Rep. Melanie Stinnett

Maddy summaryHB 1908 ensures Missouri courts can grant a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation even if one party is pregnant. The bill explicitly states that pregnancy status does not prevent a court from entering such a judgment, removing any prior barrier. Courts must still meet standard requirements, including residency, the marriage being irretrievably broken (for divorce) or not (for legal separation), and arrangements for children and property. This change directly affects individuals in Missouri family court cases involving pregnancy who seek divorce or legal separation.

Maddy summaryHB 2642 requires health insurance plans to cover nonopioid medications for acute pain without barriers, directly affecting people with health insurance (enrollees) and the plans themselves. The law prohibits plans from denying coverage for nonopioid drugs in favor of opioids, forcing patients to try opioids first, or charging higher costs for nonopioid options compared to opioids. It applies only to acute pain (expected to last 30 days or less) and takes effect for plans renewed or issued after January 1, 2027. The bill does not change provider prescribing practices but mandates equal treatment for nonopioid alternatives under insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 3204 creates a 70% state tax credit for Missouri taxpayers who contribute $50 or more to certified prevention resource centers, which are entities within the Missouri Department of Mental Health's prevention network. Taxpayers can claim a maximum annual credit of $50,000 per year, with the total statewide credits capped at $2.5 million annually. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years, and the program expires six years after enactment unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 617 removes a restriction that previously prevented Missouri residents on probation or parole from voting after a felony or misdemeanor conviction. The bill directly affects individuals under community supervision for these offenses, allowing them to register and vote in state elections while still on probation or parole. It amends Section 561.026 of Missouri law to eliminate the disqualification for "probation or parole" after conviction, though it maintains voting bans for those incarcerated or permanently disqualified for specific offenses. This change applies only to state elections, not federal ones, and does not affect current prison voting restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1206, the "Hope for Missouri Patients Act," creates a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating conditions to access personalized investigational treatments based on their genetic profile. It defines eligibility for patients who have exhausted FDA-approved options, received physician recommendations tied to genomic analysis, and provided detailed written consent. The bill requires facilities to follow specific consent protocols and clarifies that insurers are not obligated to cover these treatments, though they may choose to do so. It also protects healthcare providers from license penalties for recommending such treatments and ensures patients bear costs unless covered by a manufacturer agreement. The law applies only to treatments derived from the patient's unique genetic makeup, excluding those involving embryonic stem cells or abortion-derived materials.

Maddy summaryHB 824 exempts registered syringe access programs from Missouri's drug paraphernalia laws. It creates a registration process through the Department of Health and Senior Services for entities distributing needles/syringes to reduce health risks from unsterile injection. To register, programs must partner with mental health/substance use treatment providers and avoid operating within 500 feet of schools (unless the school existed before the program started). This directly affects health organizations running syringe programs and their staff/volunteers, making their needle distribution legal under these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.

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.