Rep. Bennie Cook

Maddy summaryHB 3033 renames a specific roadway in Phelps County, Missouri (not Texas), from its current designation to "State Route 137" along its path from Highway 63 northward. The bill directly affects local government agencies and road signage in Phelps County by mandating that all political subdivisions use this new designation. It requires official records, maps, and signage to reflect "State Route 137" and prohibits any other designation for that roadway segment. This is a purely administrative change with no policy or funding provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3032 strengthens fraud prevention in Missouri's workers' compensation system by adding criminal penalties for false claims and insurance violations. It makes it a felony to submit multiple claims for the same injury, present false information to obtain benefits, or intentionally refuse valid claims, with fines paid back to the workers' compensation fund. Employers with five or more employees (or construction employers with five or more) must carry insurance, and failure to do so results in escalating penalties. The bill also creates a dedicated fraud unit within the workers' compensation division to investigate violations and enforce these new provisions.

Maddy summaryHJR 170 is a constitutional amendment that updates Missouri's constitution to replace references to the "Highways and Transportation Commission" with the "Department of Transportation" (DOT). It transfers direct authority over transportation systems from the commission to the DOT director, who would be appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation. The bill does not change funding mechanisms or policy decisions but formally shifts administrative responsibility to the DOT under gubernatorial leadership. This is a procedural change to clarify governance structure, not a substantive policy shift.

Maddy summaryHB 3081 transfers jurisdiction over specific Missouri lands to the United States for federal use. It cedes land currently or potentially used as an "honor farm" for a federal penitentiary and grants shared control within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways area. The bill explicitly excludes the White River, Osage River, and St. Francois River watersheds from these jurisdictional changes. This bill, introduced in January 2026, directly affects federal facilities and national park administration areas while maintaining state jurisdiction over designated watersheds.

Maddy summaryHB 2377 modifies how courts handle defendants who lack mental capacity to understand legal proceedings or assist in their defense. For nonviolent misdemeanors, it requires a 14-day mental health assessment and allows charges to be dismissed after six months of successful community treatment. For felonies or violent misdemeanors, it mandates examinations by private specialists (not state employees) within 60 days, with detailed reports on fitness to proceed and treatment recommendations. The bill also establishes new protocols for community-based treatment instead of jail when appropriate and requires pretrial evaluations to support mental disease/defect defense pleas. These changes aim to balance defendant care with court proceedings while reducing unnecessary incarceration.

Maddy summaryHB 1986 repeals a Missouri law that previously classified allowing a ballot to be seen as a class four election offense (a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail or a $2,500 fine). The bill removes subsection (14) from Section 115.637, which specifically prohibited voters from letting others see their ballot "with the intent of letting it be known how he or she is about to vote or has voted." This change directly affects voters by eliminating a legal risk for showing how they marked their ballot. The bill does not alter other election rules or penalties for related offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 1979 defines "community paramedic services" as non-emergency care provided by certified paramedics outside 911 systems, following approved protocols. It establishes certification requirements: paramedics must hold current paramedic licenses, complete department-approved training programs, and submit applications. The bill also requires ambulance services providing these services outside their primary area to coordinate with local providers through written agreements and notify other services about community paramedic activities. This directly affects paramedics, ambulance services, and medical directors overseeing these non-emergency care programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1984 revises Missouri's law on "keeping a dangerous dog," primarily affecting dog owners and animal control authorities. It defines the offense as owning a dog that bites a person, domestic animal, or livestock without provocation (either once or after a prior bite), with penalties escalating from an infraction to a class D felony based on injury severity or prior incidents. The bill mandates immediate seizure and impoundment of such dogs for 10 days after a bite, followed by destruction unless the owner appeals in court within 30 days. Owners may also be ordered to pay medical bills for victims or replacement costs for dead livestock, but owners are exempt from liability if the victim was engaged in criminal activity (excluding minor trespass).

Maddy summaryHB 1982 designates March 26th of each year as "Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)/Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS) Awareness Day" in Missouri. The bill encourages Missouri citizens to participate in events and activities raising awareness about these specific pediatric disorders. It does not create new programs, funding, or requirements - only establishes a symbolic observance date. The measure directly affects Missouri residents by designating an annual day for public education on these conditions. This is a procedural bill with no substantive policy changes beyond the awareness designation.

Maddy summaryHB 1976 updates Missouri law to allow pharmacists to order and administer most vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, excluding specific vaccines like cholera, monkeypox, and those jointly excluded by state boards after January 1, 2023. It directly affects pharmacists and patients aged seven or older (or the age recommended by the CDC for a vaccine), expanding pharmacists' role in vaccine administration. Key provisions require joint rulemaking by the pharmacy board and the healing arts board to define covered vaccines, while maintaining existing restrictions on certain diseases and emergency protocols. The bill removes prior limitations on pharmacist vaccine authority, making it a concrete policy change to increase vaccine access through pharmacies.