Rep. Bill Irwin

Maddy summaryHJR 62 is a procedural bill proposing to amend Missouri's Constitution to establish new rules for submitting future constitutional amendments to voters. It requires that each proposed amendment be voted on separately at general or special elections, limits amendments to one article per ballot, and mandates specific newspaper publication notices before voting. The bill also sets requirements for approval (a majority statewide and in most congressional districts) and specifies that approved amendments take effect 30 days after the election. This bill does not change any existing policies but alters the process for how future constitutional changes would be proposed and approved.

Maddy summaryHB 194 prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, requiring physicians to confirm heartbeat presence (using standard medical practice) before performing most abortions, except in medical emergencies. It modifies state law to define "unborn children" as having rights from conception and mandates detailed abortion reporting, including heartbeat detection results. The bill allows private civil lawsuits against doctors, clinics, or insurers who perform or facilitate abortions without heartbeat confirmation, with penalties of $10,000 per violation. It directly affects healthcare providers performing abortions and insurers covering such procedures, while prohibiting state enforcement of the law.

Maddy summaryHB 111 declares that human life begins at conception and grants unborn children legal rights to life, health, and well-being comparable to other persons under state law. It requires state laws to be interpreted as recognizing these rights for unborn children at every stage of development, from conception until birth, unless overridden by federal law or specific state statutes. The bill explicitly states it does not create legal liability against women for not following prenatal care guidelines. This legislation directly affects legal interpretations of rights for unborn children and would require state statutes to align with these provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 625 modifies the state's minimum wage law to exempt employees under 20 years old from future minimum wage increases starting January 1, 2025. Under this bill, workers under 20 in private businesses would continue to be paid the $6.50 hourly rate in effect on December 31, 2024, rather than the higher rates scheduled to take effect in 2025 ($13.75) and 2026 ($15.00). The exemption applies only to private employers, while public employers (like government agencies) remain subject to full minimum wage increases. This change does not affect other wage laws or requirements for young workers under existing exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 817 creates Missouri's "Motivational Boot Camp Incarceration Program" within the Department of Corrections, targeting individuals aged 17-21 with two prior nonviolent convictions who face a third nonviolent offense. The program replaces jail or prison sentences with a two-year, structured regimen featuring rigorous physical training, counseling to address criminal behavior, and discipline, requiring participants to complete all components to qualify for record expungement. Eligibility requires court approval after verifying the individual’s physical/mental fitness, absence of contagious diseases, and departmental provisional approval. Upon successful completion, the court must expunge the conviction from the person’s record; failure to complete may result in a traditional jail or prison sentence.

Maddy summaryHB 1154 creates a legal framework for court-ordered outpatient mental health treatment for adults with mental disorders who meet specific criteria. It directly affects individuals aged 18+ who cannot make informed treatment decisions and would likely face serious harm without supervision. Key provisions include allowing mental health providers or health agencies to file petitions, requiring a hearing within two days with the respondent's right to legal counsel, and mandating treatment plans managed by case managers that include services like therapy, medication management, and housing assistance. The bill establishes clear criteria for court orders, such as a history of treatment non-compliance or past violent behavior, and requires "clear and convincing" evidence for approval. This bill has been referred to committee but is not yet law.

Maddy summaryHJR 14 proposes a constitutional amendment to Missouri's Constitution that would replace Article I, Section 2 with new language affirming a "natural right to life" for all humans. The key provision explicitly defines "person" to include "every in utero human child at every stage of biological development from the moment of conception until birth." This amendment would require abortion restrictions under Missouri law, as it adds that "nothing in this constitution secures or protects a right to abortion." The amendment will be submitted to Missouri voters in the 2026 general election, with no expected fiscal impact.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.

Maddy summaryHB 981 sets three specific conditions under which the director of public safety may deny a peace officer license or entry into basic training: if an applicant is not a U.S. citizen, if they previously had a license permanently revoked, or if they had a license suspended. The bill requires the director to notify applicants in writing of denial reasons and their right to appeal within 30 days to an administrative hearing commission. The commission reviews whether the denial cause existed but cannot override the director’s judgment on the severity of the issue or consider rehabilitation. This law directly affects individuals seeking to become peace officers in the state, particularly non-citizens and those with prior license issues.

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.