Rep. Brian Seitz

Maddy summaryHB 1908 ensures Missouri courts can grant a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation even if one party is pregnant. The bill explicitly states that pregnancy status does not prevent a court from entering such a judgment, removing any prior barrier. Courts must still meet standard requirements, including residency, the marriage being irretrievably broken (for divorce) or not (for legal separation), and arrangements for children and property. This change directly affects individuals in Missouri family court cases involving pregnancy who seek divorce or legal separation.

Maddy summaryHB 2642 requires health insurance plans to cover nonopioid medications for acute pain without barriers, directly affecting people with health insurance (enrollees) and the plans themselves. The law prohibits plans from denying coverage for nonopioid drugs in favor of opioids, forcing patients to try opioids first, or charging higher costs for nonopioid options compared to opioids. It applies only to acute pain (expected to last 30 days or less) and takes effect for plans renewed or issued after January 1, 2027. The bill does not change provider prescribing practices but mandates equal treatment for nonopioid alternatives under insurance coverage.

Maddy summaryHB 1838 exempts certain farm vehicles from Missouri's biennial motor vehicle safety inspection requirement. Specifically, it removes the inspection mandate for farm vehicles registered as local commercial motor vehicles used exclusively for farming operations that travel fewer than 100 miles per calendar year. This applies to vehicles already defined as "covered farm vehicles" under state and federal law. The bill modifies existing safety inspection rules to exclude these qualifying farm vehicles from the standard inspection schedule.

Maddy summaryHB 1792 establishes a two-year pilot program (2027-2029) to integrate media literacy into K-12 public schools across 5-7 diverse districts. The program requires schools to teach students to analyze news, identify misinformation, understand algorithms, practice digital safety, and recognize bias in media - including social media and online content - while connecting these skills to First Amendment rights. The Department of Education will study pilot outcomes and develop statewide guidelines and potential standards by 2030, focusing on practical classroom strategies for critical media evaluation. This bill directly affects public school districts, educators, and students in the participating schools during the pilot period.

Maddy summaryHB 1694, the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation," creates a legal defense for Missouri residents and businesses targeted by lawsuits alleging website accessibility violations under the ADA or state law. It defines "abusive litigation" as lawsuits primarily seeking monetary settlement rather than improving accessibility, and allows Missouri residents or the Attorney General to challenge such suits in court. Key provisions include a 90-day window for defendants to fix accessibility issues before new claims can be deemed abusive, and courts may award attorney fees and punitive damages (up to three times fees) against parties filing abusive lawsuits. The bill expires if the federal DOJ issues website accessibility standards under the ADA. It directly affects Missouri-based website operators and plaintiffs filing accessibility lawsuits in state courts.

Maddy summaryHB 3451 requires all in-person interviews conducted by the Department of Social Services regarding child abuse or neglect to be recorded via audio or video, unless equipment fails or unforeseen circumstances prevent it. The bill mandates secure storage of recordings for at least five years using department-approved methods, restricts access to investigators, prosecutors, or caregivers in court, and prevents defendants from objecting to recording failures in legal proceedings. It ensures recorded statements remain admissible in court even if the department misses the recording requirement. The law directly affects social services workers, child welfare investigators, and legal proceedings involving child abuse allegations.

Maddy summaryHB 2099 creates a streamlined court process for property owners to remove unlawful occupants from residential properties without a tenant relationship. It allows owners (or agents) to file a verified petition, triggering an immediate court order for removal if they prove the occupant has no legal right to be there (e.g., not a tenant, guest, or family member). The court must issue the order within 48 hours of filing, and sheriffs enforce removal. This directly affects property owners of noncommercial residential properties and occupants without legal occupancy rights, bypassing standard eviction procedures. The bill also permits courts to issue additional restraining orders against occupants for safety.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2274 adopts Missouri into the "Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact," a multi-state agreement designed to simplify teacher licensure across participating states. The bill creates a streamlined pathway for teachers to move between member states, supports eligible military spouses relocating due to military service, and enables sharing of licensure and disciplinary information among states. It establishes an interstate commission to manage the compact and requires member states to recognize teaching licenses from other participating states without requiring additional exams or training. This directly affects teachers seeking employment in Missouri from other compact states, military spouses of active-duty service members, and education officials hiring out-of-state teachers. The compact aims to remove barriers to teacher mobility while maintaining each state's authority over teaching regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 3173 prohibits the possession, sale, distribution, and advertising of products containing specific compounds derived from kratom, including those with over 2% of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) or mitragynine pseudoindoxyl. It directly affects businesses selling such products and consumers who purchase them. The law includes an exception allowing research institutions to handle these products for scientific or medical research. This bill aims to restrict access to certain kratom-based products while permitting legitimate research activities.