Maddy summaryHB 1598 creates the Educational Technology Impact Advisory Council to study how technology affects K-12 education in Missouri. The council, composed of 25 appointed members representing school boards, teachers, parents, special education experts, mental health professionals, and others, will meet quarterly to review technology's impacts on reading, math, special education, student behavior, social interaction, and AI use. It will submit biennial recommendations to state education committees on policy changes, including potential statutory updates. The bill directly affects Missouri public schools by establishing a formal process to evaluate technology's role in learning outcomes and classroom dynamics. This is a procedural bill focused on creating a review mechanism, not implementing immediate policy changes.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.
Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.
Maddy summaryHB 349 modifies how Missouri counties assess motor vehicle property taxes by establishing a specific 5% valuation rate for certain historic vehicles and aircraft. It directly affects owners of qualifying historic motor vehicles (registered under §301.131) and noncommercial aircraft over 25 years old used less than 200 hours yearly. The bill sets this lower rate - compared to standard 19% for residential property - applying only to these defined categories of vehicles. This change simplifies valuation for eligible taxpayers without altering general assessment rules for most property.
Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1200) creates a new "intermediate driver's license" for 16-17 year olds, directly affecting minors seeking to drive. Key provisions require applicants to: hold a temporary permit for 6+ months, complete 40+ hours of supervised driving (with parental/guardian or instructor consent), pass a written test, and pay a $5 fee. Restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (1 a.m.-5 a.m. without supervision), limits on teen passengers (max 1 non-family under 19 for first 6 months), and mandatory seatbelt use. The license transitions to full driving privileges at age 18 if the teen has no alcohol-related offenses or traffic violations in the prior year. The bill’s title referencing "age of marriage" appears inconsistent with its actual focus on driver licensing rules.
Maddy summaryHB 989, the "Missouri Survivors' Act," allows courts to reduce sentences for individuals charged with crimes who are survivors of domestic abuse. It requires courts to consider domestic abuse as a mitigating factor if the defendant provides evidence (like court records, medical reports, or expert testimony about PTSD) proving they were abused by an intimate partner or family member within one year of the offense. If abuse is verified, courts must reduce felony sentences by one level (e.g., Class A to Class B). The bill also creates a process for eligible incarcerated individuals sentenced before November 2025 to request resentencing based on past domestic abuse. It directly affects domestic abuse survivors facing criminal charges or serving sentences for non-sexual offenses.
Maddy summaryHB 1138 modifies Missouri's legal definitions related to pyramid sales schemes by repealing and replacing sections 407.400 and 407.405 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo). It establishes clear definitions for terms like "bona fide inventory repurchase program" (requiring repurchase of inventory within 12 months at ≥90% of original cost) and "compensation" (payments for recruiting into schemes). The bill directly affects businesses operating multi-level marketing or sales programs in Missouri, clarifying what constitutes deceptive practices. These definitions help authorities distinguish legitimate sales models from illegal pyramid schemes by specifying fair inventory repurchase terms and prohibited compensation structures.
Maddy summaryHB 235 creates tax credits for accredited investors who fund qualified Missouri businesses focused on technology innovation. Investors receive a 40% tax credit on their investment in eligible companies (50% in rural counties), with annual limits of $300,000 per investor and a total annual cap of $6 million for 2026-2027 (increasing 20% yearly). The credit applies to investments made in businesses approved by the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) that meet specific tech-focused criteria, excluding employees of the invested business (though directors may qualify). Credits expire for investments after 2032, with unclaimed credits carrying forward until 2034.
Maddy summaryThis bill adds two full circuit judge positions and one associate circuit judge position to Jefferson County's 23rd judicial circuit by converting two existing commissioner roles into judicial positions. Specifically, it redesignates the family court commissioner (as Division 11) and treatment court commissioner (as Division 12) as full circuit judges starting January 2007, with both elected in 2006. It also creates a new associate circuit judge position to be appointed by the governor until 2029, with a subsequent election in 2028. The changes directly affect Jefferson County's court staffing structure under Missouri law.
Maddy summaryHB 348 requires parties filing civil cases in the twenty-third judicial circuit to pay a $45 surcharge at the time of filing, in addition to existing court costs. These funds will be deposited into a dedicated courthouse construction fund managed by the circuit clerk, with interest accruing, to finance planning and building a new courthouse exclusively for that circuit. The surcharge does not apply to cases where costs are waived or paid by the state, county, or municipality. The fee will expire on August 28, 2045, and the fund may be used to secure bonds for construction costs.