Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg

Maddy summaryHB 1948 designates June as "Fatherhood Engagement Month" in Missouri and creates the "Missouri Fatherhood Engagement Project" within the Department of Social Services. The project provides grants to community organizations to hire specialists who help fathers rebuild relationships with children through counseling, navigating court systems, and overcoming barriers to reunification. These specialists work directly with fathers in family court cases to develop personalized plans for reconnecting with children and meeting court-ordered requirements. Organizations receiving grants must report annually on outcomes like father-child reunifications and case plan completions.

Maddy summaryHJR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri. It would require the governor to appoint judges from three nominees provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission for vacancies in the supreme court, court of appeals, and St. Louis city/Jackson County circuit courts. For other judicial circuits, voters would decide at elections whether to adopt this appointment method (instead of the current system) or maintain the existing process, with changes allowed only once every four years. The amendment must be approved by voters in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2618 establishes the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact" to allow licensed respiratory therapists from one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. It creates a "Compact Privilege" enabling therapists to work across state lines while preserving each state's authority to regulate licensure and protect public safety. The bill directly affects respiratory therapists, patients seeking care across state lines, and active military members or spouses who may need to relocate. Key mechanisms include requiring states to join a Commission data system for license verification, standardizing criminal background checks, and ensuring states maintain oversight of disciplinary actions. This aims to address workforce shortages and improve access to respiratory therapy services without altering existing state licensing standards.

Maddy summaryHB 2342 requires all new playgrounds built by state or local governments to meet the 2010 ADA Accessibility Standards and U.S. Department of Justice regulations for accessibility. This applies to both playground equipment and surfaces, ensuring they are usable by people with disabilities. The law affects state agencies and local governments constructing new public playgrounds on or after the bill's effective date. It directly impacts the design and construction requirements for these public facilities.

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 1787 requires public school districts to observe general municipal election day and general election day as school holidays starting in the 2026-27 school year. This law directly affects all public school districts in the state by mandating that these election days be included in school calendars as non-instructional days. The key provision amends school calendar requirements to specifically add these election days to the list of required holidays, alongside existing days like Labor Day and Thanksgiving. This change applies to all school districts except those operating year-round or granted exemptions for unusual circumstances. The bill takes effect for the 2026-27 school year and beyond.

Maddy summaryHB 2241 establishes a registration system for certain children's homes that wish to accept foster children. It requires these facilities to register annually with an approved child care organization meeting strict criteria (20+ years established, written safety/child welfare standards, and oversight capacity). Registered homes must submit detailed annual reports on staffing, capacity, compliance with safety laws, and foster children's information, and provide written contracts with parents/guardians outlining services, fees, and medical consent procedures. The bill also creates a new "Child Protection Board" within the state social services department to oversee registered facilities and review abuse/neglect complaints. This directly affects children's homes, foster care agencies, and the families placing children in these facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2695 modifies Missouri's correctional credit system by creating two distinct types of credit for offenders: "good time" for behavioral compliance and "earned time" for participation in rehabilitation programs. Offenders serving sentences longer than one year (excluding death penalty or life without parole) can earn up to 54 days of good time credit annually for exemplary conduct and up to 10 days of earned time credit for every 30 days in approved programs like education, job training, or substance abuse treatment. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to publish policies on these credits, notify inmates about eligibility, and allows petitioning for earned time credit for programs completed after 2010 starting January 1, 2027. Offenders sentenced to death or life without parole are excluded from credit but their program participation is still documented.

Maddy summaryHB 2878 sets minimum requirements for school calendars in Missouri public school districts. It mandates a minimum of 169 school days (or 142 days for four-day-week districts) and 1,044 hours of student attendance annually, plus 36 make-up hours for weather-related closures. The bill prohibits districts from opening before 21 calendar days prior to the first Monday in September, with limited exceptions requiring public notice and board approval for earlier dates. Violations result in the state withholding 25% of a district’s annual state funding for each day of non-compliance. The law does not apply to year-round schools or districts with state board-approved exemptions for unusual circumstances.

Maddy summaryMissouri HB 1854, known as the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," prohibits health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs to individuals under 18 years old. The law directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming medical care and their licensed health care providers. It includes a grandfather clause allowing continued treatment for minors already receiving such care before August 28, 2023, until March 1, 2027. Violations would be considered unprofessional conduct, potentially leading to license revocation, and could also form the basis for legal claims against providers.