Rep. Stephanie Hein

Maddy summaryHB 998 establishes Missouri's "Free School Meals Program," requiring participating public schools and charter schools to provide all students with two free, federally reimbursable meals daily (breakfast and lunch) at no cost. It directly affects Missouri schools enrolled in the USDA National School Lunch Program that qualify for federal free meal rates under the Community Eligibility Provision. The program mandates state reimbursement to schools for the difference between the federal meal rate and what they actually receive, ensuring no cost to students. This replaces previous eligibility requirements, making meals universally free for all students in participating schools.

Maddy summaryHB 1478 modifies Missouri's Working Family Tax Credit Act to make the state tax credit refundable starting in 2026. The bill provides eligible Missouri residents - those who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and file as single, head of household, widowed, or married filing jointly - with a state credit equal to 10% to 20% of their federal EITC amount (capped at 20%). The credit becomes refundable after 2025, meaning excess credit value will be paid as cash refunds instead of being lost. The Missouri Department of Revenue must proactively notify eligible taxpayers who didn’t claim the credit and report annual usage statistics.

Maddy summaryBased on the provided bill text, HB 935 does **not** contain provisions for sales tax exemptions on diapers or infant formula. The bill text describes amendments to Missouri's existing sales tax exemptions, specifically listing categories like manufacturing materials, livestock feed, motor fuel, and certain agricultural inputs (e.g., seed, fertilizer, pesticides). These exemptions are already part of Missouri law (sections 144.010-144.525), and the bill primarily clarifies or reaffirms interpretations of those existing exemptions. The bill’s title claiming to authorize "diapers and infant formula" exemptions is not supported by the provided text, which references no such items. This suggests a potential error in the bill title or description.

Maddy summaryHB 933 modifies state child care assistance rules by establishing an income-based sliding fee scale for families receiving subsidies, where fees depend on adjusted gross income and family size. It allows families with verified employment (20+ hours/week in regulated childcare settings) to exclude all income from eligibility calculations, and waives sliding fees for children with special needs. Families exceeding the annual appropriation level (the yearly income cap set by budgeting) must pay the full maximum subsidy rate and lose further assistance. The bill also clarifies that the department’s payment limit is the standard rate minus the family’s applicable fee.

Maddy summaryHB 934 changes how Missouri child care subsidies are calculated, directly affecting low-income families earning above the full-benefit income threshold. It shifts payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based, meaning families receive subsidies based on enrolled children rather than actual attendance. The bill creates "transitional child care benefits" with reduced payments (80% to 20% of the state base rate) based on household income levels exceeding the full-benefit limit, up to 200% of the federal poverty level. Families can voluntarily join the program without first qualifying for full benefits, but must pay the remaining cost to providers, and may opt out once but not rejoin.

Maddy summaryHB 1480 modifies Missouri's property tax relief credit for seniors by raising the minimum age requirement to 65 (from 60 for some categories) and adding new eligibility paths for disabled veterans and surviving spouses. It requires applicants to prove disability (via medical documentation) or veteran status (100% service-connected disability), and adjusts income calculations to exclude Social Security benefits but include pensions. To qualify, applicants must have resided in Missouri all year, paid property taxes before filing, and meet specific age/disability criteria for their homestead (home and up to five acres). This directly affects Missouri seniors aged 65+, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses who qualify for property tax relief on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryHB 936 creates a state income tax credit for Missouri residents who purchase approved firearm safes or safety devices (like trigger locks) for personal use. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to their annual spending on these items (up to $500 total, including sales tax), applied against their state income tax liability. The program is capped at $500,000 in total credits per year across all taxpayers and expires on December 31, 2032, unless renewed by the legislature. Devices must be approved by the Department of Public Safety, and credits cannot be carried forward or transferred.

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 177's title claims to provide MO HealthNet coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants, but the provided bill text describes existing MO HealthNet coverage provisions (such as hospital services, nursing home care, and prescription drugs) rather than new hearing aid coverage. The text details current eligibility rules and payment structures under Section 208.152, including limitations on services like outpatient hospital care (capped at 80% of costs) and restrictions on abortion facility funding. No specific provisions for hearing aids or cochlear implants appear in the excerpted text. The bill's title and actual content appear inconsistent based on the provided context.

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.