Maddy summaryHB 1417 modifies the rules governing the minimum length of the school term for public schools, directly affecting school districts and students. The bill establishes a specific requirement of 1,044 hours of actual pupil attendance for all students, while setting a minimum of 169 school days for districts in counties with charter governments or cities with over 30,000 residents, unless they adopt a four-day school week. These attendance and day requirements apply to school years starting in 2025-26, whereas the 2019-20 through 2024-25 school years only require the 1,044 hours without a mandated number of days. Additionally, the legislation defines various terms related to school operations and authorizes the commissioner of education to temporarily reduce required hours or days in cases of facility damage or severe weather for up to two years.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 2236 prohibits foreign individuals and businesses from acquiring agricultural land in the state starting August 28, 2024, while allowing those who already own land before that date to keep it but preventing them from selling it to other foreign entities. The bill requires the state Department of Agriculture to review any proposed land transfers involving foreign owners to ensure compliance with the new restrictions. It also clarifies that existing security interests, such as mortgages, remain valid even if the underlying land ownership violates these rules. This legislation directly affects foreign investors and businesses seeking to purchase farmland, as well as current foreign landowners who wish to sell their property.
Maddy summaryHB 2361 modifies the authority of Missouri's environmental conservation commission regarding air quality standards and the regulation of residential wood-burning heaters. The bill ensures that state air rules meet federal Clean Air Act requirements without being stricter, while allowing the commission to grant exceptions for economic hardship or physical impossibility. It also restricts the regulation of existing wood-burning appliances installed before August 28, 2014, and requires legislative approval before new rules for these heaters can take effect. Additionally, the legislation outlines the composition, appointment terms, and meeting procedures for the commission, emphasizing public representation and specific expertise in water and air conservation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "aggravated fleeing a stop or detention of a motor vehicle" that applies to drivers who intentionally evade law enforcement during a traffic stop. The law defines this crime as occurring when a driver flees at high speeds or in a way that risks serious injury or death, causes physical injury, or results in death to another person as a consequence of the escape. To be convicted, a person only needs to know they are being stopped, not the specific reason for the stop, and the driver's guilt cannot be excused even if the officer's actions were unlawful, though civil lawsuits for wrongful arrest remain possible. Penalties vary by severity, ranging from a class D felony with mandatory prison time for dangerous driving to class A felonies for incidents resulting in death.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal charges for individuals who abuse elderly people, persons with disabilities, or vulnerable individuals in a way that leads to the victim's suicide or suicide attempt. Under the proposed law, if such abuse significantly contributes to the death or attempt, the perpetrator could be charged with voluntary manslaughter or promoting a suicide attempt, depending on the specific circumstances. The legislation establishes that proving the defendant acted under sudden passion is the responsibility of the accused, not the prosecution. These offenses are classified as serious felonies, with voluntary manslaughter designated as a class B felony and promoting a suicide attempt as a class E felony.
Maddy summaryHB 2658 establishes a new system for tracking and disclosing information about informants in Missouri criminal cases. It requires prosecutors to maintain a confidential record detailing the testimony, benefits offered, and criminal history of any witness who testifies in exchange for leniency. The bill mandates that this information be shared with defense attorneys and used during pretrial hearings to determine if the informant's testimony is reliable enough for trial. Additionally, if the testimony is admitted, judges must instruct juries to consider the disclosed details when evaluating the witness's credibility.
Maddy summaryHB 2817 modifies the rules for workers' compensation benefits for first responders, including firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and police officers. The bill expands the types of conditions eligible for coverage by explicitly recognizing repetitive motion injuries, hearing loss from industrial noise, radiation exposure, and specific diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues as occupational illnesses. It also establishes legal presumptions that make it easier for these workers to receive benefits for certain infectious diseases, heart and lung conditions, and psychological stress or mental disorders if they were healthy when they started their jobs. Under the new provisions, the burden of proof shifts to the employer to show that a worker's condition was not caused by their employment, particularly for the listed infectious diseases and mental health issues. Additionally, the bill defines psychological stress and mental disorders as compensable occupational diseases if they require medical services or result in disability, provided they are diagnosed within three years of the worker's last active duty.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to require Jackson County to elect its county assessor rather than appointing one through an unelected department. The change would alter the county's current governance structure by making the assessor an elected official, a move that directly impacts local property tax assessment processes. If voters approve the amendment, the county would need to hold elections for this position, shifting power from appointed administrators to the public. The legislation specifically targets Jackson County due to its unique population size and existing charter form of government.