Rep. Jeff Knight

Maddy summaryHB 969 modifies Missouri vehicle registration laws to protect the privacy of specific law enforcement personnel. It requires the Department of Revenue to keep home addresses confidential for active or retired parole officers, peace officers, judges, and their immediate families in public vehicle records. The bill also updates odometer information retention rules for newer vehicles and adds requirements for insurance companies to notify owners about salvage vehicle procedures. Additionally, it allows optional $1 donations to a blindness program fund during registration.

Maddy summaryHB 895 allows ambulance and fire protection districts in specific counties (with defined population sizes, like counties over 184,000 but under 188,000 residents) to propose a 0.5% sales tax to fund their operations, subject to voter approval. The tax requires a majority vote in a general or special election, with ballot language clearly stating it will reduce local property taxes by 50% of the sales tax revenue collected. Revenue from the tax must go into a dedicated trust fund and cannot be used for other purposes, while the district must lower its property tax rate to offset the new sales tax. This bill directly affects eligible fire/ambulance districts and their local taxpayers in the specified counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill blocks local governments from creating rules that restrict the sale or use of vehicles, tools (like generators or lawn mowers), or farm equipment based on their fuel source. It directly affects cities, towns, and businesses that might otherwise implement fuel-type restrictions. The law prohibits any regulation targeting gasoline, electric, or other fuel types for these specific items. It applies to motor vehicles, common tools, and farm equipment as defined in existing law.

Maddy summaryHB 1168 allows eligible Missouri businesses to keep a portion of state income tax withheld from new employees' paychecks for 5-6 years, instead of remitting it to the state. To qualify, businesses must create a minimum number of new jobs (10+ or 100+ for higher rates) with wages meeting specific county averages, and commit to capital investments (e.g., $100,000 in rural areas or $500 million for manufacturing). The bill also provides additional annual tax credits of up to 6% of new payroll for qualifying companies, capped at 9% total annual benefits, with special rules for large manufacturing investments. This directly affects businesses creating jobs in Missouri, particularly in rural zones or designated economic areas, by offering tax incentives tied to job creation and capital spending.

Maddy summaryHB 1511 creates a state tax credit program for Missouri-based defense contractors converting to produce critical materials like chemicals, metals, and rare earth minerals. It directly affects nontraditional defense contractors (as defined under federal law) that incur costs to shift production toward reducing reliance on foreign-sourced materials for energy or defense projects. The bill allows these companies to claim tax credits equal to 15% of their qualified conversion costs over four years, capped at $40 million annually across all taxpayers. Funds for the program are supported by a new $10 million "Grants for Independence from Foreign Influence Fund," which also enables grants up to $500,000 per company for conversion costs. The program expires automatically six years after implementation unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 710 sets new standards for telemedicine in Missouri to ensure safe patient care. It requires physicians to establish a valid physician-patient relationship before providing telemedicine services, which can be done through in-person visits, consultations with other doctors, or specific telemedicine encounters meeting evidence-based guidelines. The bill prohibits prescribing medications or treatments based solely on internet requests or questionnaires without this established relationship, mandating thorough medical history reviews, appropriate diagnosis, and documented follow-up. These rules apply directly to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other telehealth providers prescribing medications via telemedicine. The law aims to align telemedicine practices with in-person care standards while allowing exceptions for hospital, hospice, and collaborative care settings.

Maddy summaryHB 1273 prohibits public school districts and charter schools from joining or paying membership fees to statewide athletic associations that allow playoff-style competitions between public and private schools. The bill directly affects public schools and charter schools by restricting their financial ties to these associations. It creates a clear policy change: schools cannot fund or participate in associations that facilitate mixed public-private athletic competition.

Maddy summaryHB 985 repeals a tax on bingo card sales previously imposed at two-tenths of one cent per card. This bill directly affects bingo suppliers who distributed cards in Missouri, removing a tax requirement they were obligated to pay. The repeal eliminates the specific tax rate and associated reporting requirements for suppliers, though the bill retains existing licensing rules for bingo equipment suppliers. The change simplifies financial obligations for suppliers by removing this tax burden.

Maddy summaryHB 995 requires all Missouri public and private schools receiving state funding to maintain lead levels below 5 parts per billion in drinking water. It mandates schools to test all drinking water outlets (including fountains, taps, and ice machines) starting in 2024, with priority for early childhood and elementary schools. Schools must remediate contamination through pipe replacement, certified filters, or bottled water if lead exceeds limits, and notify parents/staff within seven business days of test results above 5 ppb. The law also requires annual testing of 25% of outlets and public posting of results, with full remediation required by August 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 635 exempts certain used tangible personal property from Missouri's sales tax, specifically targeting materials and equipment used directly in manufacturing, processing, or recycling operations. It directly affects businesses - including manufacturers, recyclers, and agricultural operations - that purchase items like machinery parts, repair materials, or recovered materials for use in production. The bill clarifies existing exemptions, ensuring tax-free purchases for goods that become part of final products sold for consumption or for use in facilities recovering materials into usable products. This policy change reduces tax burdens on operational inputs for these businesses, aligning with prior court interpretations of manufacturing exemptions.