Rep. Ashley Aune

Maddy summaryHB 2873 establishes new legal standards to protect the voting rights of racial, ethnic, and language-minority groups by prohibiting local election authorities from enacting rules that deny or limit their ability to vote. The bill creates a presumption of violation if election dates are not held concurrently with state or county elections and voter turnout for specific minority groups is significantly lower than the general population. It also sets guidelines for courts to determine if election methods unfairly dilute the voting power of protected classes, allowing cases to proceed without requiring proof of discriminatory intent. Local officials must ensure that election schemes do not impair the ability of these groups to elect candidates of their choice, and the law provides specific factors for courts to consider when assessing potential violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for licensed animal facilities to manage cases of parvovirus, a contagious disease affecting dogs and other animals. It requires owners to notify state officials immediately upon diagnosis and mandates that infected or exposed animals be isolated from healthy ones while maintaining records of all animal movements and deaths. Additionally, the legislation gives state veterinarians the authority to revoke licenses if a facility poses a significant risk to animal health or public safety due to violations of these protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Missouri taxpayers to claim a $2,000 state tax credit for each spontaneous fetal death that occurs in a year when the child would have been eligible as a dependent. The credit can be claimed on the tax return for the year the death occurred and may result in a refund if the credit amount exceeds the taxes owed. The legislation includes rules preventing the credit from being carried forward, sold, or combined with other specific exemptions for the same event, and it will automatically expire six years after it takes effect unless reauthorized by the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt Missouri veterans with a total service-connected disability from property taxes on their homesteads. To offset the revenue lost from this exemption, the measure requires counties to impose a new tax specifically on the personal property inventories of manufacturers, refiners, and merchants. The bill includes a mechanism to adjust this new tax rate annually based on changes in assessed property values and allows voters to approve or reduce the tax increase. If passed, the amendment would change the state constitution to permanently grant this tax break while ensuring local taxing authorities receive replacement funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific rules for how animal control agencies, shelters, and pounds must euthanize dogs and cats. It designates the injection of sodium pentobarbital as the primary method for inducing death while allowing the American Veterinary Medical Association to approve alternative substances if there is a shortage. The legislation explicitly bans other techniques such as carbon monoxide gas, electrocution, gunshot, or blunt force trauma, and requires that all procedures be performed by a licensed veterinarian or physician with proper training.

Maddy summaryHB 2805 mandates the use of ranked-choice voting and instant runoff voting for all primary and general elections in Missouri starting in 2025. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting a single choice, and a candidate must receive a majority of votes to win. If no candidate achieves a majority in the first count, votes for eliminated candidates are redistributed to the voter's next preferred choice until a winner emerges. The bill also requires the state to conduct a voter education campaign and restricts the purchase of new voting machines that cannot support this voting method.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits sales finance agencies and licensed lenders from purchasing or issuing loans for retail contracts involving the purchase of companion animals, such as dogs and cats. It directly affects financial institutions and businesses that currently provide financing for pet purchases by declaring any new contracts or loans made in violation of these rules as legally void. The legislation also ensures that lenders cannot collect any principal, interest, or fees related to prohibited financing arrangements, while explicitly stating that existing loans entered into before August 28, 2024, remain unaffected.

Maddy summaryHB 2898 updates the rules for shipping wine directly to residents of Missouri by increasing the monthly limit from two to four cases per person for personal use. The bill requires wine manufacturers to obtain a specific direct shipper license and mandates that carriers delivering these shipments must verify the recipient is at least 21 years old and obtain their signature upon delivery. Additionally, out-of-state wineries must pay Missouri excise taxes on these shipments and file annual reports, while all carriers involved must hold a new alcohol carrier license issued by the state. These changes aim to regulate the direct-to-consumer wine market by establishing clear licensing, tax, and delivery verification procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new crime called trafficking a child sex doll, which would apply to anyone who buys, possesses, sells, or distributes realistic dolls resembling minors under the age of fourteen for sexual purposes. Under the proposed law, a first-time offender could face a class E felony charge, while repeat offenders would be subject to a more severe class D felony penalty. The legislation directly affects individuals involved in the trade or ownership of these specific items and aims to criminalize the possession and distribution of such products.

Maddy summaryHB 2806 updates Missouri laws regarding when it is illegal to carry or discharge firearms in specific locations and under certain conditions. The bill prohibits individuals from bringing weapons into places like schools, churches, courthouses, and government buildings, as well as discharging firearms near schools or in public areas. It also makes it a crime to possess a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and to carry a gun while in possession of a controlled substance. However, the law includes exceptions for law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and other authorized personnel who are performing their official duties, as well as for individuals with valid concealed carry permits. Additionally, the bill clarifies that these restrictions do not apply when a person is transporting a firearm in a vehicle or on school grounds for specific lawful purposes.