Rep. Carolyn Caton

Maddy summaryHB 1850 updates Missouri's pharmacy auditing rules to protect pharmacies from unfair practices. It requires auditors (like insurance companies or pharmacy benefits managers) to give pharmacies 14 days' notice before on-site audits, involve licensed pharmacists for clinical reviews, and treat simple record-keeping mistakes as non-fraudulent. The bill allows pharmacies to correct minor errors within 30 days instead of facing penalties, and permits electronic prescriptions and digital records as valid proof. These changes directly affect Missouri-licensed pharmacies and the entities that audit their billing practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes insurance coverage provisions for orthotic, prosthetic, and assistive devices for individuals enrolled in Missouri's MO HealthNet program, which provides health care to low-income residents. The legislation outlines specific payment rules and coverage limits for various health services, including hospital care, physician services, prescription drugs, and home health care, while explicitly excluding certain providers like abortion facilities from receiving funds. Key provisions include setting payment amounts at no more than 80% of reasonable costs for outpatient services, limiting chiropractic visits to 20 per year, and restricting nursing home coverage for those with significant home equity. The bill also defines eligibility criteria and payment methodologies for different types of care, ensuring services are medically necessary and aligned with federal regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1855 requires Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to add alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to its list of noncommunicable diseases needing mandatory reporting. Healthcare providers must report most cases within seven days of a positive lab result, while labs must report alpha-gal syndrome cases using specific IgE test thresholds (≥0.1 IU/mL). The department must verify cases through random sampling and submit annual reports to the CDC on these diseases. This directly affects healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health officials responsible for disease surveillance in Missouri.

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 summaryHB 2536 repeals two existing Missouri law sections (1.020 and 163.048) and replaces them with five new sections defining terms for legal use. The bill specifically adds definitions for "Female" (describing reproductive anatomy related to egg production) and "Male" (describing reproductive anatomy related to sperm production), alongside standard legal terms like "certified mail" and "county attorney." This is a definitional bill, not a substantive policy change, as it establishes terminology for use in other statutes rather than creating new protections or programs. The bill does not directly affect any specific group or mandate new actions beyond clarifying existing legal language.

Maddy summaryHB 2741 requires commercial drivers applying for a license to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete reports. It makes operating a commercial vehicle without this proficiency a class D misdemeanor (first offense) or class B misdemeanor (repeat), with fines up to $1,000 for drivers and $3,000 for carriers. Drivers must achieve proficiency before operating commercially again, and carriers face penalties for employing non-compliant drivers. The bill directly affects foreign applicants and commercial drivers seeking or holding licenses in the state. It modifies existing requirements to add language proficiency as a mandatory qualification for commercial driver's licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2120 requires Missouri public school districts and charter schools to implement comprehensive antibullying policies. It defines bullying broadly to include physical, verbal, cyber, and electronic harassment that causes fear, disrupts learning, or interferes with educational opportunities. Key requirements include: mandating staff to report witnessed bullying within one school day, banning zero-tolerance disciplinary policies, requiring investigations within ten school days of a report, and providing annual training for staff on policy implementation and student education about bullying prevention. The bill also prohibits retaliation against reporters and mandates specific procedures for notifying parents and addressing incidents, including considerations for self-defense in violent situations.

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 summaryHB 2072 revises Missouri's definition of fourth-degree assault by specifying seven distinct scenarios that constitute the offense, such as recklessly causing injury, placing someone in fear of immediate harm, or knowingly causing offensive physical contact with a person with a disability. It adjusts penalties: most violations remain class A misdemeanors, but causing offensive contact (subdivision 6) or physical pain to a "special victim" (subdivision 7) escalates penalties based on prior offenses - ranging from class C misdemeanors to class D felonies for repeat violations. For subdivision 7 violations, the bill mandates minimum incarceration periods (6 months for first offenses, 1 year for repeat) with no fines or probation until served. This directly affects individuals committing assault, particularly those targeting vulnerable victims or with prior assault records.

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.