Rep. Bennie Cook

Maddy summaryHB 1046 transfers responsibility for handling appeals of decisions made by high school activities associations to the Joint Committee on Education. This directly affects high school activities associations (nonprofit organizations that run interscholastic competitions for students) and the schools or students involved in disputes over their rulings. The bill requires the committee to convene within 48 hours of receiving an appeal and issue a final ruling within 24 hours, making the decision binding. The high school activities association involved in the appeal must cover the committee's expenses during the process.

Maddy summaryHB 1422 prohibits the use of pesticides and pesticide ingredients manufactured in the People's Republic of China within Missouri. This law directly affects farmers, agricultural businesses, and pesticide applicators who currently use such products in the state. The key mechanism is a clear ban on any pesticide or ingredient produced in China from being sold, distributed, or applied in Missouri. The bill does not address pesticides made elsewhere or include exemptions for specific uses.

Maddy summaryHB 1577 repeals current paid sick leave requirements and minimum wage increases, reinstating the pre-2019 minimum wage structure. It sets a $8.60 hourly minimum wage for private employers effective January 1, 2019, with annual $0.85 increases until reaching $12.00 by January 1, 2023. After 2023, future increases will tie to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) as measured by the state director. The bill explicitly excludes public employers (like government agencies and schools) from these provisions, while current paid sick leave rules are fully repealed. This bill directly affects private sector workers and employers in Missouri, reverting to a lower wage rate than the existing $13.75 minimum.

Maddy summaryHB 831 expands prescribing authority for certain nurses regarding controlled substances. It allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with specific certification to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled substances and limited Schedule II (hydrocodone) medications for hospice patients, but only under written agreements with physicians and with a 120-hour supply limit without refills. Certified nurse anesthetists (CNAs) may administer controlled substances during anesthesia care without needing special prescribing certification, but cannot prescribe them. The bill prohibits self-prescribing or prescribing for family members and requires detailed written collaborative practice agreements between APRNs and physicians.

Maddy summaryHB 311 modifies rules about confidential information gathered by probation and parole officers. It designates such information as protected (privileged) and generally prohibits its use in court or disclosure to anyone except specific parties like the defendant, their attorney, the court, or the probation division. The bill also allows courts to permit the state to access presentence investigation reports at their discretion if it serves the state's best interests. This directly affects probation officers, courts, defendants, and the state in handling sensitive case information.

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1137 transfers jurisdiction over specific Missouri lands to the U.S. federal government for designated purposes. It cedes control of land used by the U.S. as an "honor farm" near a federal penitentiary and grants concurrent jurisdiction (shared control) within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways area, both as long as the federal government owns and uses the land. The bill explicitly excludes the White River watershed and the Osage and St. Francois River watersheds from these jurisdictional changes. This is a procedural land jurisdiction bill affecting federal land management, not a policy change impacting general public or state services.

Maddy summaryHB 810 designates a specific 2.5-mile segment of U.S. Highway 60 in Newton County (from Kodiak Road east to Cemetery Road) as the "Lloyd Memorial Highway." The bill requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this highway, with all costs covered by private donations. This is a purely commemorative measure with no policy changes or direct impact on laws, regulations, or public services. It does not affect residents, businesses, or government operations beyond naming a highway segment.

Maddy summaryHB 1175, titled "Reestablishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act," prohibits Missouri state officials from enforcing federal laws, regulations, or executive orders related to firearms within Missouri. It declares that federal actions restricting firearm ownership, possession, or use in Missouri are "unauthoritative, void, and of no force," and grants Missouri exclusive authority over such matters under state law. Key provisions include imposing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation on state officials who knowingly enforce federal gun laws, allowing citizens to sue for damages, and removing sovereign immunity as a defense in such cases. The bill directly affects Missouri law enforcement officers and state agencies operating within Missouri’s borders, ensuring they cannot comply with federal firearm regulations. It does not alter Missouri’s own firearm laws but asserts state authority against federal overreach in this domain.

Maddy summaryHB 830 clarifies that quality improvement activities required under existing healthcare regulations are considered peer review committee work. This affects healthcare professionals and peer review committees by explicitly including these activities under the legal definition of peer review under Section 537.035. The bill does not create new requirements but reclassifies current quality improvement processes to align with peer review committee standards, streamlining administrative oversight. It passed committee with strong support but remains pending final legislative action.