Rep. Mitch Boggs

Maddy summaryHJR 62 is a procedural bill proposing to amend Missouri's Constitution to establish new rules for submitting future constitutional amendments to voters. It requires that each proposed amendment be voted on separately at general or special elections, limits amendments to one article per ballot, and mandates specific newspaper publication notices before voting. The bill also sets requirements for approval (a majority statewide and in most congressional districts) and specifies that approved amendments take effect 30 days after the election. This bill does not change any existing policies but alters the process for how future constitutional changes would be proposed and approved.

Maddy summaryHB 562 creates a new "covenant marriage" option in Missouri, allowing couples to formally commit to a lifelong marriage with specific requirements. To obtain a covenant marriage license, couples must complete at least eight hours of premarital counseling from a religious leader or professional counselor, sign a written declaration affirming their lifelong commitment, and submit notarized forms. This license is legally equivalent to a standard marriage license for all rights and benefits but requires couples to make "reasonable efforts to preserve" the marriage (including counseling) before seeking an end, with more limited grounds for termination than standard marriages. It applies only to new marriages where couples choose this option at the time of applying for a license.

Maddy summaryHB 691 requires commercial websites offering "material harmful to minors" (explicit content targeting minors) to verify users are over 18 using government-issued ID or other commercial age-verification methods. It applies to businesses like adult entertainment sites but exempts bona fide news organizations and their content. Commercial entities failing to implement verification could face liability for minors accessing such material, including damages and legal fees. The bill also prohibits retaining user identification data after access is granted. Internet service providers are not held liable for merely hosting such content.

Maddy summaryHB 1356, the "Promoting a Return to Work Act of 2025," requires unemployment compensation claimants to complete four work search activities each week to remain eligible for benefits starting January 1, 2026. This directly affects individuals receiving unemployment benefits, who must submit resumes, apply for jobs, attend interviews, participate in job fairs, or complete job skill training to avoid disqualification for that week. The bill mandates these specific actions as acceptable work search activities, with the Division of Employment Security responsible for administering the rules. Failure to meet the weekly requirement results in loss of benefits for that week, aligning with existing unemployment compensation procedures.

Maddy summaryHJR 18 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Missouri voters approve state constitutional changes. It would require constitutional amendments to pass with a majority vote statewide *and* in a majority of Missouri’s congressional districts. The amendment also prohibits foreign governments or political parties from funding or influencing amendment campaigns, bans non-U.S. citizens from proposing amendments, and mandates a 15-day public review period for initiative petitions before they appear on ballots. These changes aim to alter the process for amending Missouri’s constitution.

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.

Maddy summaryHB 533 prevents fire protection districts from applying certain fire safety regulations to agricultural buildings. The bill directly affects farmers and agricultural operations by prohibiting districts from requiring permits or imposing fire safety rules for the construction, maintenance, repair, alteration, or extension of farm buildings (like barns or storage structures). Its key provision explicitly states that fire prevention ordinances "shall not be exercised" to regulate farm structures, removing a potential regulatory burden. The bill focuses on clarifying that standard fire safety requirements do not apply to typical agricultural facilities. This is a targeted policy change affecting rural property owners, not a broad legislative overhaul.

Maddy summaryHB 1175, titled "Reestablishes the Second Amendment Preservation Act," prohibits Missouri state officials from enforcing federal laws, regulations, or executive orders related to firearms within Missouri. It declares that federal actions restricting firearm ownership, possession, or use in Missouri are "unauthoritative, void, and of no force," and grants Missouri exclusive authority over such matters under state law. Key provisions include imposing a $50,000 civil penalty per violation on state officials who knowingly enforce federal gun laws, allowing citizens to sue for damages, and removing sovereign immunity as a defense in such cases. The bill directly affects Missouri law enforcement officers and state agencies operating within Missouri’s borders, ensuring they cannot comply with federal firearm regulations. It does not alter Missouri’s own firearm laws but asserts state authority against federal overreach in this domain.

Maddy summaryHB 433's title about "storage and use of gold and silver" is inaccurate - the bill is actually a Missouri income tax modification. It adjusts how Missouri calculates taxable income by adding back certain items excluded from federal taxable income, such as: 1) Federal tax refunds that created Missouri tax benefits (excluding pandemic-related refunds), 2) Interest on some government bonds, 3) Specific deductions for property purchases (2002-2003), and 4) Net operating loss carryforwards. It also subtracts certain items added back (like state tax refunds or military combat zone income) to prevent double taxation. The bill directly affects all Missouri individual income taxpayers by changing their taxable income calculation relative to federal rules.