Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg

Maddy summaryHB 1222 would prevent SNAP (food assistance) recipients from using benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. It defines "candy" as sugar-based products like chocolate bars and "soft drinks" as sweetened nonalcoholic beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or those with over 50% juice). The bill requires the state social services director to seek a federal waiver to exclude these items from SNAP-eligible foods, requesting annual renewals if denied. If approved, SNAP benefits could no longer cover these specific food items.

Maddy summaryHB 39 prohibits employers from firing employees who store a legally owned firearm in a locked vehicle on the employer's premises, provided the firearm is not visible and the employee is not legally barred from possessing firearms. It directly affects employees who legally carry firearms and work at locations allowing vehicle access on-site. The bill requires vehicles to be locked, firearms to be concealed, and employees to legally possess firearms to qualify for this protection. Employers also cannot face civil liability for injuries resulting from firearms stored compliantly under this law.

Maddy summaryHB 538 requires all school staff and volunteers who work directly with students - including bus drivers, teachers, aides, and mentors - to undergo criminal background checks before being left alone with students. The bill mandates that these checks, including fingerprinting and state/federal record searches, be completed annually and remain valid for one year, transferable between school districts. It also specifies that school districts must conduct annual checks against criminal history, sex offender, and child abuse registries for all staff, with fees paid by applicants. The law applies to all public and charter schools in Missouri, affecting anyone interacting with students in educational settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 requires the Department of Social Services to implement and report on strategies supporting two-parent family formation under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Starting December 2026, the department must file annual reports detailing progress on TANF's "goal four" (two-parent family support), outreach to other agencies about policies affecting fathers, and analyses of child support guidelines that may harm non-custodial parents' ability to maintain housing or employment. The bill creates an "Office of Fatherhood" to assess state programs for fatherhood barriers and fund initiatives like marriage education, shared parenting mediation, and programs for incarcerated fathers. It also mandates reviews of child support enforcement practices and partnerships with community organizations to promote two-parent family stability.

Maddy summaryHB 35 bans health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing hormone treatments and puberty blockers for gender transition to individuals under 18, with an exception for those already receiving such care before August 28, 2023. Violations could result in license revocation for providers. The bill also creates a new legal pathway allowing affected minors to sue providers for up to 15 years after turning 21, with specific damage awards and a rebuttable presumption of harm if infertility occurs. Exceptions apply for medically verified conditions like disorders of sex development.

Maddy summaryHB 219 replaces multiple existing statutes with new provisions primarily defining terms and updating legal standards related to sexually oriented businesses and criminal offenses involving vulnerable persons. It establishes clear definitions for "nudity," "seminude," "sexually oriented business," and "specified criminal activity" (including offenses like child sexual abuse material, indecency with a child, and prostitution). The bill modifies how these definitions apply to business licensing, criminal penalties, and the closure of establishments deemed "nuisances" under these standards. It does not create new child protection programs but refines existing legal frameworks for regulating adult entertainment businesses and prosecuting related crimes. The bill passed the Missouri House unanimously in February 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1156 changes Missouri's primary election rules by requiring voters to be officially affiliated with a political party to vote in that party's primary, based on their registration status as of the 23rd Tuesday before the election. The bill also restricts public access to detailed voter information (like full addresses), allowing only specific entities like candidates or parties to obtain limited data (names, addresses, party affiliation) for election purposes, with strict limits on commercial use or public internet release. It includes new protections for vulnerable individuals (e.g., domestic violence victims, undercover officers), enabling them to petition courts to close their residential addresses in voter records to prevent safety risks. Additionally, voters changing party affiliation within 23 weeks of a primary election must retain their prior affiliation for that election, with changes taking effect only after the primary.

Maddy summaryHB 1038 prohibits health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries on individuals under 18 and restricts prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to those under 18, with exceptions for certain medical conditions (like disorders of sex development) and a temporary allowance for existing treatments until March 2026. Violations could result in license revocation for providers. The bill also creates a new legal pathway for minors to sue providers for harm related to these treatments, including a rebuttable presumption of harm if infertility occurs, with specific rules for damages and confidentiality. It directly affects minors seeking gender transition care, their health care providers, and the legal landscape around such medical decisions.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish strict spending limits for Missouri's state government. It requires that annual spending not exceed a baseline amount (based on prior year appropriations) adjusted by the state's population growth rate (e.g., 100% of prior spending for population decline, 101% for small growth). It creates a "Tax Reform Fund" within the state treasury to cover budget shortfalls only when spending limits are triggered, using revenues from specific tax changes. The amendment also mandates a two-thirds legislative vote to temporarily exceed the spending limit, with the exception lasting no more than 12 months. This directly affects state budgeting decisions and future tax policy implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 100 temporarily lowers Missouri's top income tax rate to 4.95% for tax years 2023-2025, then sets a permanent 4% rate starting January 1, 2026. It allows for future rate reductions (down to 0.1% per year) if state revenue exceeds prior years by specific dollar thresholds. The bill affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax by modifying how income is taxed across different brackets. The legislation is currently pending in committee after being postponed for further review in February 2025.