Rep. Bill Irwin

Maddy summaryHB 1447 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are National Guard members of other states when called to active duty by their respective governors for state service. It ensures these individuals receive the same reemployment rights, protection from discrimination, and civil relief (like rent or debt relief) as those on federal duty under federal law. Employers must post a notice informing employees of these rights, and individuals can sue if denied protections or seek enforcement through the attorney general. The bill directly affects National Guard members activated for state emergencies or training, not federal deployments.

Maddy summaryHB 70 modifies fee structures for businesses reporting hazardous materials to Missouri's Emergency Response Commission. It requires most employers (excluding local governments and family farms) to pay a $100 annual fee with their hazardous materials report, while petroleum retailers pay $50 per facility. Businesses already paying federal hazardous materials fees can deduct those from state fees, and all fees are capped at $10,000 per year per employer. Funds collected support chemical emergency preparedness activities, including planning, training, and public safety notifications.

Maddy summaryHB 1176 creates a state income tax credit for Missouri taxpayers who donate to qualifying pregnancy resource centers. Taxpayers can claim 50% of donations for 2007-2020, 70% for 2021-2025, and 100% after 2026, up to $50,000 annually per taxpayer. To qualify, centers must provide free, non-abortion services (no abortions performed or referred) and meet strict criteria like offering in-person support and operating under Missouri law. The bill caps total annual tax credits at $3.5 million for fiscal years ending June 2021, with no cap after July 2021, and requires state verification of eligible centers.

Maddy summaryHB 113 requires schools and colleges to restrict student athletic participation to the sex listed on a student’s birth certificate (or another government record if the birth certificate is unavailable), based on biological sex at birth. It directly affects transgender students seeking to compete in sports aligned with their gender identity, as well as schools that must comply with this rule to receive state funding. The law prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite sex, except when no equivalent athletic opportunity exists for their assigned sex. Violations result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies for denied opportunities. The bill expires on August 28, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 978 makes it a crime to secretly install or place a tracking device on a motor vehicle without the consent of all vehicle owners, specifically to monitor or follow occupants. This directly affects individuals who install trackers without permission (e.g., stalkers, unauthorized monitors), while exempting law enforcement during investigations, parents monitoring minor children in their vehicle, lienholders repossessing vehicles, rental companies, and private investigators with consent. Key provisions require consent from all owners for tracking and define exceptions for legitimate uses like vehicle recovery or parental safety. Violations are punishable as a class B misdemeanor. The bill aims to prevent unauthorized surveillance while clarifying legal exceptions for common scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Missouri public and private schools, including colleges, to allow students to participate in athletic competitions only in categories matching their biological sex as recorded on their official birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits participation in sports designated for the opposite biological sex, with one exception: a female student may compete in a male-designated sport if no comparable female sport is available. Schools violating this rule risk losing state funding, and affected students or parents can sue for relief, including attorney fees. The policy aims to ensure athletic opportunities for female students by requiring participation based on birth sex records.