Rep. David Dolan

Maddy summaryHB 1908 ensures Missouri courts can grant a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation even if one party is pregnant. The bill explicitly states that pregnancy status does not prevent a court from entering such a judgment, removing any prior barrier. Courts must still meet standard requirements, including residency, the marriage being irretrievably broken (for divorce) or not (for legal separation), and arrangements for children and property. This change directly affects individuals in Missouri family court cases involving pregnancy who seek divorce or legal separation.

Maddy summaryHB 2163 creates a program for nonviolent offenders with serious substance abuse issues (who haven't been convicted of a dangerous felony) to receive treatment instead of immediate incarceration. Eligible offenders undergo 12-24 months of institutional drug/alcohol treatment, with their sentence suspended until program completion. Upon successful completion, participants may petition their sentencing court for limited driving privileges to access work, school, medical care, or treatment programs. The bill replaces three existing Missouri law sections to establish this treatment pathway and driving privilege process.

Maddy summaryHB 1694, the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation," creates a legal defense for Missouri residents and businesses targeted by lawsuits alleging website accessibility violations under the ADA or state law. It defines "abusive litigation" as lawsuits primarily seeking monetary settlement rather than improving accessibility, and allows Missouri residents or the Attorney General to challenge such suits in court. Key provisions include a 90-day window for defendants to fix accessibility issues before new claims can be deemed abusive, and courts may award attorney fees and punitive damages (up to three times fees) against parties filing abusive lawsuits. The bill expires if the federal DOJ issues website accessibility standards under the ADA. It directly affects Missouri-based website operators and plaintiffs filing accessibility lawsuits in state courts.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2901 removes the January 15, 2023, expiration date for the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, ensuring the committee continues operating indefinitely. This committee, composed of seven Senate and seven House members with balanced party representation, studies child abuse reporting systems, recommends improvements to foster care and removal decisions, and assesses resource needs for child welfare. The bill does not change the committee’s duties or structure - only its permanent continuation. It directly affects the committee’s ongoing work to evaluate and improve Missouri’s child protection systems. The change ensures the committee can continue its annual reporting and recommendations to the legislature without needing renewal.

Maddy summaryHB 2862 prohibits creating AI-generated videos or audio that falsely impersonate a person to deceive others, excluding artistic expression like satire. It allows any resident of the state to seek a court order within two years if their likeness is used without consent in deceptive digital content, with expedited relief (within 2 days) available for severe harms like sexual content or reputational damage. The law protects platforms from liability for user content and requires proof that the impersonation was deceptive and not consensual. It does not apply to artistic works, public figures in most cases, or content that’s clearly labeled as fake.

Maddy summaryThis resolution permits the Missouri Bar to use the House Chamber for swearing-in ceremonies of newly licensed attorneys on two specific dates in 2026 (April 24 and October 16, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). It directly affects the Missouri Bar and its newly licensed members by granting them access to the chamber for this purpose. Key provisions include requiring respectful conduct, appropriate attire, and prohibiting food, drinks, banners, equipment use, or photography in the chamber during the events. The resolution also mandates that a designated representative (like the sponsor) oversee the event to maintain chamber decorum.

Maddy summaryHB 737 replaces four existing Missouri statutes with new provisions governing financial accountability for children in state custody. The bill directly affects children under the Children's Division, their parents, and financial representatives (like fiduciaries or payees) handling funds for these children. Key mechanisms require all money received for a child - such as benefits from Social Security or Veterans Administration - to be accounted for in the child’s name and used *only* for "unmet needs" like tutoring, transportation, housing preparation, or technology (not for foster care costs or general maintenance). The law also mandates annual reviews to identify new benefits and ensures the division only acts as a representative payee when no other suitable candidate exists.

Maddy summaryHB 262 creates a state fund to reimburse health care facilities for providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to Missouri veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). To qualify, veterans must have a diagnosis from a licensed health care provider, have previously sought treatment through Veterans Health Administration or private insurance, and reside in Missouri. Facilities must use FDA-approved equipment, follow treatment protocols based on clinical trials, and not charge veterans for the therapy. The Missouri Veterans Commission will manage the fund and require facilities to submit annual reports on therapy outcomes to assess effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 651 replaces Missouri's outdated court reporter regulations with new licensing requirements. It requires all court reporters providing services in Missouri to be certified by the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners, making unlicensed practice a class A misdemeanor. The bill prohibits using titles like "court reporter" without certification, bans signing transcripts for work not personally reported, and applies these rules to court reporting firms. These changes directly affect individuals and businesses offering court reporting services within Missouri, ensuring only licensed professionals handle verbatim court records.