Rep. Yolanda Young

Maddy summaryHB 2799 creates Missouri's Small Business Property Crime Prevention Grant Program, providing financial assistance to small businesses (defined as for-profit entities with fewer than 50 employees) for security improvements and repairs after property crimes. The program awards grants of up to $1,000 per fiscal year for physical security upgrades like surveillance systems, access controls, or storefront redesigns, or to cover repair costs from property crimes. Applications require detailed security needs and cost breakdowns, with grants distributed based on severity of needs and feasibility, administered by the Department of Economic Development from a dedicated state fund. The program expires automatically in 2034 unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 2802 designates the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years as a new state holiday specifically for Election Day. It requires state offices to close on this day and mandates that public colleges and universities also close, unless the campus is being used as a polling place. The bill amends the state's official holiday calendar to include this Election Day observance, which applies only in years when federal or state elections occur. This policy change directly affects state employees, public school districts, and higher education institutions across the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2803 modifies Missouri's blind pension eligibility rules. It sets asset limits (excluding primary home and first $100,000 in ABLE accounts), requires surrendering driver's licenses (with a free non-driver card option), and adds income thresholds for sighted spouses. The bill also mandates vision tests for applicants and requires recipients to report changes affecting eligibility within 10 days. These provisions directly affect Missouri residents aged 18+ who are blind and applying for or receiving a blind pension under state law. The bill is pending in the House after its first reading in January 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2801 updates eligibility rules for blind pension recipients in Missouri. It modifies the medical definition of blindness (requiring vision uncorrectable to 5/200 or visual field ≤5 degrees) and changes the reexamination requirement from every five to every seven years for most recipients, with exemptions for those with no usable vision in their better eye. The bill also specifies a minimum $340 monthly pension amount, clarifies that recipients cannot receive both this pension and federal SSI or general relief, and establishes an annual adjustment process based on fund balances. These changes directly affect Missouri residents applying for or receiving blind pensions under Sections 209.010-209.160.

Maddy summaryHJR 161 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove a current Missouri voting restriction. It would eliminate the exclusion of individuals "judged incapacitated" (those with a court-appointed guardian for mental incapacity or involuntarily confined in a mental institution) from voting. The amendment specifically targets the existing constitutional language in Article VIII that bars these voters. If approved by voters in 2026, this change would directly affect Missouri residents currently barred from voting due to court-ordered guardianships related to mental capacity. The bill does not change other voting eligibility rules, such as felony convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2804 requires all peace officers in the state to complete one hour of annual autism sensitivity training as part of their existing continuing education requirements. The training must cover identifying signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and effective communication strategies for interacting with individuals who have ASD. This annual training, which can be completed virtually, is integrated into current law enforcement education mandates and does not add extra hours beyond existing requirements. The bill directly affects all active law enforcement officers employed by county or municipal agencies. It focuses on practical skills to improve officer interactions with people on the autism spectrum during routine encounters.

Maddy summaryHB 2805 modifies Missouri's correctional records policies to protect offender privacy while enabling necessary access. It designates medical records and certain security documents as protected (not public), requires the department to provide offenders with free electronic copies of their medical records within 30 days of request, and establishes rules for sharing records with treatment agencies, law enforcement, or researchers under confidentiality agreements. The bill also creates a new hospice care training program within state prisons, allowing inmates to earn certification through joint programs with health and licensing departments. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, healthcare providers, and agencies handling offender records.

Maddy summaryHB 3121 creates Missouri's "Free School Meals Program," requiring participating schools (public, private, charter, or virtual) to provide all students with free breakfast and lunch daily after seeking federal reimbursement. The state will reimburse schools for the difference between federal meal rates and actual federal payments, funded by up to 1% of video lottery proceeds and donations to the "Healthy School Meals for All Fund." Additionally, tax-exempt organizations and individuals can deduct up to 75% of donations to this fund starting in 2027. The program expires after six years unless renewed and mandates biennial reports on participation and food security impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 2242 provides state funding to help public school districts hire licensed school nurses and mental health professionals. School districts can apply for a state supplement covering up to the full salary (including experience) for one nurse or mental health professional per school, with preference given to schools with the greatest need - based on factors like student health ratios, free/reduced lunch eligibility, and Title I funding. Districts may also use the funds to reimburse telehealth services for remote access to these professionals, subject to parental consent. The bill creates dedicated state funds for these supplements, ensuring unspent money doesn’t revert to general revenue and must be used solely for this purpose.

Maddy summaryHB 2317 requires Missouri public school districts to implement educational programs and activities during February that honor Black Americans' historical struggles and triumphs. Specifically, each public school must dedicate at least one class period in February to these activities, as determined by school boards and administrators. The bill directly affects all public schools within Missouri school districts by mandating a structured, annual observance. It focuses on educational content rather than ceremonial actions, with no specific curriculum requirements specified.