Rep. Chad Perkins

Maddy summaryHB 3000 modifies Missouri's process for citizens to request audits of local government finances. It allows residents or property owners within a political subdivision (like a county or city) to petition for an audit by gathering signatures from a specific percentage of voters - ranging from 25% for small areas to 5% for large ones (with minimum signature counts). The political subdivision must pay the audit costs, which are managed through a new "Petition Audit Revolving Trust Fund" created by the bill. The bill also limits audits to once every three years per subdivision and requires petitions to include estimated costs.

Maddy summaryHB 2178 changes how property taxes are calculated in Missouri. It sets new assessment rates: 19% for most residential property, 12% for certain commercial land, and 32% for others, while reducing rates for specific items like solar panels (5%) and historic vehicles (5%). The bill also adds rules for assessing property near airports (deducting costs paid by non-government parties for improvements) and requires counties to submit two-year assessment plans for approval. These changes directly affect all property owners, counties, and cities in Missouri, particularly those with airport-adjacent land or solar installations meeting the 2022 deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits digital instruction to 45 minutes daily for elementary students in kindergarten through grade five and requires at least 70% of assignments to be completed using pen, paper, or handwriting practice. It mandates daily access to printed books, hands-on learning tools (like blocks or science materials) in core subjects, and explicit cursive handwriting instruction starting in grade two, with requirements to read/write legible cursive by grade five. Exemptions apply for students with IEPs or 504 plans, and schools must adopt written technology-use policies, report device usage, and verify compliance with paper-based and cursive requirements. The law takes effect for the 2027-28 school year.

Maddy summaryHJR 153 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri courts. It would replace current election-based selection with a system where the governor appoints judges (with Senate approval) from a list of nominees recommended by a nonpartisan judicial commission. The amendment also establishes a new seven-year term for all judges, including circuit and associate circuit judges, instead of varying terms under current law. Voters in certain counties could later choose through a ballot measure whether to maintain this appointment system or revert to elections. This change would affect all judges serving in Missouri's circuit courts, associate circuit courts, and higher courts, with the proposal requiring voter approval in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 2751 replaces two Missouri laws related to public safety. It creates a new exemption from disqualification for the food stamp program for individuals convicted of a drug felony who actively participate in or complete substance abuse treatment, comply with court and treatment requirements, avoid new drug offenses for one year, and pass sobriety tests. The bill also modifies how inmates earn time off their sentences by requiring specific conditions for good time credit, which applies only to the current sentence and can be revoked by correctional authorities. These changes directly affect people seeking food assistance and inmates in Missouri's correctional system.

Maddy summaryHCR 42 is a non-binding resolution expressing Missouri's support for TrumpRx, a proposed online platform connecting patients with lower-cost prescription drugs. It urges health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers to count payments made through TrumpRx (and similar direct-purchasing platforms) toward patients' deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. The resolution also asks Missouri's health department to assess the federal GENEROUS Model, which could help Medicaid programs access lower drug prices. This resolution does not change laws but recommends policy adjustments to ensure patients using direct-purchasing platforms receive full credit for their drug costs.

Maddy summaryHB 2767 imposes a 4% charge on prepaid wireless service purchases in Missouri, affecting consumers who buy prepaid wireless plans and the sellers who sell them. The charge applies to amounts over $15 per transaction (e.g., $20 purchase = 4% on $5), must be collected by sellers and separately disclosed, and cannot be included in other taxes. All collected funds are remitted to the state, initially covering administrative costs before being deposited into the Missouri 911 service trust fund for emergency call system operations. This bill modifies how prepaid wireless 911 service fees are collected and allocated, effective January 1, 2019.

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 summaryHCR 23 is a non-binding resolution from the Missouri legislature calling on Missouri's members of Congress to support state authority over election rules. It urges them to advocate for constitutional amendments protecting states' rights to set election laws and campaign finance policies, based on the Tenth Amendment. The resolution emphasizes that states, not the federal government, should determine election processes and campaign finance rules to reflect local needs. It does not create new laws but formally requests Missouri's congressional delegation to champion this position. This resolution is part of Missouri's broader stance on preserving state control over elections.

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.