Rep. Brad Banderman

Maddy summaryHB 595 repeals Missouri's existing law and prevents counties and cities from regulating rent amounts or tenant screening for private rental properties. It prohibits local governments from banning landlords from refusing tenants who use housing assistance, restricting credit checks, limiting security deposits, or requiring automatic tenant right of first refusal. The bill allows local governments to still regulate their own properties, manage subsidized housing through agreements, and apply rent rules to properties using federal community development funds. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and local governments by removing most local rent control authority for private housing.

Maddy summaryHB 370 modifies Missouri's net metering rules for small renewable energy systems. It requires utilities to offer net metering to residential and small business customers (with systems under 100 kW) on a first-come basis until total capacity reaches 5% of the utility's peak load, then allows increases with approval. Customers generating excess electricity receive credits based on the utility's avoided fuel costs, applied to future bills. The bill also clarifies that customers must cover costs for required meter upgrades, payable over up to 12 billing cycles.

Maddy summaryHJR 18 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Missouri voters approve state constitutional changes. It would require constitutional amendments to pass with a majority vote statewide *and* in a majority of Missouri’s congressional districts. The amendment also prohibits foreign governments or political parties from funding or influencing amendment campaigns, bans non-U.S. citizens from proposing amendments, and mandates a 15-day public review period for initiative petitions before they appear on ballots. These changes aim to alter the process for amending Missouri’s constitution.

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 75, the "Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act," prevents Missouri public officials from issuing orders that restrict religious services or meetings at places of worship or for religious groups. It directly affects religious organizations and places of worship by requiring public officials to allow such gatherings, unless the group is planning violence (as excluded in subsection 5). The bill explicitly states that places of worship must still comply with standard building and fire safety codes (subsection 6). This legislation focuses on ensuring religious assembly rights while maintaining public safety and regulatory compliance.

Maddy summaryHB 369 allows boards of trustees for consolidated public library districts to set their own financial year start and end dates (currently fixed as July 1 to June 30). This gives library districts flexibility in aligning their budget cycles with operational needs. The bill requires boards to approve annual budgets by June 30 before the new fiscal year begins and mandates that approved budgets be filed with county offices and the state auditor. It directly affects library district administrators, treasurers, and county officials responsible for financial oversight. The change streamlines budgeting processes without altering library services or funding levels.

Maddy summaryHB 575 modifies Missouri's rules for initiative petitions and referendums by creating new requirements for petition circulators and formatting. It requires circulators to verify each signer's registered voter status and provide sworn affidavits (including notarization) to prevent fraudulent signatures, with penalties for violations including fines up to $10,000 or jail time. The bill also mandates specific formatting for petitions, including 12-point Times New Roman text, one-inch margins, and inclusion of full proposed measure text with deletions in brackets and new text underlined. These changes directly affect individuals and groups collecting signatures for citizen-led ballot measures. The bill replaces existing sections (116.153, 116.190, etc.) with new sections (116.030-116.334) governing these processes.

Maddy summaryHB 328 updates regulations for public mass transportation systems, including light rail and buses operated by the bi-state development agency. It prohibits carrying weapons (including firearms) on transit facilities and conveyances, with limited exceptions for law enforcement officers or unloaded rifles/shotguns in a closed container. The bill also bans alcohol consumption, smoking, littering, and obstructive behavior on transit, requiring fare payment and compliance with agency directives. These rules apply directly to all passengers and employees using public transportation services.

Maddy summaryHB 770 extends the expiration date for multiple fees collected by Missouri's Secretary of State from 2026 to 2030. This affects businesses and individuals who pay fees for services like corporate registrations, ensuring these fees continue to be collected until 2030. The bill modifies existing fee collection provisions without changing the fee amounts or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 368 requires school districts and charter schools with a school term of 169 or more days to receive 1% of their state aid for fiscal years 2026-2027, increasing to 2% for 2028 and later years. The bill directly affects public school districts and charter schools that meet the 169-day school year requirement, including those operating charter schools. Funds received under this provision must be used exclusively to increase teacher salaries, and failure to comply results in the state withholding those funds from future state aid payments. This policy change modifies how state education aid is distributed based on school calendar length and mandates specific use of the funds.