Rep. David Smith

Maddy summaryHB 3529 designates June 28th each year as "Eliot and Muriel Battle Day" in Missouri. The bill honors Eliot Battle (the first Black faculty member at Hickman High School) and Muriel Battle (the first Black principal in Columbia Public Schools), who worked together to ease racial tensions in the 1960s. It encourages Missouri citizens to participate in events celebrating their legacy, which is already recognized through schools named after them in Columbia. This is a symbolic commemorative resolution with no new policy or regulatory impact.

Maddy summaryHB 2856 caps rental application fees at $15 per prospective tenant and requires landlords to use these fees only to cover actual processing costs. Landlords must refund any unused portion of the fee within 20 days and provide a receipt (electronic or paper) upon payment. This bill directly affects prospective renters applying for housing by limiting upfront costs and ensuring transparency. It does not apply to security deposits or rent paid before tenancy begins.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that individuals arrested for criminal offenses who need a mental health evaluation to determine if they can proceed with trial, conviction, or sentencing must receive that evaluation within 45 days of arrest. It also mandates that if an evaluation shows a person needs treatment, they must be transferred to a mental health facility within 45 days of the evaluation. Exceptions allow delays for medical emergencies, lack of evaluators (with documented efforts), or court-approved delays up to 15 days. The Department of Mental Health must submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing compliance with these timelines.

Maddy summaryHB 2956 allows prosecutors to refile a criminal case if it was dismissed by a court before a hearing or by the prosecutor at any time. However, if the case is dismissed a second time by either the court or the prosecutor, the prosecutor may no longer refile it. This bill directly affects prosecutors and defendants in cases where dismissals occur before trial, establishing clear limits on refiling opportunities after two dismissals. The policy change creates a two-strike rule for case dismissals, preventing repeated refiling after a second dismissal.

Maddy summaryHB 2569 modifies Missouri's law governing civilian review boards for police oversight. It allows cities, counties, and city-county entities to establish or use existing civilian review boards to investigate public complaints about police misconduct, including excessive force, abuse of authority, or offensive language (such as slurs based on race, religion, gender, or disability). Boards must base findings on verified evidence, cannot rely solely on unsworn complaints, and cannot consider unsubstantiated prior complaints. The bill exempts cities with 125,000-160,000 residents, permitting them to create boards with broader authority to handle such complaints.

Maddy summaryHB 2571 prohibits the sale, lease, loan, or trade of semi-automatic or fully automatic firearms to anyone under 20 years old in commercial transactions (such as stores or online). This directly affects individuals under 20 seeking to purchase these firearms, including those buying online or in person. The bill amends Missouri law to set a minimum age of 20 for such purchases, with exceptions for law enforcement and military personnel on duty. It defines "semi-automatic firearm" as a repeating firearm requiring manual trigger pull for each shot.

Maddy summaryHB 2568 exempts most retail sales of food from Missouri's state sales tax starting January 1, 2027, replacing the current 1% tax rate. The exemption applies to qualifying food items (like groceries sold in stores) but excludes restaurants and similar establishments where over 80% of revenue comes from prepared food. The exemption includes a three-year sunset provision, meaning it will automatically expire on December 31, 2030, unless the legislature reauthorizes it. This change affects grocery retailers and food sellers but does not impact local sales taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 2572 updates Missouri law to regulate the sale and handling of detached catalytic converters. The bill requires businesses like salvage yards, used parts dealers, and scrap processors to obtain specific licenses and maintain detailed transaction records for every sale of detached catalytic converters. These records must include the buyer's name, address, and vehicle identification number, and be kept for three years with quarterly reports to the state. The law aims to deter theft and illegal sales by creating a transparent tracking system for these vehicle parts.

Maddy summaryHB 2573 repeals Missouri's existing charter school laws and replaces them with new restrictions on where and how charter schools can operate. The bill limits charter school establishment to specific school districts (e.g., unaccredited districts, districts in cities over 350,000 population, or districts with three years of provisional accreditation) and restricts enrollment in larger districts to 35% of total students. It also narrows eligible sponsors to school boards, specific colleges/universities, and the Missouri charter public school commission. This bill directly affects all Missouri school districts considering charter schools by tightening eligibility rules and operational limits.

Maddy summaryHB 2567 modifies Missouri's definition of "commercial breeder" to include hobby or show breeders who maintain up to ten intact female dogs. Previously, these breeders were exempt, but the bill removes that exclusion, requiring them to comply with existing commercial breeder regulations. Key provisions include mandating adequate food, housing, and water standards for all animals under this definition. The bill directly affects hobby and show breeders who currently operate without these requirements but now must follow the same rules as larger commercial operations. This is a definition change, not a new regulatory requirement, expanding the scope of existing animal care laws.