Rep. Cameron Parker

Maddy summaryHB 175 changes the time limits for beneficiaries to sue a trustee for mishandling trust funds. It extends the deadline if the trustee sends a report disclosing a potential breach, giving beneficiaries more time to act after receiving that notice. If no such report is sent, beneficiaries must file a lawsuit within five years of the trustee's removal, resignation, death, or the termination of the beneficiary's interest in the trust. This bill directly affects individuals relying on trusts and their legal rights to seek redress for trustee misconduct.

Maddy summaryHB 176 creates the "Missouri Electronic Wills and Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act," establishing legal rules for electronic wills in Missouri. It defines key terms like "electronic will" (a will executed digitally in compliance with the law) and "electronic presence" (real-time video communication for witnessing). The bill requires electronic wills to be readable text at signing, signed by the testator (or someone acting under their direction in their presence), and witnessed by two people either physically present or via live video. It makes electronic wills legally equivalent to paper wills for all purposes in Missouri and allows remote online notarization to create self-proved wills. This directly affects Missouri residents creating wills, as well as witnesses, executors, and beneficiaries relying on electronic estate documents.

Maddy summaryHB 177's title claims to provide MO HealthNet coverage for hearing aids and cochlear implants, but the provided bill text describes existing MO HealthNet coverage provisions (such as hospital services, nursing home care, and prescription drugs) rather than new hearing aid coverage. The text details current eligibility rules and payment structures under Section 208.152, including limitations on services like outpatient hospital care (capped at 80% of costs) and restrictions on abortion facility funding. No specific provisions for hearing aids or cochlear implants appear in the excerpted text. The bill's title and actual content appear inconsistent based on the provided context.

Maddy summaryHB 182 modifies how interpreter and translator fees are handled in court proceedings. It requires courts to approve reasonable fees and travel expenses (capped at state rates) for interpreters, excluding travel time compensation. For criminal cases, the state covers these costs from designated funds; in all other cases, courts can order parties to pay these fees directly or require deposits upfront. This directly affects individuals needing interpretation services in court, including criminal defendants, witnesses, and other parties in civil cases.

Maddy summaryHB 179 modifies Missouri's civil and agency proceeding fee rules. It defines "party" to include individuals with net worth under $2 million or small businesses (including partnerships/corporations) with net worth under $7 million and 500 or fewer employees. The bill sets a $75 per hour cap on attorney fees in these cases, unless a court finds special factors justify higher rates, and specifies that expert witness fees must align with state compensation rates. These changes directly affect small entities and individuals filing civil suits or agency proceedings in Missouri. The bill does not alter substantive legal outcomes but changes how fees are calculated and awarded.

Maddy summaryHB 1065 requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol superintendent to annually submit a salary report comparing patrol officer pay and benefits with officers in the three largest Missouri police departments and neighboring state patrols (Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas). This report must be reviewed by the legislature to maintain salary parity for Highway Patrol members. The bill does not mandate specific salary changes but establishes a process for regular comparison to inform future adjustments. It directly affects Missouri Highway Patrol officers and the legislative process for their compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 183 standardizes course transfers between Missouri's public community colleges and four-year universities. It requires the state coordinating board to develop a common 42-credit core curriculum (effective 2018) and specific 60-credit transfer pathways for five degree programs (business, education, psychology, nursing, biology) by 2027. Public institutions must adopt these standardized course numbering systems, allowing students who complete the full 42- or 60-credit blocks to transfer all courses without repeating core requirements. Students transferring without completing the full block receive credit for completed courses but may need additional coursework to meet the receiving institution's requirements. The bill directly affects all Missouri public higher education institutions and students transferring between them.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 requires most entities wanting to export Missouri water outside the state to obtain a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, reviewed by the Missouri Water Resources Commission. It exempts short-distance exports (within 30 miles of the border), bottled water, and ice. The permit process ensures exported water volumes won’t harm Missouri’s current or future water needs, prioritizes local use, and includes public comment periods and commission hearings. Applicants must prove water availability, legitimate beneficial use, and that export is necessary, with annual reporting required for permit holders.

Maddy summaryHB 1290 creates the Interstate Dental and Dental Hygiene Licensure Compact, allowing dentists and dental hygienists to practice across participating states more easily. It requires passing the uniform ADEX exam (accepted in 50 states) and establishes a shared system for license records, eliminating duplicate paperwork and fees. Military members and their spouses receive expedited licensure with no fees for transfers. The compact maintains state regulatory authority while standardizing processes to improve access to dental care.

Maddy summaryHB 178 allows Missouri residents to create or modify estate planning documents (like wills, trusts, or powers of attorney) remotely via video meeting during the specific COVID-19 emergency period (April 2020-December 2021). It permits remote execution if all parties were physically in Missouri, used live video conferencing for interaction, and met notary recording requirements. The bill specifies that documents signed under these conditions are legally valid, including requiring attorneys to verify compliance with pandemic-era rules. This applies only to the defined emergency period and does not affect standard estate planning procedures outside that timeframe.