Rep. Barry Hovis

Maddy summaryHB 1504 modifies contribution rates for the Public School Retirement System of the City of St. Louis, directly affecting public school employees in St. Louis who participate in the retirement system. It sets employee contributions at 5% for pre-2018 hires, increasing by 0.5% annually until reaching 9% by 2022, while new hires (2018+) pay 9% immediately. The bill also adjusts employer contributions, requiring 16% of total member compensation in 2018, decreasing by 0.5% annually to 12.5% by 2025. These changes aim to balance system funding through structured, predictable contribution adjustments for both employees and employers.

Maddy summaryHB 463 creates a new licensing system for hemp beverage businesses in Missouri, directly affecting manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of drinkable hemp products. The bill establishes three specific licenses (manufacturer, wholesaler, retailer) and requires hemp beverage retailers to hold an active alcohol license, while banning hemp businesses from also holding cannabis licenses. Key provisions include banning the sale of hemp beverages made outside the U.S., requiring businesses to comply with THC limits (under 0.3% delta-9 THC), and defining "hemp beverage" as products containing hemp plant parts or concentrates but excluding cannabis flower. The law aims to regulate this emerging market under the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.

Maddy summaryHB 1551 modifies Missouri's state legal expense fund to clarify when moneys in the fund can pay claims against the state or its employees. It specifies that the fund covers certain claims, including those against state agencies or employees acting in official duties, with strict payment limits (e.g., $1 million per claim for physicians in some roles, $500,000 for others). The bill does not address wrongful convictions, as its title incorrectly states; instead, it details eligibility and caps for legal claims paid from the fund. It applies directly to state entities, employees, and specific health care providers working under state contracts or in public health roles. The bill is currently pending in committee (Referred: Emerging Issues, 2025-05-15).

Maddy summaryHB 1302 updates eligibility rules for local governments to impose transient guest taxes (tourism taxes) in specific cities and counties. It defines 30 detailed population and county classification criteria that determine which municipalities qualify for these taxes, such as cities with populations between 1,850-1,950 or counties with specific population ranges. The bill does not change tax rates or create new taxes but specifies exactly which local jurisdictions meet the qualifying conditions. This is a procedural change affecting only the listed city and county types, with no broader policy impact described.

Maddy summaryHB 146 requires manufacturers of farm, construction, and forestry machinery to provide independent repair shops with the same diagnostic information, service parts, and repair tools they offer to their own authorized repair providers. It mandates these materials be available at "fair and reasonable terms," meaning no excessive pricing, with digital tools and software updates provided at no cost (except for printed documentation). The bill specifically covers equipment like tractors, skidders, and construction heavy machinery that relies on embedded digital electronics, ensuring repair shops can access necessary information without proprietary barriers. This directly affects independent repair businesses and equipment owners who rely on third-party services for maintenance.

Maddy summaryHB 228 would allow Harrisonville and Jackson (cities meeting specific population thresholds) to impose a 6% tax on hotel and motel stays for tourism promotion, but only after voters approve it in an election. The tax would apply to short-term stays (31 days or less), be added separately to room rates, and must fund tourism marketing - never general city expenses. Cities must submit a specific ballot question asking voters to approve the tax rate, and it takes effect only if a majority votes "yes." This bill directly affects hotels/motels in these cities and their transient guests, with no immediate financial impact until voter approval is secured.

Maddy summaryHB 862 modifies minimum prison terms for felony offenders in Missouri. It requires non-dangerous felony offenders with one or two prior prison terms to serve at least 50% of their sentence (or 40% if under 70), those with three or more prior terms to serve 80%, and dangerous felony offenders to serve 85% before becoming eligible for parole. The bill sets a 70-year age limit and mandates a minimum 40% sentence served, with life sentences calculated as 30 years and sentences over 75 years capped at 75 years. It also creates a sentencing advisory commission to study sentencing disparities across Missouri courts.

Maddy summaryHB 976 updates Missouri's public employee retirement system rules by defining automatic membership for regular workers, police, and firefighters based on their employer's coverage decisions. It specifies retirement payouts as a percentage of final average salary multiplied by years of service (e.g., 1% for regular employees, 1.25% for some firefighters), with temporary supplements for early retirees under 62 or 65. The bill directly affects all public employees in Missouri cities, counties, and local governments that participate in the retirement system. Key provisions include automatic enrollment for new hires and different benefit tiers based on job type and employer coverage choices.

Maddy summaryHB 1169 requires courts to appoint two qualified lawyers for indigent defendants challenging a death sentence in Missouri. Lawyers must have specialized death penalty training, three years of criminal litigation experience, and specific case history (like handling five postconviction motions or five felony appeals). The bill prohibits lawyers who represented the defendant at trial from taking these cases and mandates that defendants cannot reject appointed counsel without understanding legal consequences. This law applies to all death penalty appeals under Missouri's postconviction rules (24.035 and 29.15), ensuring standardized legal representation for defendants in capital cases.

Maddy summaryHB 149 allows specific counties in Missouri to impose a 1% sales tax for recreation purposes, targeting counties with populations between 10,000-15,000 (third class) or 58,000-70,000 (second class) that share a judicial circuit. The tax requires voter approval via ballot measure in each county and funds must be deposited into a separate "County Recreation Sales Tax Trust Fund" for recreation projects like parks and facilities. Revenue collected stays distinct from state funds, with counties receiving monthly distributions from the trust. The tax expires after 25 years unless renewed by voters through another ballot measure, which would extend it for up to 10 years.