Rep. Barry Hovis

Maddy summaryHB 2885 changes how boating registration fees are allocated in Missouri. It requires all fees collected from vessel registrations (for boats 16 feet or longer) to be deposited into the Water Patrol Division fund, with a phased transition: before July 2019, the first $2 million annually went to the general fund, but after July 2019, the first $1 million annually went to the general fund until June 2026, after which all fees must go exclusively to the Water Patrol Division. This directly affects boat owners who pay registration fees and ensures all excess fees fund water patrol operations, including safety patrols and enforcement. The bill does not alter registration requirements or fee amounts but redirects funding streams.

Maddy summaryHB 3358 changes how public prescriptive easements (rights for public use of land) transfer when property is sold. It states that such easements do not automatically bind new property owners; instead, the public must prove continuous, visible, and adverse use for ten years to reestablish the easement on the new property. The ten-year requirement resets with each new owner, and buyers can prevent reestablishment by posting signs or making oral statements. This directly affects property sellers, buyers, and local governments seeking to maintain public access rights.

Maddy summaryHB 3409 establishes that Missouri agricultural producers own data generated from their fields, livestock, and equipment, regardless of whether they operate the land directly or lease it. It requires companies collecting farm data (like equipment manufacturers or platforms) to clearly disclose what data is gathered, obtain written consent for use, and provide producers with their data in digital formats upon request. Producers also gain the right to demand data deletion and receive fair compensation for data transactions. The law prohibits companies from using hidden terms (like standard "clickwrap" agreements) to override these ownership rights without explicit, written consent.

Maddy summaryHB 2258 modifies Missouri's recreation sales tax rules to allow specific counties to impose a 1% sales tax for recreational projects. It targets counties with defined population sizes (e.g., third-class counties with 9,900-11,000 residents and adjacent second-class counties with 80,000-100,000 residents), requiring voter approval via referendum before the tax takes effect. Funds collected would go into a dedicated "County Recreation Sales Tax Trust Fund," separate from state funds, with monthly distributions to the counties. This bill directly affects eligible counties and their residents who would pay the new tax on retail purchases. The changes replace seven existing tax sections with six new provisions governing the tax's implementation and fund management.

Maddy summaryHB 2257 requires manufacturers of construction, farm, and forestry machinery to provide independent repair providers with necessary repair documentation, tools, and embedded software under "fair and reasonable terms." This directly affects independent repair shops and technicians who service equipment like tractors, skidders, and construction machinery, but not manufacturers' authorized dealers. Key provisions mandate that documentation (including software updates) be provided at no cost, without requiring internet access or authorization, and tools must be available at equitable prices. The law aims to make repairs more accessible by ensuring manufacturers share critical repair information and resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale of lab-grown meat products (referred to as "cell-cultured protein") for human consumption within the state. It directly affects food businesses, retailers, and distributors selling these products. The law amends state food safety statutes to explicitly ban such sales, with enforcement by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Violations carry penalties similar to other food safety violations under state law, and the state law overrides conflicting local regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 3105, titled the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," protects Missouri residents' right to possess firearms by declaring federal gun regulations within the state invalid if they exceed constitutional limits. It grants the state attorney general or county prosecutors authority to sue federal officials for infringing on these rights and requires disciplinary action for law enforcement officers who knowingly violate them. The bill also affirms Missouri's exclusive authority to regulate firearms, including maintaining the existing federal excise tax on firearms, which it states does not restrict lawful ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 2884 modifies how members are appointed to the St. Louis Police Retirement System Board of Trustees. It changes the mayor’s appointment process to require one one-year term and one two-year term starting October 2026 (then two-year terms for all), while prohibiting the mayor from appointing the police chief or public safety director. The bill also specifies that active police officers elect three board members (serving three-year terms with staggered start dates), and retired system members elect two additional members (with staggered terms). It includes a provision granting active elected trustees up to 30 days of paid travel time annually to attend board meetings. The changes primarily affect the composition and appointment rules of the retirement system’s governing board.

Maddy summaryHJR 153 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri courts. It would replace current election-based selection with a system where the governor appoints judges (with Senate approval) from a list of nominees recommended by a nonpartisan judicial commission. The amendment also establishes a new seven-year term for all judges, including circuit and associate circuit judges, instead of varying terms under current law. Voters in certain counties could later choose through a ballot measure whether to maintain this appointment system or revert to elections. This change would affect all judges serving in Missouri's circuit courts, associate circuit courts, and higher courts, with the proposal requiring voter approval in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 2254 requires Missouri circuit courts to immediately appoint two qualified attorneys for indigent defendants sentenced to death when imposing the sentence. These attorneys must have specific training in death penalty cases, three years of criminal litigation experience, and prior experience handling at least five postconviction motions. The bill prohibits appointed counsel from having represented the defendant at trial or on direct appeal and mandates the state public defender to cover their reasonable compensation and expenses. This law applies to all death penalty cases and postconviction motions challenging such sentences under Missouri’s rules 24.035 or 29.15.