Rep. Melissa Schmidt

Maddy summaryHB 1663 requires schools to restrict athletic participation to students competing in sports designated for their biological sex, as documented on their birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite biological sex unless no equivalent sport is available for the student's assigned sex. The bill defines "biological sex" based on reproductive biology at birth and specifies that birth certificate documentation must reflect the sex assigned at birth or correct a clerical error. Violations could result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies. The law expires in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 designates the first week of June each year as "June's Week" in Missouri to honor June, a Missouri child with a rare pediatric cancer (ATRT-B), and to raise public awareness about rare pediatric diseases. The bill encourages Missourians to participate in events that promote early symptom recognition and support families affected by these conditions. It is a symbolic observance with no new funding or regulatory changes, solely focused on commemoration and awareness. This is a procedural resolution, not a substantive policy bill.

Maddy summaryHJR 115 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a property tax exemption for Missouri disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It defines a "disabled veteran" as a Missouri resident honorably separated from military service with a 100% VA-certified service-connected disability, and a "homestead" as their primary residence (not exceeding 2.5 acres). The exemption would apply to real property used as a primary home, excluding portions rented for more than six months annually. This amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and would replace the current property tax exemption provisions in Missouri's constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 3470 establishes the "Hope Missouri" program within the Missouri Department of Social Services to help residents overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, such as unstable housing, lack of employment, or insufficient skills. The program coordinates state agencies and community partners (including nonprofits and private organizations) to provide holistic support through a dedicated case management system for referrals and service coordination. Participation is voluntary for eligible Missouri residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents meeting age requirements (18+ or younger with parental consent). The law requires state agencies to use existing resources to implement the program, focusing on connecting individuals with resources to achieve immediate and long-term goals.

Maddy summaryHB 2033, known as the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," prohibits health care providers in Missouri from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to individuals under 18 years old. The law includes a temporary exception allowing continued treatment for minors who began such care before August 28, 2023, until March 1, 2027. Violations would be deemed unprofessional conduct, risking license revocation for providers, and could lead to civil lawsuits against them. This bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse minors under 18 seeking medical transition care and the health care providers who treat them in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 2032 requires companies operating "AI companion" chatbots in Missouri to implement strict age verification before users can access them. These chatbots are defined as AI systems designed to simulate emotional interactions like friendship or therapy, not limited-purpose tools. Covered entities must: (1) require user accounts, (2) verify ages using government IDs or reliable third-party methods (not just birth dates), and (3) periodically re-verify users. The bill prohibits designing chatbots that risk encouraging minors to engage in sexual content or self-harm, with fines up to $100,000 per violation. It applies to all such chatbots operating within Missouri, effective August 2026 for existing accounts.

Maddy summaryHB 2672 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Personal Property Tax Credit Act," allowing counties to offer a tax credit on personal property taxes for qualifying disabled veterans who own up to two vehicles. The credit equals the veteran's U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (up to 100%), directly benefiting Missouri veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating who reside in adopting counties. Counties must voluntarily adopt the credit via local ordinance, and the credit reduces the veteran's tax bill without changing the vehicle's assessed value or tax rate. Veterans must provide annual proof of disability rating and vehicle ownership, and the credit does not apply to taxes for the blind pension fund. Counties decide whether to implement the credit, with no requirement for statewide adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 3078 would allow Missouri counties to provide a property tax credit for disabled veterans with a 100% VA disability rating. It applies to primary residences valued at $500,000 or less, covering all local property taxes (except state blind pension fund levies). Counties must opt in via vote, and the credit passes to surviving spouses who remain in the home and don’t remarry. The credit is non-refundable, does not replace other tax relief, and is not an exemption from property taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 2362 creates a property tax exemption for Missouri disabled veterans, reducing their primary residence property taxes by a percentage equal to their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., a 50% rating reduces taxes by 50%). It directly affects Missouri residents who are disabled veterans (with VA-certified disability ratings), own their primary residence, and file annual applications with VA documentation by April 1. The exemption is proportional to the veteran’s disability rating (up to 100% for 100% rating) and extends to surviving spouses who retain ownership and residency without remarrying. To qualify, applicants must submit proof of disability rating, ownership, and primary residence occupancy each year.

Maddy summaryHB 2588 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Homestead Tax Credit Act," allowing Missouri counties to offer a real property tax credit to eligible disabled veterans who own their primary residence. It directly affects veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, whose primary home has a market value of $500,000 or less. The credit equals all local property taxes paid (excluding state blind pension fund levies) on the qualified residence, is non-refundable, and carries over to a surviving spouse who remains in the home and doesn't remarry. Counties must adopt the program, and veterans must elect to participate; it does not reduce assessed property value or affect bonded indebtedness calculations.