Rep. Matthew Overcast

Maddy summaryHB 1363 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from blocking charter schools from using property transferred to them for educational purposes. It specifically prohibits policies, deed restrictions, or local ordinances that would stop property from being sold, leased, or transferred to a charter school for lawful education activities. The bill requires any property transfer agreement to include maintenance provisions and declares that any violating policy or deed restriction is void from the start. This directly affects charter schools seeking property and local governments drafting land-use rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes nondisclosure agreements unenforceable in cases involving childhood sexual abuse. It ensures survivors cannot be legally bound by secret agreements that would prevent them from discussing or pursuing claims about abuse that occurred before their 18th birthday. The law applies to all cases filed on or after August 28, 2025, including those that might have been dismissed under previous time limits. Survivors can now seek justice without fear that a prior agreement would block their legal claims.

Maddy summaryHB 736 raises the age threshold for domestic violence protection proceedings from 17 to 18 years old. This means minors under 18 (now legally defined as "children" in the law) will no longer be treated as adults in these cases. The bill requires courts to transfer cases involving respondents under 18 to juvenile court for a full hearing, appointing a guardian ad litem if needed. It also updates definitions and service procedures to reflect the new age limit for minors seeking or facing protection orders. The change directly affects young people involved in domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault cases where protection orders are sought.

Maddy summaryHB 31 modifies rules for home schools and Family Paced Education (FPE) schools in the state. It defines both types of schools with specific enrollment limits (no more than four unrelated children), requires parents to maintain records of instruction (including a plan book, academic samples, and progress evaluations), and mandates at least 1,000 hours of instruction annually (600 hours in core academic subjects). The bill exempts students aged 16+ from some record-keeping and instructional hour requirements. Enforcement of these rules is limited to local prosecutors reviewing cases only with probable cause, preventing school districts from initiating investigations.

Maddy summaryHB 68 shortens the statute of limitations for personal injury claims from five years to two years, effective for injuries occurring on or after August 28, 2025. This means individuals seeking compensation for injuries like car accidents, medical malpractice, or other physical harm must file lawsuits within two years of the incident. The bill also establishes a two-year limit for related claims such as defamation and wage disputes, but the primary change targets personal injury cases. This directly affects people pursuing legal action for injuries and the defendants (e.g., businesses, healthcare providers) they sue.

Maddy summaryHB 1012 establishes Missouri's "Zero-Cost Adoption Fund" to cover adoption-related costs for residents. It creates a tax credit allowing individuals or businesses contributing cash donations (over $10,000) to the fund to claim a 100% credit against their state income tax, capped at 50% of their tax liability. The fund, financed by these contributions, directly assists adoptive families by covering nonrecurring adoption expenses and postadoption services, while also supporting adoption recruitment and foster care prevention programs. The program has annual funding limits ($25 million initially, rising to $75 million with inflation) and will sunset automatically after six years unless reauthorized.

Maddy summaryHB 850 modifies licensing rules for child care facilities in Missouri. It creates a new temporary license for providers expanding existing sites or adding new locations, requiring fire/sanitation inspections, background checks, and 13 months of prior operation before approval. The bill also establishes a process for facilities to request variances from licensing rules if they don’t endanger children’s health or safety. These changes directly affect child care providers, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and children receiving care, while ensuring religious facilities remain exempt from certain regulations.

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 710 sets new standards for telemedicine in Missouri to ensure safe patient care. It requires physicians to establish a valid physician-patient relationship before providing telemedicine services, which can be done through in-person visits, consultations with other doctors, or specific telemedicine encounters meeting evidence-based guidelines. The bill prohibits prescribing medications or treatments based solely on internet requests or questionnaires without this established relationship, mandating thorough medical history reviews, appropriate diagnosis, and documented follow-up. These rules apply directly to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other telehealth providers prescribing medications via telemedicine. The law aims to align telemedicine practices with in-person care standards while allowing exceptions for hospital, hospice, and collaborative care settings.

Maddy summaryHB 952 prevents double recovery in tort cases by limiting plaintiffs' ability to claim damages already paid by a defendant or their insurer. If a defendant or insurer pays a plaintiff's special damages (like medical bills) before trial, those amounts become non-recoverable from the defendant. The bill also blocks claims for damages reimbursed to a plaintiff's insurer for deductibles or paid claims, avoiding duplicate payments from both the insurer and defendant. It was defeated in the House on April 22, 2025, with 37 votes in favor and 107 against. The bill directly affects defendants, insurers, and plaintiffs in personal injury or tort litigation involving insurance coverage.