Rep. Ron Fowler

Maddy summaryHB 1756 designates the first week of June each year as "June's Week" in Missouri to honor June, a Missouri child with a rare pediatric cancer (ATRT-B), and to raise public awareness about rare pediatric diseases. The bill encourages Missourians to participate in events that promote early symptom recognition and support families affected by these conditions. It is a symbolic observance with no new funding or regulatory changes, solely focused on commemoration and awareness. This is a procedural resolution, not a substantive policy bill.

Maddy summaryHB 2061 requires Missouri public schools and colleges to prohibit antisemitic harassment and discrimination as rigorously as racial discrimination. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 definition and mandates that schools integrate this into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and clarifies that the law does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal/state discrimination laws. This directly affects all public educational institutions in Missouri, requiring them to address antisemitic conduct that creates fear or impedes access to campus activities.

Maddy summaryHB 3010 sets strict time limits for health insurance companies on prior authorization decisions for medical services. It requires insurers to make initial review decisions within 36 hours, provide phone notifications within 24 hours for both approvals and denials, and send written confirmation within 1-2 working days. The bill specifically extends approval validity to 12 months for chronic conditions (like cancer treatment) and prohibits billing patients for services with valid prior authorization, except for standard cost-sharing. These rules apply directly to health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients enrolled in health benefit plans.

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 summaryHB 2069 establishes legal rules for fully autonomous vehicles (SAE Levels 4-5) operating without human drivers in the state. It requires these vehicles to achieve a "minimal risk condition" during system failures, submit a law enforcement plan to public safety, and carry proof of financial responsibility. The bill mandates special vehicle registration and titling identifying them as autonomous, while clarifying that automated systems are legally considered the "driver" for traffic law compliance. It also specifies crash reporting protocols and exempts these vehicles from certain driver-focused equipment laws when operating autonomously.

Maddy summaryHB 3113 requires public buildings to store naloxone (an overdose reversal medication) in first aid kits and near defibrillators, and to inform occupants of its location and emergency procedures. It designates April as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" and mandates school districts to establish drug-free advisory committees with community input, implement grade 6-12 fentanyl education, and develop prevention programs for students. The bill also directs law enforcement to investigate all drug-related deaths as homicide crime scenes, regardless of criminal charges, and to collaborate with schools on drug trafficking prevention in school zones. These provisions directly affect public buildings, school districts, and law enforcement agencies across Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1908 ensures Missouri courts can grant a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation even if one party is pregnant. The bill explicitly states that pregnancy status does not prevent a court from entering such a judgment, removing any prior barrier. Courts must still meet standard requirements, including residency, the marriage being irretrievably broken (for divorce) or not (for legal separation), and arrangements for children and property. This change directly affects individuals in Missouri family court cases involving pregnancy who seek divorce or legal separation.

Maddy summaryHB 2672 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Personal Property Tax Credit Act," allowing counties to offer a tax credit on personal property taxes for qualifying disabled veterans who own up to two vehicles. The credit equals the veteran's U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (up to 100%), directly benefiting Missouri veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating who reside in adopting counties. Counties must voluntarily adopt the credit via local ordinance, and the credit reduces the veteran's tax bill without changing the vehicle's assessed value or tax rate. Veterans must provide annual proof of disability rating and vehicle ownership, and the credit does not apply to taxes for the blind pension fund. Counties decide whether to implement the credit, with no requirement for statewide adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 2588 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Homestead Tax Credit Act," allowing Missouri counties to offer a real property tax credit to eligible disabled veterans who own their primary residence. It directly affects veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, whose primary home has a market value of $500,000 or less. The credit equals all local property taxes paid (excluding state blind pension fund levies) on the qualified residence, is non-refundable, and carries over to a surviving spouse who remains in the home and doesn't remarry. Counties must adopt the program, and veterans must elect to participate; it does not reduce assessed property value or affect bonded indebtedness calculations.

Maddy summaryHB 1694, the "Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation," creates a legal defense for Missouri residents and businesses targeted by lawsuits alleging website accessibility violations under the ADA or state law. It defines "abusive litigation" as lawsuits primarily seeking monetary settlement rather than improving accessibility, and allows Missouri residents or the Attorney General to challenge such suits in court. Key provisions include a 90-day window for defendants to fix accessibility issues before new claims can be deemed abusive, and courts may award attorney fees and punitive damages (up to three times fees) against parties filing abusive lawsuits. The bill expires if the federal DOJ issues website accessibility standards under the ADA. It directly affects Missouri-based website operators and plaintiffs filing accessibility lawsuits in state courts.