Rep. Donna Barnes

Maddy summaryHB 954 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are National Guard members from other states when called to active state duty by their respective governors. It ensures these individuals receive the same reemployment rights, protection from discrimination, and civil relief under SCRA (50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq.) as active-duty military. Employers must post a notice about these rights, and the attorney general can enforce them or pursue legal action if violated. The bill directly affects Guard members and their employers by codifying existing federal SCRA benefits for state duty scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1200) creates a new "intermediate driver's license" for 16-17 year olds, directly affecting minors seeking to drive. Key provisions require applicants to: hold a temporary permit for 6+ months, complete 40+ hours of supervised driving (with parental/guardian or instructor consent), pass a written test, and pay a $5 fee. Restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (1 a.m.-5 a.m. without supervision), limits on teen passengers (max 1 non-family under 19 for first 6 months), and mandatory seatbelt use. The license transitions to full driving privileges at age 18 if the teen has no alcohol-related offenses or traffic violations in the prior year. The bill’s title referencing "age of marriage" appears inconsistent with its actual focus on driver licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 294 lowers the automatic age exemption for jury service in Missouri from 75 to 70 years old. It directly affects Missouri residents aged 70 or older who receive a jury summons. The bill replaces the previous age threshold in Section 494.430 with the new 70-year limit, while keeping other exemptions (like for nursing mothers, health care providers, or those facing undue hardship) unchanged. This change simplifies the process for older citizens to be excused from jury duty without needing to apply for hardship exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 1408 allows firefighters (including volunteers) to directly authorize vehicle towing at accident scenes to clear traffic hazards, directly affecting accident victims, firefighters, and local towing companies. The bill requires firefighters to use Missouri-based towing companies unless an emergency exists or the vehicle owner requests a specific company, and prohibits out-of-state towing without consent. Unauthorized towing by tow trucks faces penalties ranging from a class D misdemeanor (first offense) to a class D felony (third offense). This policy change streamlines scene clearance by expanding who can initiate towing, while maintaining owner consent rights and local company preferences.

Maddy summaryHB 1023 prevents the Department of Health and Senior Services from denying a hospital trauma center status solely based on its distance from another trauma center. This directly affects hospitals seeking Level I, II, or III trauma center designations who would otherwise face geographic barriers. The bill requires the department to grant designation if a hospital meets clinical criteria (including national verification or site review), while maintaining other standards like clinical evidence-based guidelines. It does not change requirements for STEMI or stroke centers, which have separate provisions.