Maddy summaryHB 2243 allows eligible Missouri residents who are at least 17 and a half years old to register to vote on the same day as an election, provided they meet standard identification requirements. The bill permits individuals to complete registration in person at designated locations or through approved online systems up to the day of the election, with specific provisions for new residents and military personnel returning from deployment. While maintaining existing rules that prevent incarcerated individuals or those on felony probation from voting, the law removes the previous deadline requiring registration weeks before an election. This change directly affects voters who have recently moved to the state or whose registration documents were lost, enabling them to participate in upcoming elections without waiting for the next cycle.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Missouri law to make it a felony for anyone under eighteen to possess a firearm on public property. The change applies to minors regardless of whether they have a prior criminal record, though it includes exceptions for hunting, school-sanctioned events, or when accompanied by an adult aged twenty-one or older. By adding this specific rule to the existing statute on unlawful firearm possession, the legislation directly targets youth carrying guns in public spaces while maintaining current penalties for other prohibited individuals.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for how digital apps and websites that collect reproductive or sexual health data must handle that information. It requires these services to get explicit permission from users before sharing, selling, or using their data for any purpose. Additionally, the law generally prevents government agencies from forcing these apps to hand over user data, with specific exceptions for criminal investigations that do not involve abortion or gender transition care.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a system for automatic voter registration in Missouri, allowing eligible citizens to be added to voter rolls without submitting a separate application. The process triggers when individuals interact with various state agencies, such as when applying for a driver's license, seeking unemployment benefits, or registering for university classes. Before finalizing registration, local election authorities must send a notice to the individual with a prepaid card to decline the registration if they do not wish to be included. Local officials retain the authority to verify eligibility and remove names from the rolls, ensuring that only qualified voters are added to the lists. The bill operates alongside existing registration methods and requires funding to cover the costs of implementation and verification.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail businesses from charging customers more than the actual processing cost when they pay with credit cards, debit cards, or digital payment systems. While it bans excessive surcharges, it allows merchants to collect a nonrefundable convenience fee that must equal the true cost of the transaction or an approved average rate. To qualify for charging this fee, businesses must also offer a free payment option using cash, check, or money order and clearly disclose the fee amount before the customer completes the purchase. The law applies to any retail business accepting electronic payments and aims to ensure fees remain transparent and directly tied to processing expenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a state law that previously prevented local governments in Missouri from creating their own rules about firearms. By removing this restriction, cities, counties, and towns gain the authority to pass ordinances regarding the sale, purchase, and carrying of guns within their jurisdictions. The new provisions allow localities to regulate open carry and other firearm activities as long as they follow specific state guidelines and do not interfere with individual rights to use firearms for defense. Additionally, the repeal eliminates a ban on local lawsuits against gun manufacturers, though it preserves the ability to sue for negligence or defective products.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for local school districts to determine their annual opening dates and required school days. It establishes a standard minimum of 174 school days or 1,044 hours of attendance, while allowing districts to choose an earlier start date only if they hold a public meeting and secure a majority vote from the school board. Additionally, the legislation requires districts to include specific make-up days or hours in their calendars to account for weather-related closures. If a district fails to follow these procedures, the state may withhold a portion of the district's funding for each day of non-compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Missouri General Assembly to officially ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which guarantees that no person can be denied legal equality based on their sex. By passing this resolution, the state would formally approve the amendment's text, which prohibits discrimination against women or men in any law or government action. The bill directs state officials to send a copy of the resolution to the U.S. Archivist and other federal leaders to complete the ratification process.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to protect the right to keep and bear arms for self-defense and to assist civil authorities, while explicitly allowing local governments in certain counties and cities to regulate firearm possession and carrying through ordinances. The amendment mandates that any restrictions on these rights must meet a high legal standard known as strict scrutiny and prohibits the state from refusing to protect these rights, though it maintains the ability to ban firearms for convicted violent felons and individuals deemed dangerous due to mental health issues. Local jurisdictions that choose to regulate firearms can charge fees only to cover administrative costs, limit permits to five years, recognize permits from other counties, and exempt law enforcement, judges, and certain security personnel from local rules. Penalties for violating local firearm regulations are capped at a fine of one thousand dollars or imprisonment for more than one year, or both, and local laws must align with federal law and U.S. Supreme Court decisions.