Rep. Lisa Durnell

Maddy summaryHB 3053 revises Missouri's law on "keeping a dangerous dog" by defining the offense as owning a dog that bites without provocation (once for an infraction) or bites again after a prior incident, or causes serious injury or death (escalating penalties). It requires animal control to seize and impound such dogs for 10 business days before destruction, with owners able to appeal to court within 30 days to contest the destruction. The bill exempts owners from liability and prevents dog destruction if the victim was committing a crime (excluding minor trespasses), and allows victims to seek compensation for medical costs or replacement of dead livestock. These changes aim to clarify penalties for dangerous dogs while providing due process for owners and compensation for victims.

Maddy summaryHB 2136 makes it unlawful to possess a firearm if someone has a felony conviction (state or federal), is a fugitive, mentally incompetent, habitually intoxicated, or not a U.S. citizen. It classifies unlawful possession as a class C felony, but upgrades it to a class B felony if the person has a prior conviction for the same offense or a dangerous felony. The bill excludes antique firearms from these restrictions. This law directly affects individuals meeting the specified criteria, altering penalties for firearm possession under these conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 1652 would amend state food safety laws to explicitly deem any food containing "cultivated meat" (meat grown from cultured animal cells) as adulterated. This means products made from lab-grown meat would be considered unsafe under current regulations, directly affecting producers and sellers of such products. The bill adds "contains any cultivated meat" to the list of conditions making food adulterated, alongside other safety violations like contamination or harmful additives. It does not address safety testing or labeling requirements for cultivated meat, only its legal classification under existing food safety definitions. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading).

Maddy summaryHB 1697 pauses fees paid to the Missouri Beef Industry Council by beef producers until the U.S. Congress passes a law requiring "Product of the U.S.A." labels on beef exclusively born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S. The bill directly affects the Council, which would temporarily stop receiving these fees, and impacts beef industry operators who would not pay them during the suspension. The key mechanism is linking the fee collection to federal legislation, with fees resuming only if Congress enacts the required labeling law. This policy change delays a state-level fee stream pending federal action on country-of-origin labeling.

Maddy summaryHB 1701 requires public schools to include specific human growth and development instruction in health classes, directly affecting students in grades where such curriculum is taught. The bill mandates medically accurate content covering abstinence as the preferred choice for unmarried students, STD prevention (including HIV/AIDS and HPV), contraception effectiveness rates, emotional consequences of teen pregnancy, and skills for healthy relationships. It specifically requires schools to show two videos: a high-definition fetal development ultrasound and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video (or successor), both depicting early human development. The bill also requires parental notification about curriculum content and the right to opt children out, while prohibiting abortion-related materials or services in school instruction.

Maddy summaryHB 1705 restricts foreign ownership of agricultural land in the state by capping total foreign ownership at 1% of all agricultural acreage. It bans new foreign business acquisitions after August 28, 2026, and requires existing foreign landowners to sell their holdings by August 28, 2031. All transfers of agricultural land involving foreign entities must be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture starting in 2026. The law also mandates the department to track compliance and report violations to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 1700, titled the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" that would temporarily or permanently seize firearms from citizens. The bill defines "red flag law" broadly to include federal or state laws requiring firearm surrender based on safety concerns, excluding only individuals charged with dangerous felonies while on bail. Key provisions ban the use of state funds to enforce such laws, impose $50,000 civil penalties for violations, and allow affected citizens to sue for damages. The law explicitly does not prevent standard firearm seizures as evidence during criminal investigations. This bill directly affects Missouri residents who might face firearm seizures under red flag laws and state officials responsible for law enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 2313 prohibits using fetal organs or tissue obtained from elective abortions for medical, research, therapeutic, or any other purpose. It bans offering money or incentives to women to conceive or abort specifically to harvest fetal tissue, though it allows payments for burial, medical exams, or pathological examinations of fetal remains. The bill directly affects medical researchers, hospitals, and clinics that might have used such tissue, applying only to patient-choice abortions - not medically necessary procedures. It does not restrict other uses of fetal tissue or impact abortion access generally.

Maddy summaryHB 2469 preempts all local government regulations on firearms, banning counties, cities, and towns from enacting rules about sales, ownership, open carry, or other firearm-related controls - except for ordinances that exactly match state law (sections 571.010-571.070) or regulate open carry/discharge within jurisdictional limits. The bill shields gun manufacturers from nuisance lawsuits and most liability claims (except for negligence or defects), and imposes a $50,000 civil penalty on localities that violate the preemption. It also grants standing to residents to sue jurisdictions enforcing invalid local rules and requires courts to address such cases within 30 days. The bill directly affects local governments, firearm manufacturers, and residents by centralizing firearm regulation at the state level.

Maddy summaryHB 2594 would allow consumers to purchase hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin tablets over-the-counter without a prescription or consultation with a pharmacist or healthcare provider. The bill directly affects residents seeking these specific medications by removing current prescription requirements. Key provisions include amending state law to permit direct public access to both drugs and declaring the law an emergency act to take immediate effect upon passage. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having been prefilled and read for the first time in 2026.