Rep. Jim Kalberloh

Maddy summaryHB 1940 updates requirements for newspapers publishing legal notices and real estate advertisements. It would require such newspapers to have been continuously published for at least one year (reducing the prior three-year requirement), maintain a list of paid subscribers, and meet specific circulation standards. The bill also specifies that in cities with over 100,000 residents, legal notices must appear in a daily newspaper that has met these requirements for one year. These changes apply directly to newspapers seeking to be designated as legal publications for court or government notices.

Maddy summaryHB 2742 increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for a school bus by adding 5 points to their license for this violation. It also allows school districts to install cameras on school buses to detect such failures, but only when the bus is actively loading or unloading students (stop arm extended and lights activated). School districts must approve camera use through a board vote, and footage can only be used as evidence for the violation - unrelated footage cannot be retained. The bill does not require districts to install cameras, only offers this option as a safety tool.

Maddy summaryHB 2146 increases the investment limit for certain hospitals from 25% to 50% of their non-essential funds (funds not needed for immediate operations). Hospitals meeting specific criteria - receiving less than 3% of annual revenue from government taxes and less than 3% from local government appropriations - can now invest in mutual funds, high-rated bonds (with short maturities), money-market funds, or combinations of these. The bill requires remaining funds to be invested in ways permissible for the state treasurer. This change modifies existing investment rules for hospitals organized under Missouri's Chapter 96, 205, or 206.

Maddy summaryHB 2107 authorizes the state legislature to hire armed security officers for Capitol buildings during legislative sessions. These officers must be licensed under state law enforcement standards and have full powers to arrest people and maintain security. The bill directly affects Capitol staff and visitors by creating a new security role focused on preventing threats. It is designated as an emergency measure to ensure immediate public safety during sessions.

Maddy summaryHB 2115 requires all elementary schools in the district to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce legible cursive documents by the end of fifth grade. It mandates that each student pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The bill directly affects elementary students and schools, setting a specific academic benchmark for cursive skills. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may create rules to implement these requirements, subject to standard regulatory processes.

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 2122 allows Missouri electrical corporations to include the costs of constructing new nuclear power plants (under 600 MW) in their rate base *before* the plants are completed and operational. This means utilities can recover these pre-completion construction costs through customer rates immediately, rather than waiting until the plant is finished. The Public Service Commission must approve the exact amount based on estimated project costs and actual spending during construction, with refunds required if costs were wasted or the plant isn't completed on time. The provision expires in 2036 unless extended by the Commission, and applies only to new nuclear plants not in operation by August 2026. This directly affects utilities and their ratepayers by changing how construction costs are recovered.

Maddy summaryHB 2069 establishes legal rules for fully autonomous vehicles (SAE Levels 4-5) operating without human drivers in the state. It requires these vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" during system failures, submit a law enforcement plan to public safety, and carry proof of financial responsibility. The bill mandates special vehicle registration and titling identifying them as autonomous, while clarifying that automated systems are legally considered the "driver" for traffic law compliance. It also specifies crash reporting protocols and exempts these vehicles from certain driver-focused equipment laws when operating autonomously.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to establish state-wide soil-based standards for septic system installation and maintenance, replacing outdated rules. It defines qualified professionals (including licensed engineers, certified soil scientists, and sanitarians) who can conduct required soil evaluations and mandates a contractor registration program with continuing education requirements by 2027. Homeowners, contractors, and local governments (counties/cities) must comply with these standards, with the state enforcing them if local jurisdictions fail to adopt the rules. The law also creates training programs for contractors and requires counties to adopt the standards or risk state enforcement, with temporary percolation tests allowed until 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2145 modifies outdoor advertising rules near highways in Missouri. It permits signs within 660 feet of interstate, federal-aid primary, or National Highway System roads - especially in industrial/commercial zones - and sets specific limits: signs cannot exceed 800 square feet (30 ft tall, 72 ft long), must avoid flashing lights (except scoreboards), and must maintain 1,400 feet between structures on the same highway side. The bill directly affects outdoor advertising companies, property owners in commercial zones, and highway safety by restricting sign placement to reduce visual clutter and driver distraction. Existing signs not meeting these rules after 2002 will be considered "nonconforming" but may remain.