Rep. Yolanda Young

Maddy summaryHB 1820 creates a state registration system for doulas to enable health insurance reimbursement of their services in Missouri. The bill requires the state Department of Health to establish application criteria, review registration applications, approve or deny registrations, and maintain a public registry of approved doulas. It specifies that doulas providing non-medical support (not medical care) can register to seek reimbursement, though unregistered doulas may still practice. The department must consult community organizations like the Missouri Community Doula Council when setting registration rules. This bill does not mandate insurance coverage but provides the framework for insurers to reimburse registered doulas.

Maddy summaryHB 1936 lowers the age at which Missouri residents can be excused from jury duty from 75 to 70 years old. It also specifies additional exemptions, including for nursing mothers (with physician certification), health care providers (with service verification), religious employees (with religious supervisor certification), and those facing undue hardship (requiring documented evidence like medical records or tax returns). Individuals must apply for exemption before their jury duty date and provide supporting documentation to the court. This change directly affects older adults and others meeting the new exemption criteria, reducing the burden of jury service for these groups.

Maddy summaryHB 2097 converts a temporary pilot program for agricultural education in elementary schools into a statewide program, effective for the 2027-28 school year. Public elementary schools can voluntarily apply to participate, with participating schools required to implement and fully fund the program for at least three years. The program must include grade-appropriate instruction, collaborative learning activities, and career development opportunities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee implementation, evaluate the program’s impact, and report results to relevant legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 2153 abolishes the death penalty in Missouri by repealing all statutes that permitted capital punishment. It mandates that anyone convicted of a crime previously punishable by death must instead receive life imprisonment without parole. This change directly affects all current death row inmates and future defendants facing capital charges for offenses like murder. The bill removes the death penalty as a sentencing option, replacing it with life without parole for those specific crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 2180 imposes daily late filing fees for unfiled campaign finance reports and financial interest statements. Candidates, committee treasurers, and individuals required to file financial statements face $10/day initially (increasing to $100/day after 30 days of non-compliance), with caps of $3,000 for campaign reports and $6,000 for financial statements. The executive director must send written notices via certified mail to delinquent filers, allowing a 10-day appeal window for "good cause" to waive fees. All collected fees are deposited into the state general revenue fund, in addition to any existing penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill encourages the Missouri House of Representatives to promote screening and treatment for chronic kidney disease, which often goes undiagnosed and increases risks for heart attacks and strokes. It directs state health officials to explore public-private partnerships for educating patients and providers about urine tests that can detect early kidney damage, while also urging federal agencies to update guidelines for better cardiovascular-kidney screening access. The legislation focuses on improving early identification in primary care settings, particularly for at-risk groups like those with diabetes or hypertension, to slow disease progression and reduce long-term healthcare costs.

Maddy summaryHJR 115 proposes a constitutional amendment to create a property tax exemption for Missouri disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It defines a "disabled veteran" as a Missouri resident honorably separated from military service with a 100% VA-certified service-connected disability, and a "homestead" as their primary residence (not exceeding 2.5 acres). The exemption would apply to real property used as a primary home, excluding portions rented for more than six months annually. This amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 general election and would replace the current property tax exemption provisions in Missouri's constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacies to inform customers about free accessible prescription labels upon request and provide them to people who are blind, visually impaired, or print-disabled. Pharmacies must offer labels in formats like audio, large print, or Braille that are timely, compatible with prescription readers, and contain all required label information including warnings. The labels must meet industry standards and last for the duration of the prescription. This directly affects pharmacies and people with visual disabilities by ensuring equitable access to prescription information.

Maddy summaryHB 2965 requires Missouri school districts to implement a new graduation requirement starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill mandates the state education department to develop a curriculum framework for Black history and Black literature courses in grades 9-12, to be adopted by the state board of education by 2027-28. All Missouri high school students must complete one unit of credit each in Black history and Black literature to earn a diploma, with limited waivers for transfer students who completed similar courses elsewhere. This policy directly affects public high school students and school districts across Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1042 modifies Missouri's income tax calculation for farmers by requiring them to add back certain federal tax benefits previously deducted from their Missouri taxable income. Specifically, it mandates adding back federal tax refunds (excluding pandemic-related credits), interest on some government bonds, and specific federal deductions like depreciation on farm property purchased between 2002-2003. This directly affects Missouri farmers who claimed these federal deductions, as it increases their Missouri taxable income for those items. The bill clarifies how these adjustments are calculated but does not change the underlying federal tax rules.