Rep. Hardy Billington

Maddy summaryHB 671 requires drivers to stop at railroad crossings for any approaching railroad equipment (such as maintenance vehicles or construction machinery), not just trains. Drivers must stop 15-50 feet from the rail when signals warn of approaching equipment, gates are lowered, or equipment is visible and in close proximity. This applies to all vehicles, including commercial motor vehicles, which must also stop before crossing if they cannot clear the tracks safely. The bill aims to standardize stopping requirements for all railroad-related hazards at crossings. (Note: The bill was dropped from the calendar in May 2025 per the provided actions.)

Maddy summaryHB 37 designates the bridge on State Highway WW crossing the railroad in Poplar Bluff, Butler County, as the "Senator Bill Foster Bridge." The bill requires the Missouri Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for the bridge, with costs covered by private donations. This is a ceremonial naming bill with no policy changes or direct impact on legislation or constituents beyond the bridge's official designation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires scrap metal dealers and secondhand property sellers to maintain detailed records for all transactions involving detached catalytic converters. Specifically, they must document the buyer's ID, transaction details, vehicle identification number (VIN) of the converter's source, and keep records for 36 months. Dealers cannot alter converters for five business days after purchase and face fines up to $10,000 for knowingly buying stolen converters. It exempts regular business-to-business transactions and minor metal components in larger items. The law directly affects scrap metal dealers handling catalytic converters, aiming to combat theft by creating traceable records.

Maddy summaryHB 195, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers in abortion settings to provide the same medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any other newborn, including immediate hospital transport. It mandates providers to report failures to follow these standards to law enforcement and imposes criminal penalties - up to five years in prison or $10,000 fines - for non-compliance, while classifying intentional killing of such a child as first-degree murder. The bill also establishes civil liability for causing death or failing to comply with these provisions, allowing victims’ families to seek damages for injury or death. It directly affects abortion providers, patients, and children born alive during abortion procedures, with no impact on natural miscarriages before fetal viability.

Maddy summaryHB 40 modifies how Missouri handles titles for inoperable vehicles. It requires purchasers of salvaged vehicles bought within six years of their model year to apply for a salvage title, while those bought after six years may choose to apply. The bill creates a "junking certificate" for vehicles 26+ years old, allowing scrap metal operators to buy them without a title if they verify no liens exist and provide a seller's ID and bill of sale. It also updates rules for scrap metal operators, requiring them to document purchases and forward certain records to the state within 10 days. These changes primarily affect vehicle owners, scrap yards, and insurance companies handling damaged or stolen vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 816 modifies property tax assessment rules for motor vehicles and certain other assets. It specifically lowers the tax assessment rate to 5% for historic motor vehicles (registered under §301.131) and qualifying aircraft (25+ years old, noncommercial, <200 annual hours). This change directly affects owners of these vehicles by reducing their property tax burden. The bill also requires assessors to provide detailed evidence, such as comparable sales data, when using computer-assisted valuation methods for property. These adjustments aim to align tax assessments with specific property classifications under Missouri law.

Maddy summaryHB 1222 would prevent SNAP (food assistance) recipients from using benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks. It defines "candy" as sugar-based products like chocolate bars and "soft drinks" as sweetened nonalcoholic beverages (excluding milk-based drinks or those with over 50% juice). The bill requires the state social services director to seek a federal waiver to exclude these items from SNAP-eligible foods, requesting annual renewals if denied. If approved, SNAP benefits could no longer cover these specific food items.

Maddy summaryHB 39 prohibits employers from firing employees who store a legally owned firearm in a locked vehicle on the employer's premises, provided the firearm is not visible and the employee is not legally barred from possessing firearms. It directly affects employees who legally carry firearms and work at locations allowing vehicle access on-site. The bill requires vehicles to be locked, firearms to be concealed, and employees to legally possess firearms to qualify for this protection. Employers also cannot face civil liability for injuries resulting from firearms stored compliantly under this law.

Maddy summaryHB 35 bans health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing hormone treatments and puberty blockers for gender transition to individuals under 18, with an exception for those already receiving such care before August 28, 2023. Violations could result in license revocation for providers. The bill also creates a new legal pathway allowing affected minors to sue providers for up to 15 years after turning 21, with specific damage awards and a rebuttable presumption of harm if infertility occurs. Exceptions apply for medically verified conditions like disorders of sex development.

Maddy summaryHB 113 requires schools and colleges to restrict student athletic participation to the sex listed on a student’s birth certificate (or another government record if the birth certificate is unavailable), based on biological sex at birth. It directly affects transgender students seeking to compete in sports aligned with their gender identity, as well as schools that must comply with this rule to receive state funding. The law prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite sex, except when no equivalent athletic opportunity exists for their assigned sex. Violations result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies for denied opportunities. The bill expires on August 28, 2027.