Rep. Jeremy Dean

Maddy summaryHB 899 changes how vacancies in the state legislature are filled by requiring the governor to issue a special election writ within seven days of learning of a member's death during recess. However, it exempts vacancies occurring after the last Tuesday in March during even-numbered years from triggering an immediate special election, allowing the seat to remain unfilled until the next general election. This directly affects governors, election officials, and voters in districts with late-occurring vacancies, as it delays special elections in specific circumstances. The bill focuses solely on procedural changes to vacancy handling without altering substantive policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1392 requires legislators who sponsor bills to remain present in the hearing room for the entire public hearing on their own legislation. It mandates continuous attendance unless the sponsor leaves briefly for essential health or personal needs (like medical care), requiring them to return within ten minutes. The bill explicitly excludes meal breaks or meetings from the allowed exceptions. This procedural rule directly affects bill sponsors in the general assembly during committee hearings. It aims to ensure sponsor engagement during legislative review without altering substantive policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires firearm owners in Missouri to report lost or stolen guns to local law enforcement within 72 hours of discovering the loss. The law mandates that law enforcement agencies enter the firearm's make, model, and serial number into the state's uniform law enforcement system to track these incidents. Owners who fail to comply face escalating penalties, starting with a fine of up to $100 for a first violation and increasing to a misdemeanor charge with a fine up to $500 for third or subsequent violations. The measure directly affects all firearm owners in the state and law enforcement agencies responsible for recording and tracking lost or stolen weapons.

Maddy summaryHB 647 creates a tax credit allowing Missouri taxpayers to deduct 50% of donations (minimum $100) to qualifying diaper banks, capped at $50,000 per taxpayer annually. It sets an annual $500,000 limit on total credits claimed statewide, with unused credits carried forward. The bill defines "diaper banks" as nonprofit organizations meeting specific criteria (e.g., distributing free hygiene products through schools/health facilities, joining a national network) and requires the Department of Social Services to verify eligibility. This program affects donors (businesses and individuals) and qualifying diaper banks, expiring December 31, 2025, unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.

Maddy summaryHB 618 limits health insurers' ability to require prior authorization for medical services starting January 1, 2026. Insurers must approve at least 90% of a provider's past requests for a service before requiring prior authorization, or the provider qualifies for an exemption. Hospitals may qualify for exemptions by entering value-based care agreements with insurers, achieving a 3+ star CMS rating, or having a high prior-authorization approval rate. The bill excludes pharmacy, imaging, cosmetic, and experimental services from exemptions (with annual $100,000 cost limits adjusted for inflation) and requires insurers to provide a 90-day medication coverage grace period if a patient's insurance changes.

Maddy summaryHB 616 restructures Missouri's public higher education governance by replacing the Commission on Higher Education with a new Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The bill designates the University of Missouri as the exclusive grantor of research doctorates (like PhDs) and first-professional degrees (such as law, medicine, and veterinary medicine), while requiring other public institutions to collaborate with it for these programs. The Coordinating Board gains authority to approve new degree programs, establish admission guidelines, and require institutions to adopt effective remediation practices. This directly affects all Missouri public colleges and universities by centralizing oversight of degree offerings and institutional planning. The changes aim to standardize higher education coordination across the state's public system.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand property tax exemptions in Missouri, primarily affecting disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The amendment would exempt the primary home (homestead) of disabled veterans - defined as those certified by the VA for 100% service-connected disability - and their surviving spouses (if they continue living in the home) from property taxes. It also maintains existing exemptions for business inventories (e.g., manufacturers' raw materials and retailers' stock) and properties used by religious, charitable, or educational organizations. The amendment requires voter approval in Missouri’s 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHB 32 lowers the age requirement for enrollment in adult high schools from 21 to 18 years old, directly affecting adults aged 18 or older without a high school diploma. The bill establishes new adult high schools that must offer high school diplomas alongside industry certification programs, childcare for students, and flexible learning options (including limited online instruction). It requires nonprofit organizations to meet specific criteria, such as partnerships with colleges and plans to address local workforce needs, while ensuring diplomas are equivalent to traditional high school credentials with no distinguishing marks. The legislation also adjusts admission preferences to prioritize students receiving income-based assistance and clarifies how student transfers affect school dropout rate reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 1117 sets new safety rules for railroad operations, primarily affecting railroad carriers and their freight trains. It limits train length to 8,500 feet on main tracks and branch lines, requires at least two qualified crew members for most freight operations (with exceptions for helper services, hostler services, and slow-moving loading/unloading), and establishes fines for violations (up to $1,000 for repeat offenses). The bill also mandates redacting crew members' personally identifying information from public incident reports involving motor vehicles, while allowing access to employers, courts, and specific officials when necessary. These changes aim to standardize safety practices and protect crew privacy in incident documentation.