Rep. Bill Allen

Maddy summaryHB 1615 reduces the minimum number of directors required for insurance companies in Missouri from nine to five. This change applies to all insurance entities operating under Missouri law, including stock companies, mutual companies, and joint-stock associations. The bill amends multiple sections of Missouri’s insurance statutes to replace the phrase "not less than nine" with "not less than five" in provisions governing corporate governance. It does not alter maximum director counts or introduce new regulatory requirements, only adjusting the baseline for board composition. This is a procedural change affecting how insurance companies structure their governing boards.

Maddy summaryHB 1616 creates Missouri's "Independent Office of Corrections and Transparency," a small oversight body with two full-time staff to monitor prison conditions and staff welfare. It directly affects incarcerated people, prison staff, and their families by establishing a formal process for reporting issues like sanitation, abuse, medical care, or safety concerns. Key provisions require the Corrections Director to publicly disclose appointment applicants 30 days in advance, mandate correctional experience for the Director, and empower the new office to investigate complaints about prison conditions under specific "covered issues" (e.g., neglect, violence, access to programs). The office will provide information on rights and monitor department compliance with safety and welfare standards, operating with limited resources. This bill focuses on structural oversight rather than altering sentencing or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 737 replaces four existing Missouri statutes with new provisions governing financial accountability for children in state custody. The bill directly affects children under the Children's Division, their parents, and financial representatives (like fiduciaries or payees) handling funds for these children. Key mechanisms require all money received for a child - such as benefits from Social Security or Veterans Administration - to be accounted for in the child’s name and used *only* for "unmet needs" like tutoring, transportation, housing preparation, or technology (not for foster care costs or general maintenance). The law also mandates annual reviews to identify new benefits and ensures the division only acts as a representative payee when no other suitable candidate exists.

Maddy summaryHB 595 repeals Missouri's existing law and prevents counties and cities from regulating rent amounts or tenant screening for private rental properties. It prohibits local governments from banning landlords from refusing tenants who use housing assistance, restricting credit checks, limiting security deposits, or requiring automatic tenant right of first refusal. The bill allows local governments to still regulate their own properties, manage subsidized housing through agreements, and apply rent rules to properties using federal community development funds. This directly affects landlords, tenants, and local governments by removing most local rent control authority for private housing.

Maddy summaryHB 1491 creates a new type of county authority in Missouri for managing sports, convention, and exhibition facilities, specifically targeting counties with 230,000-260,000 residents. It establishes a five-member commission appointed by the governor (with party balance limits) to oversee the authority, which can develop or operate facilities but cannot replace existing county or municipal authority. Counties must create a separate "Convention and Sports Complex Fund" and contribute $3 million annually before qualifying for state matching funds (up to $3 million yearly), contingent on securing a lease with a major professional sports team (NFL, NBA, NHL, or MLB) after 2026. The bill requires annual reporting and biennial audits of the fund’s finances, with state funds flowing for up to 40 years once county contributions begin.

Maddy summaryHB 772 increases the maximum credit amounts for Missouri's "circuit breaker" property tax credit program. It directly affects Missouri residents who are seniors (65+), disabled individuals, 100% service-connected disabled veterans, or surviving spouses receiving Social Security benefits. The bill adjusts the credit limits while maintaining existing eligibility rules, such as requiring residency in Missouri for the full year, age requirements, or proof of disability/veteran status. It also clarifies how income and property taxes are calculated for the credit, including adjustments for Social Security benefits and pensions. This change aims to provide greater tax relief for qualifying low-to-moderate-income homeowners and renters.

Maddy summaryHB 1004 would require state laws to be interpreted as recognizing the right to perform and receive in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. It directly affects fertility clinics, healthcare providers offering IVF, and patients seeking fertility treatment within the state. The key mechanism is a legal directive ensuring existing laws acknowledge these rights, rather than creating new services or funding. This is a clarification of current law interpretation, not a new policy or program. The bill is currently in committee review after its introduction in January 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 1328 imposes a 2.25% excise tax on retail sales of "intoxicating hemp products" (those containing THC above 0.3% or marketed to produce intoxication) and establishes licensing requirements for manufacturers ($250 annual fee) and retailers ($100 per location). Revenue from the tax is split: 0.25% funds the hemp business fund, and 2% funds the Missouri hemp development fund. The law exempts "nonintoxicating" hemp products (like CBD oils with <0.3% THC) from the tax and prohibits counties from adding extra taxes on these products. It requires age verification for sales and defines "intoxicating" products through specific THC thresholds and marketing intent.

Maddy summaryHB 773 modifies Missouri's minimum prison terms for certain felony offenders. It requires offenders with one prior prison commitment to serve at least 40% of their sentence (or until age 70, whichever comes first) before parole eligibility, increasing to 50% for two prior commitments and 80% for three or more. Dangerous felony convictions (per §556.061) require an 85% minimum sentence. The bill also creates a sentencing advisory commission to study sentencing disparities and alternative programs, though this is a secondary provision. The changes apply specifically to listed felony offenses and do not affect probation rules or certain offenses like domestic assault.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.