Maddy summaryHB 2505 establishes the Missouri Family and Medical Leave Act, requiring employers with at least ten employees to provide unpaid leave for specific family and medical reasons. Eligible workers can take up to 320 hours of leave annually to care for a child, a family member with a serious health condition, or their own serious health condition, and the bill also includes time for attending a child's school activities. While the leave itself is unpaid, employees receiving it must be paid at least 75% of their regular hourly wage or $12 per hour, whichever is higher, and their health insurance coverage must be maintained during the absence. The law defines "serious health condition" to include conditions requiring hospitalization, continuing treatment, or ongoing supervision by a health care provider, and it requires employees to submit medical certificates to verify their eligibility for leave.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 2516 creates a new criminal offense for unlawfully possessing an ammunition feeding device that holds more than ten rounds. The bill defines these devices as magazines, belts, drums, or similar mechanisms that can accept or be converted to hold over ten rounds of ammunition. Under this legislation, possessing such a device without a valid federal exemption would be classified as a class A misdemeanor. The law applies to individuals generally but includes exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and those using the devices in lawful commercial, industrial, or dramatic contexts.
Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that students in Missouri public, charter, and private schools pass an American civics exam as a requirement for high school graduation. The exam consists of one hundred questions modeled after those used for U.S. citizenship applications and must be taken by students entering ninth grade before July 2025, with the requirement shifting to sixth grade for those entering school after that date. Schools may use online testing platforms to administer the exam, and waivers are available for students with disabilities or those transferring from outside the state who have completed equivalent coursework. Additionally, the legislation requires civics and American history courses to include specific details about the racial equality movement and its impact on laws and attitudes.
Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that tax money specifically set aside for school districts cannot be taken away or moved to fund special taxing districts. It also prevents programs or local governments from reducing these dedicated funds or counting them as part of other tax calculations. The law applies to both sales taxes and economic activity taxes, but it does not affect any agreements made before August 28, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain elderly inmates serving life sentences without parole to be moved to minimum-security prisons if they meet specific criteria. To qualify, an offender must be at least sixty-five years old, have a terminal illness, lack a prior conviction for a dangerous felony, and not be a sex offender. Additionally, the inmate must demonstrate good behavior, show signs of self-rehabilitation, and score low on institutional risk and mental health assessments. If approved, the transfer aims to place the individual in a less restrictive correctional facility based on their age and medical condition.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts law enforcement officers from using specific neck holds, known as respiratory choke-holds and carotid restraints, unless they are necessary to prevent serious physical injury or death. It defines these techniques by their intent to control breathing or restrict blood flow and movement, respectively. Under the new rules, any improper use of these holds would result in the immediate dismissal of the officer and the revocation of their license. The legislation aims to limit the circumstances under which these high-risk tactics can be employed by peace officers.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public high schools to display posters in visible areas that inform students about driver education courses, including details on their availability, location, and meeting times. To implement this, the state will create specific rules outlining how schools must post these notices and where they should be placed. The legislation applies directly to all public high schools and the students attending them. Additionally, the bill includes standard legal provisions ensuring that any new rules created under this authority must follow existing state regulations regarding rulemaking.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide, toll-free homicide prevention hotline to assist individuals experiencing homicidal thoughts. The Department of Mental Health must staff the hotline around the clock with trained employees or contractors and create a specialized mobile response team to provide in-person crisis intervention when needed. Staff and mobile team members are required to undergo annual training on conflict resolution, legal issues, and safety protocols, while the department must develop written procedures for handling calls and promote the service through its website and outreach materials. The legislation also allows the department to integrate these services into existing crisis programs if they meet specific standards for availability, training, and public promotion.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a system for automatic voter registration in the state by allowing eligible citizens to be added to voter rolls based on their driver's license or identification card records. It requires the Secretary of State to work with the Department of Revenue and the Department of Corrections to share necessary personal information, including data for individuals released from incarceration, to facilitate this process. Local election authorities will receive nonbinding recommendations for registration and must send a paid postcard to potential registrants, who can opt out by returning the card within thirty days. The bill ensures that local officials retain the final authority to verify eligibility and can remove names from the rolls if an individual is not qualified to vote.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for debt collectors in judicial proceedings, requiring them to verify that legal service of process has been properly completed before attempting to collect a consumer debt through the court system. It also prohibits debt collectors, creditors, and attorneys from sending communications that falsely appear to be official legal or government documents, classifying such deceptive practices as a misdemeanor. If a collector violates these rules, they may face liability for the debtor's actual damages plus a penalty of up to $1,000 if the violation was willful, while the law also allows for the recovery of attorney fees by the prevailing party in any resulting lawsuit.