Rep. Melissa Schmidt

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 2745 requires specific health screenings for children entering Missouri's foster care system under the Children's Division. Within 72 hours of custody, a pediatrician must conduct a physical exam, and within 30 days, a developmental/behavioral screening must be completed by a licensed professional. Foster families gain access to the child's medical records within 30 days, and screenings must follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The bill directly affects children in state custody, their foster caregivers, and healthcare providers involved in their care.

Maddy summaryHB 3077 requires all public school districts to develop and implement a mandatory curriculum on responsible social media use for students, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The curriculum must cover specific topics including social/emotional effects on teens, mental health impacts, disinformation risks, online safety, cyberbullying identification, and reporting procedures. School districts may use third-party approved materials instead of creating their own, and must also provide families with resources on parental controls, screen time limits, and digital well-being. The bill directly affects K-12 students and school districts across the state by mandating structured education on navigating social media safely.

Maddy summaryHB 2361 makes it a crime to create, share, or possess nonconsensual digital alterations of a person's sexual images (like deepfakes showing someone in explicit acts they never participated in). It targets platforms hosting user-generated content (e.g., social media, apps) by requiring them to establish a clear removal process for such content by December 2026, allowing victims to request takedowns within 48 hours. Violators face a class C felony charge, and victims can sue for $10,000 or actual damages plus legal fees. The law explicitly states disclaimers about lack of consent do not prevent criminal liability. It directly affects individuals whose images are manipulated without consent and platforms that host such content.

Maddy summaryHB 2921 requires commercial websites and social media platforms to verify users are 18+ before accessing content where over one-third is "sexual material harmful to minors" (defined as content exploiting minors' sexual interests without serious artistic or educational value). It mandates reasonable age verification methods like government ID or digital ID, but prohibits retaining user identifying information. The law exempts bona fide news organizations and internet service providers from liability for third-party content. Violations could trigger daily penalties up to $10,000 per day, enforced by the attorney general.

Maddy summaryHB 2398 sets safety standards for summer and day camps offering aquatic activities in the state. It requires camps to provide Red Cross-certified lifeguards at specific ratios (two for the first 25 children, plus one for every 15 additional children), mandate swim tests for all participants, and require U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for children unable to swim across a pool. The bill prohibits camps from using hot tubs, spas, saunas, or portable wading pools for children’s activities. Additionally, camps must maintain emergency plans for medical, aquatic, and other crises, and all staff must be trained in CPR and AED use.

Maddy summaryHB 3188, the "Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act," would have established a pilot program for public schools to integrate media literacy skills into curricula. It required the education department to select 5-7 diverse school districts for a two-year pilot (2027-2029), focusing on teaching students to analyze news, visual media, digital safety, and online misinformation. The program would have developed guidelines covering topics like digital ethics, algorithm awareness, and constitutional free speech rights, with districts reporting outcomes to the state. However, the bill was introduced in February 2026 and withdrawn the same day, so it never became law and no schools participated.

Maddy summaryHB 2294, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers at abortion facilities to provide immediate medical care and hospital transfer to any infant born alive during or after an abortion or attempted abortion. The bill mandates providers to exercise the same professional care for such infants as they would for any newborn, and failure to report violations could result in criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fine). It also establishes civil liability for causing death or failing to follow care protocols, allowing victims’ families to pursue lawsuits for injuries or wrongful death. The law directly affects healthcare providers at abortion facilities, patients who undergo abortions, and families of infants born alive during abortion procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 737 replaces four existing Missouri statutes with new provisions governing financial accountability for children in state custody. The bill directly affects children under the Children's Division, their parents, and financial representatives (like fiduciaries or payees) handling funds for these children. Key mechanisms require all money received for a child - such as benefits from Social Security or Veterans Administration - to be accounted for in the child’s name and used *only* for "unmet needs" like tutoring, transportation, housing preparation, or technology (not for foster care costs or general maintenance). The law also mandates annual reviews to identify new benefits and ensures the division only acts as a representative payee when no other suitable candidate exists.

Maddy summaryHB 1474 requires physicians prescribing abortion medication to provide patients with a written notice about potential reversal methods and direct them to a specific website and hotline (abortionpillreversal.com or 877-558-0333). It mandates that this information be displayed as bilingual signs (8.5x11 inches, 16-point font) in all secondary school restrooms, higher education facilities, and hospital emergency rooms. The bill also requires state health departments to maintain and update this information annually. These provisions directly affect healthcare providers, schools, and hospitals in the state, focusing on the dissemination of information about medication abortion reversal.