Rep. Gregg Bush

Maddy summaryHB 1901 replaces Missouri's outdated indoor air quality laws with a new "Missouri Clean Indoor Air Act" (sections 191.2710-191.2750). The bill prohibits smoking and vaping in most enclosed public areas - including bars, restaurants, and workplaces - while defining specific terms like "bar," "cigar-tobacco bar," and "electronic smoking device" (ESD) to clarify enforcement. It directly affects businesses (employers), employees, and public venues by requiring smoke-free environments, with strict rules for cigar-tobacco bars (e.g., freestanding locations and revenue limits). The law includes penalty provisions for violations and explicitly exempts entryways and certain medical devices.

Maddy summaryHB 1926 prohibits health care professionals in Missouri from documenting or disclosing a patient's citizenship or immigration status in medical records, except when assessing eligibility for social or community services. It specifically bans sharing this information with law enforcement agencies under any circumstances. The bill establishes that licensing boards must investigate violations, imposing one-year license suspensions for intentional disclosures and probation for accidental ones. This law directly affects doctors, nurses, and other licensed health care providers who handle patient records across Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1927 prohibits Missouri health insurance plans from requiring prior authorization (pre-approval) for inpatient psychiatric hospital services. This bill directly affects patients seeking psychiatric hospitalization and health insurers who currently must approve such care before coverage. The key provision removes the requirement for insurers to review and approve inpatient psychiatric care in advance, streamlining access to treatment. It applies specifically to inpatient psychiatric hospital services, not other types of care or outpatient treatment. The bill repeals existing prior authorization rules for this service under Missouri law.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects Missouri health care professionals (like doctors and nurses) from lawsuits when they ask patients about home safety hazards during medical visits. It grants immunity for inquiring about dangerous substances or unsafe conditions in patients' homes, offering safety education, and documenting such findings in medical records. The law directly affects health care providers during patient assessments, ensuring they can discuss home safety without legal risk. It clarifies that these protections do not override existing rules restricting inquiries about firearm ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 2740 creates a governance board at the University of Missouri to oversee and report on research using radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating rare pediatric diseases (affecting fewer than 200,000 children under 18 in the U.S.). The board, including university medical representatives, legislative appointees, a patient advocate, and an industry partner, must submit annual public reports to Missouri lawmakers by December 31 each year detailing completed research projects, outcomes, funding used, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the University of Missouri system, patient advocates, and the Missouri legislature through its reporting requirements. The board’s duties expire on June 30, 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 2355 would authorize Missouri's Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver from Medicare and Medicaid to create a "Food is Medicine" program within MO HealthNet. This program would provide nutrition services - including counseling, meals, prescriptions, and grocery support - to MO HealthNet participants diagnosed with nutrition-related chronic diseases like diabetes or heart conditions. The bill requires prioritizing community organizations and local farms for food purchases in nutrition prescriptions. It directly affects low-income Missourians enrolled in MO HealthNet who manage chronic health conditions linked to diet. The bill is currently in the Health and Mental Health committee for review.

Maddy summaryHB 2830 proposes increasing a user fee collected by Missouri recorders of deeds from $3 to $9 per recorded property document. This fee change directly affects property owners and real estate professionals who must pay the fee when recording deeds, mortgages, or other land-related documents. The additional $6 per transaction (making the total $9) would be sent to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, specifically designated for housing-related programs under Section 215.034. The bill does not alter other fee components, such as the $2 retained by recorders for office operations or the $1 allocated to land survey and local records funds.

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 2644 creates the "Respiratory Care Interstate Compact," allowing respiratory therapists licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. This directly affects licensed respiratory therapists and supports active military members and their spouses who relocate across state lines. The bill establishes a "Compact Privilege" that lets therapists practice under their home state license while adhering to the patient’s location rules, requiring only a criminal background check and active home state license. It aims to improve access to respiratory therapy services, reduce administrative burdens, and address workforce shortages without altering state licensing authority.

Maddy summaryHB 2570 requires health insurers and health benefit plans (including MO HealthNet and Medicaid managed care) to pay for anesthesia services based on defined "anesthesia time" units without imposing time limits or restricting how that time is calculated. The bill prohibits insurers from setting arbitrary time caps on anesthesia payment or excluding all anesthesia time when determining reimbursement. It specifically affects anesthesia providers (like anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists) by mandating payment based on standardized time units and prevailing medical billing standards. The law passed as an emergency measure to ensure timely payment for these medically necessary services.