces it with a new provision that overrides conflicting Supreme Court rules on this specific CLE requirement. This directly affects all attorneys licensed to practice law in Missouri, changing what types of CLE courses they may be mandated to complete. The policy change removes a specific educational focus from mandatory CLE obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 1917 creates a new process for landowners in Missouri to seek detachment from a public water supply district. It allows owners of 50% or more of a land parcel not receiving water service to petition a circuit court for detachment if four conditions are met: no residents live there, no district water infrastructure is present, no district bonds are outstanding, and the land is in a qualifying county (with charter government, multiple water districts, or adjacent to a city in another county). The bill requires petitioners to submit legal descriptions, sworn affidavits, and certified mail notifications to the district and county offices. If county or district authorities fail to respond within 30 days on required checks, the court treats their silence as meeting the condition. This directly affects landowners seeking to exit a water district without service.

Maddy summaryThis bill would make delivering drugs that cause death a Class A felony, the most serious criminal charge. It removes the defense that the person who died contributed to their own death or consented to the drug use. The law applies specifically to high-risk drugs (like opioids and cocaine) and covers cases where the offense occurs in another state. It aims to strengthen penalties for drug-related deaths by closing legal loopholes that previously allowed certain defenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1873 requires Missouri's Air Conservation Commission to terminate the state's motor vehicle emissions inspection program by January 1, 2028, as established under the Air Quality Attainment Act. The bill repeals existing laws governing emissions inspections and replaces them with new sections focused on vehicle license renewal and fleet registration. This change eliminates the requirement for emissions inspections during vehicle registration, directly affecting vehicle owners who would have been subject to these inspections. The bill terminates the program without establishing a new emissions inspection system.

Maddy summaryHB 1876 requires Missouri public school districts and charter schools to provide cursive writing instruction in elementary schools, ensuring students can produce legible cursive documents by the end of fifth grade. It mandates that each student must pass a teacher-constructed test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may create implementing rules, subject to specific procedural requirements under state law. This bill directly affects all Missouri elementary students and school districts through a new curriculum requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 1814 creates a new offense called "grooming of a minor" in Missouri law, targeting adults (18+ years) who engage in a pattern of conduct - such as repeated sexual communications or acts - with minors (17 or younger) that a reasonable person would interpret as preparing them for sexual activity. The law classifies this as a class B felony (or class A if sexual conduct occurs), requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence with no probation or parole eligibility. It includes exemptions for age-appropriate relationships (within 4 years), licensed professionals acting within their role, and family members providing standard care, provided no sexual intent is shown. The bill also mandates restitution for victims covering mental health, lost income, and relocation costs, and requires state guidance for the public and professionals on identifying and responding to grooming.

Maddy summaryHB 2551 creates a new criminal offense for "grooming of a minor," defining it as a pattern of sexual acts or communications by someone 18+ directed at a minor under 17, with intent to prepare them for sexual conduct. It allows prosecutors to prove intent through context and frequency of communications (not direct statements) and includes exceptions for teachers, parents, and minor age gaps (up to 4 years older) without exploitation. Violations are punishable as a serious felony (class B or A if sexual conduct occurs), requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence with no probation, and mandating court-ordered restitution for victims covering mental health, lost income, or relocation. The bill also requires state guidance for the public and professionals on recognizing grooming and supporting victims.