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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 2176, titled the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" (including federal or state orders requiring temporary firearm seizure or confiscation). It bans the use of state or federal funds to enforce such laws and imposes a $50,000 civil penalty for violations. The bill specifically exempts firearm seizures as evidence during criminal investigations. It directly affects Missouri citizens' firearm rights and law enforcement practices by blocking enforcement of red flag laws across state and local agencies.
Maddy summaryHB 1698, known as "Sawyer's Law," requires all public school districts and charter schools to adopt written antibullying policies. The law defines bullying broadly - including cyberbullying, physical actions, and harassment - and mandates that policies prohibit zero-tolerance disciplinary approaches, require staff to report witnessed bullying within two school days, and ensure investigations are completed within 10 school days. Schools must include these policies in student handbooks, train staff annually on reporting and interventions, and provide students with education about bullying prevention and support resources. The law directly affects students, school staff, and parents by establishing clear procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to bullying incidents while banning retaliation against reporters.
Maddy summaryHB 1695 revises Missouri's motor vehicle registration requirements, replacing outdated sections with new provisions. It requires vehicle owners to submit specific details (like VIN, manufacturer, and odometer readings) when registering, with special rules for vehicles under 10 years old and 150,000 miles: the director of revenue must retain odometer data for 10 years for business-use vehicles and certain other non-commercial vehicles. The bill also adds detailed procedures for reconstructed, salvage, or specially constructed vehicles, including documentation and examination requirements. Optional $1 donations to blindness education, organ donor, or Missouri Medal of Honor funds may be made during registration, but are not required. This primarily affects vehicle owners, dealers, and insurers handling registration or salvage claims.
Maddy summaryHB 2551 creates a new criminal offense for "grooming of a minor," defining it as a pattern of sexual acts or communications by someone 18+ directed at a minor under 17, with intent to prepare them for sexual conduct. It allows prosecutors to prove intent through context and frequency of communications (not direct statements) and includes exceptions for teachers, parents, and minor age gaps (up to 4 years older) without exploitation. Violations are punishable as a serious felony (class B or A if sexual conduct occurs), requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence with no probation, and mandating court-ordered restitution for victims covering mental health, lost income, or relocation. The bill also requires state guidance for the public and professionals on recognizing grooming and supporting victims.
Maddy summaryHB 2750 modifies Missouri's laws governing newborn screening and laboratory testing by the Department of Health and Senior Services. It requires all testing results and personal information to remain confidential, with release only permitted after parents or guardians provide informed consent about the scope, risks, and recipients of the information. The bill mandates that newborn screening results be destroyed one year after finalization (except when shared with a child's healthcare provider) and specifies biological specimens must be retained for one year before destruction, unless parents direct otherwise (e.g., to return, destroy, or store the specimen without allowing anonymous study). The law maintains the requirement for newborn screening for specific metabolic and genetic diseases, performed by the Department, with parental consent.
Maddy summaryHB 460 modifies how counties appoint county health officers. It allows county commissions to appoint a licensed physician for a one-year term, or an interim officer during vacancies until a permanent replacement is named. Counties decide whether to appoint a health officer at all, set their compensation (paid from county funds), and may appoint the public health center director. The bill does not require counties to appoint a health officer, preserving local flexibility in health officer staffing.
Maddy summaryHB 1412 prohibits public schools and districts from serving or selling food containing 13 specific additives (like BVO, certain dyes, and preservatives) or ultraprocessed foods during regular school hours, starting with the 2026-27 school year. It directly affects public school meal programs, requiring districts to submit annual food lists for approval to ensure compliance. Schools must confirm all listed items avoid banned additives and ultraprocessed foods, with noncompliance risking state funding withholdings after two violations. Parents or guardians may still provide their child’s own food, even if it contains prohibited ingredients.
Maddy summaryHB 673's title claims it addresses AI in political ads, but the provided bill text contains no provisions about artificial intelligence. Instead, the text outlines campaign finance disclosure rules, requiring printed materials (including advertisements) to identify the sponsor with "Paid for by" statements and imposing limits on anonymous contributions (e.g., $25 maximum anonymous contribution). It also details record-keeping requirements for committee expenditures and fund-raising events. The bill's actual focus is on traditional campaign finance transparency, not AI disclosure, so the title does not match the content.
Maddy summaryHB 722 replaces Missouri's existing laws on sexually oriented businesses with new definitions and provisions. The bill defines "sexually oriented business" as any establishment offering sexually oriented materials (like explicit imagery) or performances (such as topless dancing), while presuming businesses deriving 30% or less of revenue from such materials are not covered. It clarifies key terms including "nudity" (exposed genitals, nipples, or anal area with minimal coverage), "seminude" (partial coverage of specific body areas), and "sexually oriented materials" (depicting nudity or sexual conduct). The law also prohibits a single building from housing multiple types of sexually oriented businesses, except for adult cabaret performances.