Rep. Phil Amato

Maddy summaryHB 391 creates a state-funded matching grant program to help Missouri public school districts renovate aging facilities. The bill provides state funds covering 60% of eligible renovation costs (like roof repairs, HVAC, or health improvements), requiring school districts to cover the remaining 40% using their existing funds. Eligible projects must occur at schools requiring daily student attendance and meet cost standards set by the state education department. Priority for funding goes to districts affected by disasters, experiencing enrollment growth, or with lower property tax revenue per student. The program is funded through a dedicated state grant fund, with applications reviewed annually by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Maddy summaryHB 573 modifies Missouri's process for termination of parental rights cases by extending the timeline for serving legal notices from 30 to 60 days, with courts allowed to extend further if it serves the child's best interests. It requires courts to order a social study (including parental fitness, child's condition, and home environment) within 60 days, with the written report shared with all parties 15 days before the hearing. The bill also mandates a dispositional hearing within 30 days of the initial meeting, grants subpoena power to participants, and provides immunity to agencies following child welfare protocols. This directly affects parents, children in custody cases, judges, and child welfare agencies by changing procedural deadlines and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 324 establishes a 50% tax credit for Missouri taxpayers who donate cash or food to qualifying local food pantries, soup kitchens, or homeless shelters. The credit covers 50% of donation value (capped at $2,500 per taxpayer annually) and applies to donations made after specific dates: January 1, 2013, for food pantries and January 1, 2018, for soup kitchens and shelters. Total credits across all taxpayers are capped at $3.75 million per fiscal year, with unused credits carryable for up to three years. To qualify, organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving low-income residents, and donors must verify contributions via tax return affidavits.

Maddy summaryHB 1462 declares that AI systems are non-sentient entities with no legal personhood, meaning they cannot be considered persons, spouses, corporate officers, or owners of property. The bill assigns legal responsibility for harm caused by AI to human owners or developers (not the AI itself), requiring owners to maintain oversight for systems impacting safety and developers to address design defects. It prohibits shifting blame to AI, mandates safety measures for high-risk AI, and prevents corporations from evading liability through shell entities in cases of significant harm. The law applies to all AI systems developed, owned, or operated in the state after August 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 410 allows cities and counties in Missouri to create "neighborhood improvement districts" to fund street lights in residential areas. These districts, limited to 20 years (extendable), use special assessments from property owners to cover installation, maintenance, and electricity costs for LED or solar-powered street lights meeting energy efficiency standards. The state establishes a dedicated fund to provide matching grants, covering two-thirds of costs (capped at $2,000 per light) with the remaining one-third paid by local governments. This bill directly affects residential neighborhoods through local fees and cities/counties managing the districts, with no broader policy changes beyond street lighting funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1463 prohibits municipalities from imposing business license fees on enterprises owned by people aged 18 or younger, directly protecting young entrepreneurs. It also grants cities with populations over 350,000 the authority to license, tax, and regulate most businesses using methods like gross sales revenue, flat fees, or profit-based rates. The bill clarifies that cities cannot tax youth-owned businesses regardless of local ordinances, while allowing cities to set tax rules for other businesses through local ordinances. This changes how local governments can structure business taxation, specifically removing a tax burden from young business owners.

Maddy summaryHB 364 allows Missouri residents who donate to qualifying local hospital foundations to claim a state income tax credit equal to 50% of their donation amount, up to a maximum of $2,500 per taxpayer annually. The credit directly affects individual taxpayers who make donations to foundations that are tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3) and provide financial assistance for unpaid hospital bills in the donor’s area. The program is capped at $2 million in total tax credits per year, is non-refundable but carry-forwardable for three years, and will expire after six years unless renewed by the legislature. This policy reduces state tax liability for qualifying donors while supporting hospitals that assist low-income patients.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand property tax exemptions in Missouri, primarily affecting disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The amendment would exempt the primary home (homestead) of disabled veterans - defined as those certified by the VA for 100% service-connected disability - and their surviving spouses (if they continue living in the home) from property taxes. It also maintains existing exemptions for business inventories (e.g., manufacturers' raw materials and retailers' stock) and properties used by religious, charitable, or educational organizations. The amendment requires voter approval in Missouri’s 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires scrap metal dealers and secondhand property sellers to maintain detailed records for all transactions involving detached catalytic converters. Specifically, they must document the buyer's ID, transaction details, vehicle identification number (VIN) of the converter's source, and keep records for 36 months. Dealers cannot alter converters for five business days after purchase and face fines up to $10,000 for knowingly buying stolen converters. It exempts regular business-to-business transactions and minor metal components in larger items. The law directly affects scrap metal dealers handling catalytic converters, aiming to combat theft by creating traceable records.

Maddy summaryHB 401 removes the time limit for prosecuting child abuse or neglect cases involving children under 18. It allows prosecutors to file charges at any time, regardless of when the abuse or neglect occurred. This change directly affects victims of child abuse/neglect (under 18), prosecutors, and the justice system by eliminating the previous statute of limitations. The bill modifies section 556.035 to ensure cases can be pursued without time constraints.