Rep. John Hewkin

Maddy summaryHB 1855 requires Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to add alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to its list of noncommunicable diseases needing mandatory reporting. Healthcare providers must report most cases within seven days of a positive lab result, while labs must report alpha-gal syndrome cases using specific IgE test thresholds (≥0.1 IU/mL). The department must verify cases through random sampling and submit annual reports to the CDC on these diseases. This directly affects healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health officials responsible for disease surveillance in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 2180 imposes daily late filing fees for unfiled campaign finance reports and financial interest statements. Candidates, committee treasurers, and individuals required to file financial statements face $10/day initially (increasing to $100/day after 30 days of non-compliance), with caps of $3,000 for campaign reports and $6,000 for financial statements. The executive director must send written notices via certified mail to delinquent filers, allowing a 10-day appeal window for "good cause" to waive fees. All collected fees are deposited into the state general revenue fund, in addition to any existing penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 3076 clarifies Missouri's water pollution rules by specifying when agricultural and industrial wastewater storage systems do not require state permits. It exempts earthen basins storing non-toxic soil/silt materials from construction permits and clarifies that certain agricultural wastewater storage (like basins holding nonmetallic materials) is not subject to federal permitting. The bill also establishes buffer distances between large wastewater storage basins (over 500,000 gallons) and homes/residences, and mandates annual testing for metals and bacteria in commingled industrial wastewater storage. This directly affects farms, fertilizer producers, and industrial facilities managing wastewater storage.

Maddy summaryHB 2536 repeals two existing Missouri law sections (1.020 and 163.048) and replaces them with five new sections defining terms for legal use. The bill specifically adds definitions for "Female" (describing reproductive anatomy related to egg production) and "Male" (describing reproductive anatomy related to sperm production), alongside standard legal terms like "certified mail" and "county attorney." This is a definitional bill, not a substantive policy change, as it establishes terminology for use in other statutes rather than creating new protections or programs. The bill does not directly affect any specific group or mandate new actions beyond clarifying existing legal language.

Maddy summaryHB 2741 requires commercial drivers applying for a license to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete reports. It makes operating a commercial vehicle without this proficiency a class D misdemeanor (first offense) or class B misdemeanor (repeat), with fines up to $1,000 for drivers and $3,000 for carriers. Drivers must achieve proficiency before operating commercially again, and carriers face penalties for employing non-compliant drivers. The bill directly affects foreign applicants and commercial drivers seeking or holding licenses in the state. It modifies existing requirements to add language proficiency as a mandatory qualification for commercial driver's licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2096 modifies how Missouri allocates state funds to regional planning commissions. It requires a 50-50 matching fund system, meaning each commission must provide local funds equal to the state funds received. The bill sets specific annual funding caps: $130,000 for the East-West Gateway and Mid-America Regional Councils, and $50,000 for each of 19 other commissions (including South Central Ozark, Ozark Foothills, and Missouri Valley). Starting July 1, 2027, these caps will automatically adjust yearly based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill directly affects all regional planning commissions receiving state funds under these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1730 primarily defines "firearm silencer" (or "firearm suppressor") as any device designed to muffle firearm noise, updating legal terminology under existing statutes. This bill does not change current regulations on suppressor possession or use but clarifies the definition for enforcement and legal consistency. It directly affects law enforcement, courts, and anyone interacting with firearm laws in the state. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, read first time) and focuses solely on definitional precision, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1736 modifies county sales tax rules for park funds to allow stormwater management projects within parks. It permits counties to use 50% of their allocated tax revenue for stormwater projects that either acquire park land/greenways or enhance natural park features without reducing park benefits. This affects counties and municipalities receiving these funds, which must still align with park purposes. The bill expands existing park funding uses without changing overall tax allocation percentages.

Maddy summaryHB 2422 revises fees for recording land deeds and documents. It adds a $2 fee per document to a local recorder's fund (for record preservation) and a $3 fee split between a land survey fund ($1) and housing trust fund ($3). The bill also authorizes Missouri's Department of Agriculture to set user fees for its services through administrative rules, replacing previous fixed fee structures.

Maddy summaryHB 2142 modifies Missouri's tax credit program for motion media productions (like films, TV shows, video games, and VR content) by increasing the base tax credit rate to 20% of qualifying expenses and adding up to 5% more for specific criteria, such as filming in Missouri, hiring Missouri residents, or promoting tourism. It directly affects production companies filming in Missouri that meet defined project size and content requirements (excluding news, ads, or political content). Key provisions include annual spending caps ($8 million/year for film/series through 2026, rising to $16 million/year after 2026), mandatory employment of Missouri residents/veterans based on project size, and requirements for promotional materials. The bill aims to incentivize local production while ensuring credits are tied to economic impact in Missouri.