Rep. Willard Haley

Maddy summaryHB 606 reorganizes Missouri's higher education governance by creating a new "Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development" and replacing the previous division and commission with a nine-member "Coordinating Board for Higher Education." It mandates a voluntary "Ready to Work" endorsement program for high school seniors, requiring schools to develop work-readiness standards with academic components, assessments, and employer guarantees by June 2007. The bill also requires state agencies to make reasonable efforts to relocate employees displaced by program changes. These changes directly affect Missouri's public universities, high schools, workforce development offices, and state employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1200) creates a new "intermediate driver's license" for 16-17 year olds, directly affecting minors seeking to drive. Key provisions require applicants to: hold a temporary permit for 6+ months, complete 40+ hours of supervised driving (with parental/guardian or instructor consent), pass a written test, and pay a $5 fee. Restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (1 a.m.-5 a.m. without supervision), limits on teen passengers (max 1 non-family under 19 for first 6 months), and mandatory seatbelt use. The license transitions to full driving privileges at age 18 if the teen has no alcohol-related offenses or traffic violations in the prior year. The bill’s title referencing "age of marriage" appears inconsistent with its actual focus on driver licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1172 modifies Missouri's Seminary Fund management for the state university system. It establishes a separate custodial account for the fund, requires investments in government bonds, and mandates that annual income from these bonds be used exclusively for the state university's maintenance, its College of Agriculture, and the University of Missouri-Rolla campus. The bill clarifies that all fund assets - including land sale proceeds, gifts, and state certificates of indebtedness - must be preserved as a permanent fund and cannot be diverted for other purposes. It also specifies that the state treasurer must safeguard fund assets and provide annual reports to the university board and general assembly. This procedural bill focuses on administrative clarity and accountability for existing fund management.

Maddy summaryHB 440 modifies tax assessments for utility companies and solar energy projects. It sets a $2,500 per megawatt tax for solar electricity projects (effective 2026) and classifies associated solar land as commercial property from 2026. Telephone companies gain a one-time choice between two tax assessment methods, with school districts allowed to impose fees to offset revenue losses if companies select the new method. The bill directly affects solar developers, telephone companies, and school districts managing utility tax revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 1317 creates tax credits for Missouri businesses selling biodiesel blends, directly affecting retail dealers (at service stations) and distributors selling to final users. It provides a 2-cent-per-gallon credit for blends with 5-10% biodiesel and a 5-cent-per-gallon credit for blends with 10-20% biodiesel, applicable to tax years beginning January 1, 2023, or portions of 2023 tax years. Credits are refundable if exceeding tax liability but capped at $16 million annually, with the program set to expire December 31, 2028, unless reauthorized. The Missouri Department of Revenue administers the program and verifies blend percentages.

Maddy summaryHB 50 allows Missouri electrical corporations to include construction costs for qualifying clean energy plants in customer rates. It specifically applies to new nuclear or renewable energy facilities under 600 megawatts designed to serve retail customers, excluding plants already operational before August 28, 2025. Utilities must submit detailed cost plans to the Public Service Commission for approval before construction begins, and these costs remain subject to review during rate-setting processes. The bill creates an exception to a general prohibition on charging for unfinished construction work, targeting projects under the "Nuclear Clean Power Act."

Maddy summaryHB 329 changes how retirement benefits are calculated for members of the Public School Retirement System and Public Education Employee Retirement System. It offers multiple payment options based on years of service and age, such as: - A standard formula (2.5% of final average salary per year of service for 30+ years) - Modified rates for those with 25-29 years of service (e.g., 2.35% for 28+ years) - Survivor benefit choices (e.g., continuing payments to a nominated beneficiary after death). The bill directly affects current and future retirees in these systems, allowing them to select payment structures that best suit their service history and retirement timing. It does not alter funding levels but modifies benefit calculation mechanics.

Maddy summaryHB 1238 allows certain property owners to send their children to public schools in districts where they pay school taxes without tuition fees. Specifically, owners of residential or agricultural property who pay school taxes in a non-resident district may send up to four children to that district’s public schools (excluding charter schools) if they meet requirements: proving at least $2,000 in annual school taxes paid for four consecutive years, owning the property for that period, and providing 30 days’ written notice. Residential property must not exceed four units, and property owners cannot send children outside their county for residential property. This replaces prior tax-credit rules and applies to school years beginning July 1, 2023, with specific enrollment limits for districts.

Maddy summaryHB 53 updates licensing rules for child care facilities in Missouri. It requires temporary licenses (valid up to 12 months) for new sites or expansions, mandating background checks and approved fire/sanitation inspections. The bill allows facilities to request variances from licensing rules if they don’t endanger children’s health or safety, with the department bearing the burden of proof if denying such requests. It also adds location restrictions, prohibiting licenses for facilities within 1,000 feet of certain sex offender registration sites. These changes directly affect child care providers, inspectors, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Maddy summaryHB 51, a proposed Missouri bill, prohibits financial institutions from requiring the use of a specific "firearms code" (5723) for gun retailers or discriminating against them in payment processing. It bans banks and credit unions from declining transactions, charging higher fees, or limiting services solely because a business sells firearms or ammunition. The bill directly affects Missouri gun retailers, their customers, and financial institutions processing payments for firearms-related transactions. Enforcement would be handled by the attorney general, with potential fines up to $10,000 per violation for continued noncompliance after a warning. The law aims to prevent financial institutions from using transaction codes to track or suppress lawful firearm commerce.