Rep. Ben Baker

Maddy summaryHB 1254 prevents cities, counties, and school districts from creating rules or property deeds that block charter schools from using buildings or land they’ve purchased, leased, or been transferred for educational purposes. It specifically bans local policies or deed restrictions that exclude educational use by charter schools or allow only non-educational uses. Existing restrictions violating this rule become invalid immediately. Property transfer agreements must also include maintenance requirements for the school. This directly affects charter schools seeking facility access and local governments managing property transfers.

Maddy summaryHB 1274 prevents merchants from being charged transaction fees on the tax portion of credit or debit card purchases. Merchants must provide the tax amount during checkout or within 180 days to avoid these fees, and can request refunds if incorrectly charged. The law also prohibits businesses from artificially increasing fees on non-tax parts of transactions to bypass this rule. Violations carry a $1,000 civil penalty per transaction. This directly affects merchants accepting card payments who collect state or local taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 1214 prohibits carrying most weapons, including firearms, on public transportation systems like buses, light rail, and stations. The bill explicitly bans weapons such as firearms, switchblade knives, and clubs, with one exception for unloaded rifles or shotguns carried in enclosed containers that conceal the weapon. It applies to all transit users and defines "facilities" to include vehicles, stations, and related property. The law clarifies that violations would be prohibited under existing transit rules, without creating new penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1081 prohibits health care providers from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to individuals under 18, with exceptions for disorders of sex development. It defines key terms like "biological sex" and "gender transition" to clarify the scope of the restrictions. Violations could result in license revocation for providers, and the bill allows minors (or their legal representatives) to sue providers for damages if they receive prohibited treatments, with a minimum $500,000 damage award and a presumption of harm if infertility occurs. The law includes a temporary exemption for minors already receiving these treatments before August 2023, and expires on August 28, 2027.

Maddy summaryHJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish strict spending limits for Missouri's state government. It requires that annual spending not exceed a baseline amount (based on prior year appropriations) adjusted by the state's population growth rate (e.g., 100% of prior spending for population decline, 101% for small growth). It creates a "Tax Reform Fund" within the state treasury to cover budget shortfalls only when spending limits are triggered, using revenues from specific tax changes. The amendment also mandates a two-thirds legislative vote to temporarily exceed the spending limit, with the exception lasting no more than 12 months. This directly affects state budgeting decisions and future tax policy implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1082 modifies Missouri law to exempt individuals residing in home schools or Family Paced Education (FPE) schools from Missouri criminal record reviews when applying for state education-related benefits or programs. The bill defines home schools and FPE schools as private, non-tuition-based educational settings for children aged 7 to compulsory attendance age, requiring parents to maintain academic records and provide 1,000 hours of instruction annually (with 600 hours in core subjects). Crucially, it removes the requirement for criminal background checks by "qualified entities" for these families seeking state education benefits. This change directly affects families operating or residing in Missouri's home or FPE schools, streamlining access to state programs without new enforcement obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Missouri's fertilizer and clean water laws by replacing two existing sections with new rules focused on industrial wastewater and sewage infrastructure. It requires the state commission to create regulations for treating industrial waste before it reaches water sources and mandates specific nutrient management standards for land application, excluding concentrated animal feeding operations. Additionally, the legislation clarifies when operating and construction permits are necessary for discharging contaminants or modifying sewage systems, while listing specific small-scale sewer projects that do not require a permit.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies existing laws to allow individuals with a valid concealed carry permit to bring firearms into churches and other places of worship. It specifically removes the current prohibition that generally restricts carrying weapons into these religious assembly areas. The change applies to anyone holding a proper permit, while still maintaining restrictions for those without one and preserving specific protections for law enforcement and other authorized personnel.

Maddy summaryHB 2831 modifies the rules for taxing all-terrain vehicles used in agriculture by updating specific sections of state tax law. The bill clarifies exemptions for various business purchases, such as machinery, materials, and fuel, when they are used to produce goods intended for final sale. It also reaffirms previous court rulings regarding how certain manufacturing and telecommunications services are treated for tax purposes. This legislation directly affects farmers, agricultural businesses, and manufacturers by defining which equipment and supplies are excluded from sales tax calculations.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the legal definitions and regulations surrounding sexually oriented businesses in Missouri, specifically clarifying terms like "adult cabaret," "nudity," and "sexually oriented materials." It establishes specific criteria for determining if a business falls under these categories, such as presuming a business is regulated if more than ten percent of its display space features sexually explicit content. The legislation also sets stricter rules for exterior advertising, prohibiting signs within one mile of state highways unless the business is located very close to the road, where only two specific signs are allowed. Additionally, it defines a list of criminal activities and timeframes that can lead to a business being classified as a nuisance and subject to closure. These changes directly impact nightclub owners, bar operators, and other business owners who provide entertainment or sell adult-oriented goods.