Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg

Maddy summaryHCR 4 designates the last full week in April each year as "Infertility Awareness Week" in Missouri. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public understanding of infertility, reduce stigma, and highlight the emotional, financial, and medical challenges faced by individuals and couples affected by infertility - impacting millions of Missourians. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change healthcare access; instead, it formally recognizes the week to support awareness efforts led by local and national organizations. The resolution was introduced by Representative Murray and sent to the governor for approval.

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 1175, titled "Reestablishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act," prohibits Missouri state officials from enforcing federal laws, regulations, or executive orders related to firearms within Missouri. It declares that federal actions restricting firearm ownership, possession, or use in Missouri are "unauthoritative, void, and of no force," and grants Missouri exclusive authority over such matters under state law. Key provisions include imposing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation on state officials who knowingly enforce federal gun laws, allowing citizens to sue for damages, and removing sovereign immunity as a defense in such cases. The bill directly affects Missouri law enforcement officers and state agencies operating within Missouri’s borders, ensuring they cannot comply with federal firearm regulations. It does not alter Missouri’s own firearm laws but asserts state authority against federal overreach in this domain.

Maddy summaryHB 75, the "Missouri Religious Freedom Protection Act," prevents Missouri public officials from issuing orders that restrict religious services or meetings at places of worship or for religious groups. It directly affects religious organizations and places of worship by requiring public officials to allow such gatherings, unless the group is planning violence (as excluded in subsection 5). The bill explicitly states that places of worship must still comply with standard building and fire safety codes (subsection 6). This legislation focuses on ensuring religious assembly rights while maintaining public safety and regulatory compliance.

Maddy summaryHJR 54 proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would restrict abortion access, allowing it only in cases of medical emergency, fetal anomaly, rape, or incest (with a 12-week gestation limit and 48-hour law enforcement reporting required for rape/incest). It also prohibits abortions based on disability diagnoses, bans public funding for most abortions, and prohibits gender transition surgeries, cross-sex hormones, and puberty-blocking drugs for minors under 18 (except for treating certain medical conditions). The amendment includes a provision ensuring access to care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and medical emergencies, and would require voter approval to take effect. This measure would directly affect individuals seeking reproductive health services, medical providers, and minors seeking gender-related care in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 927 designates June as "Fathership Month" in Missouri to promote awareness of fathers' roles in children's lives and establishes the "Missouri Fathership Project" within the Department of Social Services. The bill creates a grant program to fund community organizations that hire "fathership project specialists" who help fathers rebuild relationships with children, navigate court systems, and overcome barriers to reunification. These specialists serve as direct liaisons for fathers in family court cases, developing personalized plans to address relationship breakdowns and support compliance with court-ordered case plans. The initiative directly affects fathers seeking to reconnect with children, particularly those involved in family court or child support cases, and is funded through state appropriations and dedicated grants.

Maddy summaryHB 195, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers in abortion settings to provide the same medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any other newborn, including immediate hospital transport. It mandates providers to report failures to follow these standards to law enforcement and imposes criminal penalties - up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines - for non-compliance, while classifying intentional killing of such a child as first-degree murder. The bill also establishes civil liability for causing death or failing to comply with these provisions, allowing victims’ families to seek damages for injury or death. It directly affects abortion providers, patients, and children born alive during abortion procedures, with no impact on natural miscarriages before fetal viability.

Maddy summaryHB 764 establishes a mandatory registration process for children's homes that care for foster children, directly affecting these facilities and the qualified associations that oversee them. Facilities must annually register with a qualified association (meeting specific criteria like 20+ years of operation and published safety standards), providing detailed information about their staff, children in care, and compliance with health and safety laws. The bill requires each facility to create a written contract with a child's parent or guardian outlining services, charges, disciplinary procedures, and medical consent, with copies filed with the association. It also creates a Child Protection Board within the Department of Social Services to review abuse/neglect complaints and oversee the registration system.

Maddy summaryHB 945 establishes a "Youth Bill of Rights" for foster children in state custody, outlining 16 specific protections. It requires foster children and their caregivers to receive an age-appropriate orientation about these rights, and mandates that all child welfare agencies post the rights and make them accessible online. Key provisions include the right to stay in their school of origin, maintain family contact, attend court hearings, and receive a transition plan when aging out of care. The bill also requires child welfare agencies to develop permanency and case plans within 12 months of a child entering foster care, addressing medical, emotional, and educational needs.

Maddy summaryHB 408 requires Missouri school districts to adopt written policies banning student use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices during regular class time starting in the 2025-26 school year. The policy must prohibit devices in classrooms unless authorized by a principal, require students to turn off and store devices during instruction, and include exceptions for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or individualized health care plans. It also mandates guidelines for device use during non-instructional activities like field trips. The law directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Missouri.