Rep. Brian Seitz

Maddy summaryHB 2103 updates Missouri's rules for recording documents with county recorders, primarily targeting fraud prevention in real property and legal filings. It requires recorders to display a visible warning sign about felony penalties for filing false documents (under RSMO § 570.095), clarifies electronic recording standards (e.g., requiring original-sized scans), and imposes new rules for notary seal vendors (who must verify notaries' commissions via an online portal before selling seals). The bill directly affects county recorders, document filers (like homeowners or businesses), and notary seal vendors. Key provisions strengthen penalties for fraudulent filings - making it a felony with enhanced penalties when documents target public officials, law enforcement, or judicial personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 1664 extends the time window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits in Missouri. It allows claims to be filed within 20 years after turning 21 or within 3 years of discovering the abuse caused their injury, whichever is later. The bill also voids any nondisclosure agreements in these cases, making them unenforceable in court. This applies to actions arising on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting survivors seeking legal recourse for abuse occurring before age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 1869 creates a Missouri grant program to help families repair or reset grave markers for deceased veterans buried in state cemeteries when markers are damaged by natural causes (like weather or erosion). Eligible applicants must be family members of veterans who were honorably discharged or died while on active duty, and they must provide proof of relationship and burial location. The program is funded through a dedicated "Veterans' Grave Marker Trust Fund," which can receive state appropriations and private donations, with unspent funds not reverting to general revenue. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants must agree to use funds solely for repairing the grave marker.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "Division of Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund" in Missouri's state treasury, funded primarily by a portion of sales taxes from tourism-related businesses (such as hotels, attractions, and travel services, identified by specific SIC codes). The fund's annual deposits are capped at $3 million more than the previous year's amount and are calculated using tourism sales tax revenue. Before spending from the fund, the Division of Tourism must submit a marketing strategy to legislative committees for review. The fund expires on June 30, 2020, and its money cannot be returned to the general revenue fund at the end of a biennium.

Maddy summaryHB 1977 modifies Missouri's civil detention procedures for mental health evaluations. It allows any adult (not requiring legal representation) to file a written application alleging a mental health crisis and imminent risk of serious harm, removing notarization requirements for most filings. The bill establishes a 96-hour maximum detention period for evaluation at a mental health facility, requiring factual basis in applications and permitting peace officers or medical professionals to initiate detention based on reasonable cause. This directly affects individuals potentially subject to involuntary mental health evaluation, as well as family members, neighbors, or medical staff who may file applications.

Maddy summaryHB 1948 designates June as "Fatherhood Engagement Month" in Missouri and creates the "Missouri Fatherhood Engagement Project" within the Department of Social Services. The project provides grants to community organizations to hire specialists who help fathers rebuild relationships with children through counseling, navigating court systems, and overcoming barriers to reunification. These specialists work directly with fathers in family court cases to develop personalized plans for reconnecting with children and meeting court-ordered requirements. Organizations receiving grants must report annually on outcomes like father-child reunifications and case plan completions.

Maddy summaryHJR 119 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri. It would require the governor to appoint judges from three nominees provided by a nonpartisan judicial commission for vacancies in the supreme court, court of appeals, and St. Louis city/Jackson County circuit courts. For other judicial circuits, voters would decide at elections whether to adopt this appointment method (instead of the current system) or maintain the existing process, with changes allowed only once every four years. The amendment must be approved by voters in 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1667, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers at abortion facilities to provide immediate medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion, treating them as they would any other newborn. Providers must use standard medical care to preserve the child's life and arrange hospital admission, with failure to report violations carrying criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fines). The bill also establishes civil liability for providers who fail to provide care, for actions causing death of a born-alive child, or for performing unlawful abortions, allowing lawsuits for injury or death with damages including loss of companionship. It explicitly states that consent to an abortion cannot be used as a defense in such cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2033, known as the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," prohibits health care providers in Missouri from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to individuals under 18 years old. The law includes a temporary exception allowing continued treatment for minors who began such care before August 28, 2023, until March 1, 2027. Violations would be deemed unprofessional conduct, risking license revocation for providers, and could lead to civil lawsuits against them. This bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse minors under 18 seeking medical transition care and the health care providers who treat them in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 2273 establishes a new "Committee on Sex and Human Trafficking Training" to standardize and improve training for professionals who interact with trafficking victims. The committee, composed of representatives from law enforcement, child advocacy, victim services, and medical centers, will create annual training guidelines and produce digital training materials for professions required to complete such training under existing laws. This bill directly affects state agencies, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and child advocacy organizations that must provide or receive trafficking training. The committee's work will replace outdated training requirements with updated standards, effective January 1, 2027, and expire December 31, 2031. The bill does not create new criminal penalties but focuses on coordinating and modernizing existing training obligations.