Rep. Scott Cupps

Maddy summaryHB 3389 makes it a serious criminal offense to threaten, harass, or intimidate a judicial officer or their family. It specifically prohibits actions like sharing personal information (e.g., home address, Social Security number), threats, stalking, or offering benefits to influence their work. The law covers judges, court staff, probation officers, and their spouses, children, or ancestors, with penalties rising to a more severe felony if injury or death occurs. This expands legal protections for court personnel facing harassment, particularly online targeting.

Maddy summaryHB 3390 establishes new regulations for hyperscale data centers in Missouri, defined as facilities using at least 25 megawatts of energy. It prohibits these centers on agricultural, conservation, and residential land categories after August 28, 2026, and requires a 500-foot setback using native plants. The bill mandates noise control measures during construction, compliance with federal noise standards, and a public hearing process for local approvals. A new state Siting Board must review projects after local government approval, and developers cannot charge residential or commercial customers impact fees tied to the data center's energy use.

Maddy summaryHB 3515 prohibits Missouri state and local governments from using taxpayer funds to enforce federal emissions regulations on diesel-powered commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses, and transporters. It directly affects state agencies, local officials, and businesses operating these vehicles by banning enforcement actions like inspections or fines related to emissions control devices. The law imposes $100,000 civil penalties on entities employing officials who knowingly enforce such federal rules, and allows lawsuits to recover attorney fees and costs. Violators must pay court costs if sued, with no immunity for government employees acting under federal authority.

Maddy summaryHB 3514 requires Missouri's Department of Transportation (MoDot) to obtain written consent from a county, city, town, or village government before constructing roundabouts on federal highways, numbered state highways, or state routes within that local jurisdiction. This directly affects MoDot and local governments, which must respond to MoDot's request within 30 days. The bill specifies that "roundabout" refers to traffic circles where vehicles travel counterclockwise around a central island. The key change is a procedural requirement for local approval before construction begins on these specific roadways.

Maddy summaryHB 1688 changes Missouri law to set life imprisonment or death as the maximum penalty for several sexual offenses, including rape in the first and second degrees, sexual abuse, enticement of a child, and trafficking for slavery or sexual exploitation. Key provisions remove probation or suspended sentences for specific cases, such as when a child under 12 is the victim of rape in the first degree, and update definitions of related crimes. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of these offenses in Missouri by altering the potential sentences they may face.

Maddy summaryHB 1691 allows owners of farm vehicles and other vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds or more to register them permanently instead of annually. To qualify, owners pay seven times the annual registration fee, plus required documentation, and receive non-transferable plates specific to that vehicle. The permanent registration covers all standard fees (including emblem fees and department charges) but expires if the vehicle's title transfers. This policy directly affects heavy vehicle owners by replacing yearly payments with a single upfront cost, while the Department of Revenue administers the program.

Maddy summaryHB 1693 allows owners of eligible vehicles to pay a one-time fee equal to seven years of annual registration costs for permanent vehicle registration. This option applies only to specific vehicles and requires payment of all standard fees (including emblem fees and department processing costs) upfront. Permanent registration is tied to the exact vehicle and cannot be transferred if the vehicle is sold; owners must return the plates to the state upon sale. This provides a permanent alternative to annual renewals for qualifying vehicles, with no refunds except under specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 1690 suspends fees paid by Missouri beef producers to the Missouri Beef Industry Council until the U.S. Congress passes a law requiring country-of-origin labeling on beef products. Specifically, it pauses fees collected under sections 275.300-275.370 until federal law mandates labels like "Product of the U.S.A." for beef born, raised, and slaughtered entirely in the U.S. The suspension automatically ends if Congress enacts such labeling, but reinstates if that federal law is later repealed. This bill directly affects Missouri beef producers who currently pay these fees, pending federal action on labeling requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 1689 updates child pornography laws to explicitly include "artificially generated visual depictions" that are obscene, indistinguishable from real minors, morphed from real minor images, or created without actual minor involvement. It defines such images as illegal child pornography under the same legal framework as real images, covering digital or computer-generated content that appears to show minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This bill directly affects individuals creating, distributing, or possessing these AI-generated images, treating them as equivalent to traditional child sexual abuse material. The key provision expands the legal definition of "child pornography" to address emerging technologies without requiring proof of the minor's actual identity. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading).

Maddy summaryHB 3147, the "Kratom Consumer Protection Act," regulates the sale of kratom products in Missouri. It requires sellers (including stores, restaurants, and manufacturers) to label products with accurate claims and disclose specific compound levels, bans sales to minors under 18, and prohibits products adulterated with harmful substances or containing synthetic alkaloids or excessive levels of certain natural compounds (like 7-hydroxymitragynine above 2%). Violations may result in fines up to $1,000 for labeling issues or misdemeanor charges for other breaches. The bill preempts local regulations on kratom, making state rules the sole authority for this product category.