Maddy summaryHB 351 requires Missouri public school districts and charter schools to adopt comprehensive antibullying policies that define bullying broadly to include physical, verbal, cyber, and electronic harassment causing fear or disruption. Schools must report incidents within one school day, investigate within 10 days, ban automatic punishments (zero-tolerance policies), and provide annual staff training and student education on bullying prevention. The policy mandates protections against retaliation, requires consideration of self-defense in violent incidents, and specifies responses like parental notification or referrals to child welfare services for severe cases. These requirements apply to all Missouri public schools and aim to create safer learning environments through clear procedures and accountability.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1569 requires Missouri's Department of Higher Education to develop a new funding model for public colleges and universities, directly affecting four-year public institutions, community colleges, and the State Technical College of Missouri. The model must use a cost-based approach tied to each institution's mission, include performance metrics focused on student success, and be based on a 2023 state study. The department must submit a testing plan by September 2025, evaluate results by August 2026, and seek final legislative approval by September 2026 for the model to take effect in the 2027-28 fiscal year. The bill mandates that state funding for these institutions must align with the approved model after legislative approval.
Maddy summaryHB 227 establishes mental health courts as an alternative to traditional criminal sentencing for defendants with mental health or substance use disorders. The bill requires courts to refer eligible individuals to department-certified treatment programs and combines judicial supervision, drug/alcohol testing, and treatment services. Successful completion of these programs may lead to charge dismissal, reduction, or modification, with treatment fees excluded from court costs. This applies broadly to cases involving mental health disorders in adult, DWI, family, juvenile, and veterans treatment courts.
Maddy summaryHB 1559 allows utility vehicles (like golf carts or small work vehicles) to operate on most public roads, except numbered highways, unless specific exceptions apply. It permits government-owned vehicles, agricultural operations, handicapped persons on secondary roads (with lighting), and vehicles with city/county permits (for $15 fees). Operators must have a standard driver's license (but not a motorcycle exam), maintain insurance, follow traffic laws, and observe a 45 mph speed limit on highways. The bill also prohibits nighttime operation without proper lighting, carrying passengers (except multi-seat agricultural vehicles), and unsafe driving.
Maddy summaryHB 322 modifies Missouri's law governing peer review committees, which evaluate healthcare quality and provider performance. It defines "peer review committees" broadly to include groups formed by medical societies, hospitals, health maintenance organizations, or universities. Key changes include granting legal immunity to committee members acting in good faith and strictly protecting all committee discussions, records, and decisions from being disclosed in court or used in lawsuits - except when committees deny hospital privileges or licenses. This bill directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, and health maintenance organizations operating in Missouri by enhancing confidentiality and limiting liability for their peer review processes.
Maddy summaryHB 1470 transfers specific state-owned land in Webster County to the Missouri State Highways and Transportation Commission. The bill conveys two parcels totaling approximately 0.66 acres (including a temporary construction easement) described in the bill's legal survey for highway project purposes. The transfer includes a 0.25-acre parcel along Honor Camp Lane and a temporary 0.406-acre easement for construction, which expires upon project completion. The commissioner of administration will set terms for the transfer, and the attorney general must approve the conveyance document.
Maddy summaryHB 264 allows Missouri public employers to offer retention or performance-based payments to employees without violating the state constitution, as long as they follow specific rules. It permits payments up to 20% of base salary for exceptional achievement or retention, provided written criteria are approved at least one year in advance and payments occur no more frequently than annually. School districts are specifically covered under this law (via section 168.093), requiring written policies approved by the school board for such incentives. The bill directly affects public employees (excluding those with statutorily set salaries) and their employers, creating a clear framework for incentive programs. It does not change salary structures but provides a legal pathway for employers to use performance-based payments.
Maddy summaryHB 918 changes product liability rules in civil lawsuits by requiring plaintiffs to prove a defendant specifically designed, manufactured, sold, or leased the exact product that caused their injury - not just a similar or equivalent product. This makes it harder for injured parties to hold companies liable if they cannot identify the precise product involved. The bill also states that designers whose work is copied without authorization cannot be held responsible for injuries caused by the manufacturer’s product, even if the design use was foreseeable. The law does not affect existing rules about mislabeling, fraud, or liability for component parts or successor companies.
Maddy summaryHB 996 establishes Missouri’s "Route 66 Signage Maintenance and Enhancement Program" to maintain and expand historical signage along Route 66, directly affecting the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), local governments, and Route 66 landmarks like motels and bridges. The bill requires MoDOT to install uniform signs with "Historic Route 66" markings by May 2026, using non-state funds (grants, donations), and includes theft prevention measures like "REPRODUCTION" markings. It creates a dedicated fund for signage costs and mandates collaboration with the Route 66 Association of Missouri for historical accuracy. The program must review costs every five years starting in 2030 and report to the legislature annually.
Maddy summaryHB 1262 requires Missouri public schools to post a notice in prominent locations outlining students' and employees' First Amendment rights regarding religious expression. The notice informs students they may express religious beliefs, pray, read religious texts during free time, or form religious clubs (if secular clubs are allowed), and employees may discuss faith or sponsor religious clubs when relevant to curriculum. It does not create new rights but ensures schools advise about existing constitutional protections. The bill applies to all public schools operating with public funds and emphasizes these rights must not disrupt school activities.