Rep. John Hewkin

Maddy summaryHB 1625 modifies drug trafficking penalties by adjusting quantity thresholds for first- and second-degree offenses. It lowers the fentanyl threshold for enhanced penalties from 20mg to 14mg and adds stricter punishments for trafficking near schools, housing, or hotels (e.g., within 2,000 feet of schools or public housing). This bill directly affects individuals trafficking drugs above these new limits, with harsher penalties for larger quantities or offenses in sensitive locations. The changes update existing drug laws to align with current public safety concerns regarding dangerous substances like fentanyl and methamphetamines.

Maddy summaryHB 2465 amends Missouri's definition of "eligible employee" under the Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act. It specifies that an eligible employee must work a full-time schedule of 30+ hours per week, including sole proprietors, partners, and independent contractors covered under a small employer's health plan. The change explicitly excludes part-time, temporary, and substitute workers from eligibility for small employer health insurance programs. This adjustment affects small employers (typically those with fewer than 50 employees) and their workers seeking coverage under this state insurance program.

Maddy summaryHB 1853 repeals multiple existing Missouri transportation laws and replaces them with a new provision (section 229.222) allowing counties, cities, or villages to designate streets, roads, or highways as memorial roads for law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, or military members killed in the line of duty. Local governments that create such memorial roads must cover the costs of signs and maintenance. This bill directly affects local jurisdictions by establishing a formal process for honoring fallen public safety personnel through road naming, without imposing new state-level requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2035 prohibits using artificial intelligence to create explicit sexual material featuring a person's image or voice without their express written consent. It directly affects individuals whose likenesses could be misused and entities (like companies or creators) generating such AI content. The bill bans altering or replicating someone's image/voice via AI for explicit material and requires written consent for any use of a person's likeness in such content. Violators face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, and victims can sue for actual damages plus attorney fees. The law explicitly excludes artistic or anthropological works from its definition of "explicit sexual material."

Maddy summaryHB 1663 requires schools to restrict athletic participation to students competing in sports designated for their biological sex, as documented on their birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite biological sex unless no equivalent sport is available for the student's assigned sex. The bill defines "biological sex" based on reproductive biology at birth and specifies that birth certificate documentation must reflect the sex assigned at birth or correct a clerical error. Violations could result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies. The law expires in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2934 restructures the Regional Convention and Visitors Commission in St. Louis City and County, changing its membership composition effective August 28, 2026. The bill increases membership from 11 to 15 members, requiring four additional members appointed by the governor (including one as chair and three hotel/motel industry representatives). It specifies that city-appointed members must include a restaurant industry rep and a tourist attraction rep, while county-appointed members must include three hotel/motel representatives. The commission will continue to serve without pay, with terms structured to ensure balanced industry representation and smooth transitions for current members.

Maddy summaryHB 2139 would invalidate court rulings, contracts, or arbitration decisions that apply Shari'a law or any foreign legal system violating U.S. or Missouri constitutional rights. It directly affects parties in legal disputes or contracts where foreign law is chosen or applied, including contracts with foreign jurisdiction clauses. Key provisions prohibit courts from enforcing such agreements and forbid transferring cases to foreign tribunals that would violate constitutional rights. Exceptions include religious organizations' internal matters, voluntary corporate agreements with foreign law, and cases where federal law overrides state law. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading) and has not been enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 2061 requires Missouri public schools and colleges to prohibit antisemitic harassment and discrimination as rigorously as racial discrimination. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 definition and mandates that schools integrate this into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and clarifies that the law does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal/state discrimination laws. This directly affects all public educational institutions in Missouri, requiring them to address antisemitic conduct that creates fear or impedes access to campus activities.

Maddy summaryHCR 23 is a non-binding resolution from the Missouri legislature calling on Missouri's members of Congress to support state authority over election rules. It urges them to advocate for constitutional amendments protecting states' rights to set election laws and campaign finance policies, based on the Tenth Amendment. The resolution emphasizes that states, not the federal government, should determine election processes and campaign finance rules to reflect local needs. It does not create new laws but formally requests Missouri's congressional delegation to champion this position. This resolution is part of Missouri's broader stance on preserving state control over elections.

Maddy summaryHB 3175 allows Missouri residents with a health condition or disability that impairs communication with law enforcement to request a special designation when registering a motor vehicle. To qualify, applicants must provide certification from a licensed physician or psychologist confirming the condition will likely persist for at least five years. If approved, the designation is added to the state law enforcement database (MULES), alerting officers during interactions. The designation remains active for five years and requires renewal with updated certification, with the state highway patrol required to educate law enforcement on its use.