Rep. Hardy Billington

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Missouri public and private schools, including colleges, to allow students to participate in athletic competitions only in categories matching their biological sex as recorded on their official birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits participation in sports designated for the opposite biological sex, with one exception: a female student may compete in a male-designated sport if no comparable female sport is available. Schools violating this rule risk losing state funding, and affected students or parents can sue for relief, including attorney fees. The policy aims to ensure athletic opportunities for female students by requiring participation based on birth sex records.

Maddy summaryHB 100 temporarily lowers Missouri's top income tax rate to 4.95% for tax years 2023-2025, then sets a permanent 4% rate starting January 1, 2026. It allows for future rate reductions (down to 0.1% per year) if state revenue exceeds prior years by specific dollar thresholds. The bill affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax by modifying how income is taxed across different brackets. The legislation is currently pending in committee after being postponed for further review in February 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill, HB 1408, prohibits employers from firing employees solely because they have a firearm in their personal vehicle while on company property. The law allows employees to keep their guns in their cars during work hours only if the vehicle is locked, the firearm is not visible, and the employee is legally allowed to own one. Additionally, the bill states that employers cannot be held financially responsible for injuries or damages caused by firearms stored in compliance with these rules. This legislation directly affects workplace policies regarding personal vehicles and firearm possession for employees in states where such storage is permitted.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes state legislators and other elected officials to display the Missouri and United States flags outside their office doors. It grants the Capitol building the authority to allow these flags to be shown in this manner. The measure applies specifically to members of the General Assembly and similar officials within the state government.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the law regarding unlawful firearm possession to allow individuals who have finished their sentences for nonviolent felonies to legally own guns. Currently, people on probation or parole for such crimes are prohibited from possessing firearms, but this change would remove that restriction once their supervision ends. The legislation defines a nonviolent felony as an offense that does not involve threats or force against another person, while maintaining stricter rules for those convicted of violent felonies. Antique firearms are also exempted from these new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Missouri's sentencing laws to establish mandatory minimum prison terms for repeat offenders convicted of specific felonies, while creating a new Sentencing Advisory Commission to study sentencing disparities. Under the proposed rules, a first-time offender serving a sentence for a non-dangerous felony would be required to serve 75% of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole, whereas a second-time offender would have to serve 80% of their sentence. The legislation also sets higher minimums for those with three or more prior felony convictions and mandates that dangerous felons serve at least 85% of their sentences. Additionally, the bill creates an eleven-member commission tasked with investigating sentencing inconsistencies across the state and evaluating alternative incarceration options. These new requirements apply only to cases where the offender is sentenced after August 28, 2024, and do not affect individuals convicted of the listed crimes before that date.

Maddy summaryHB 1405 establishes rules for how school employees and independent contractors may use pronouns when referring to students. The bill prohibits staff from using pronouns that do not match a student's biological sex unless they have written permission from the student's parent. It also allows employees to decline using specific pronouns if doing so conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs. Finally, the law requires every public school and school board to create a policy that follows these guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal classification for delivering controlled substances, primarily affecting individuals who distribute drugs or allow minors to access them. It establishes that delivering small amounts of marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids remains a class E felony, while increasing penalties to a class C felony if the recipient is a minor at least two years younger than the seller. The legislation also elevates offenses to class B or A felonies when drugs are delivered to minors or when the substance is marketed to look like food or candy, aiming to address specific risks associated with youth access and product tampering.

Maddy summaryHB 1402 permits members of the general assembly and other elected officials to hang state and national flags outside their office doors. This change authorizes the capitol building to manage the display of these flags beyond the interior of the offices. The bill applies specifically to elected officials and does not alter other flag-related policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1404 amends state law to adjust the time limits for filing lawsuits related to contracts, debts, and property disputes. The bill primarily affects individuals and businesses by establishing specific deadlines for initiating legal actions, such as setting a ten-year window for fraud claims starting from when the victim discovers the deception. By clarifying and modifying these statutes of limitations, the legislation aims to provide clearer rules on how long a person has to seek legal remedies for various civil wrongs. This change impacts anyone involved in civil litigation, ensuring that cases are brought forward within defined periods rather than indefinitely.