Rep. Deanna Self

Maddy summaryHB 1625 modifies drug trafficking penalties by adjusting quantity thresholds for first- and second-degree offenses. It lowers the fentanyl threshold for enhanced penalties from 20mg to 14mg and adds stricter punishments for trafficking near schools, housing, or hotels (e.g., within 2,000 feet of schools or public housing). This bill directly affects individuals trafficking drugs above these new limits, with harsher penalties for larger quantities or offenses in sensitive locations. The changes update existing drug laws to align with current public safety concerns regarding dangerous substances like fentanyl and methamphetamines.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 2481) corrects a misleading title: it does **not** restrict SNAP food purchases but instead requires proof of immigration status for SNAP and other public benefits. It mandates that applicants provide documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or lawful presence (e.g., driver’s license documents or federal immigration status verification) at application and during eligibility reviews. The bill requires state agencies to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to confirm immigration status, with temporary benefits allowed via sworn affidavit for up to 90 days or until birth certificate verification is complete. It directly affects immigrants applying for SNAP, housing assistance, or other state/local public benefits requiring immigration status verification.

Maddy summaryHB 2547 requires anyone placing a surveillance or game camera on private property to first get written consent from the landowner or their representative, or obtain a search warrant under Missouri or U.S. constitutional protections. It directly affects property owners, hunters, security personnel, and others who might use such cameras on private land. The bill also allows law enforcement to place cameras only if facing publicly accessible areas within 100 feet of the location, with approval from the top law enforcement officer. The bill passed the Missouri House with 9-1 support after public hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 1663 requires schools to restrict athletic participation to students competing in sports designated for their biological sex, as documented on their birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite biological sex unless no equivalent sport is available for the student's assigned sex. The bill defines "biological sex" based on reproductive biology at birth and specifies that birth certificate documentation must reflect the sex assigned at birth or correct a clerical error. Violations could result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies. The law expires in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1756 designates the first week of June each year as "June's Week" in Missouri to honor June, a Missouri child with a rare pediatric cancer (ATRT-B), and to raise public awareness about rare pediatric diseases. The bill encourages Missourians to participate in events that promote early symptom recognition and support families affected by these conditions. It is a symbolic observance with no new funding or regulatory changes, solely focused on commemoration and awareness. This is a procedural resolution, not a substantive policy bill.

Maddy summaryHJR 173 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate Missouri's state individual income tax by 2031 if specific revenue goals are met, requiring the legislature to set a tax rate below 1.4% for any tax year starting in 2031 or later. It also restricts expanding sales and use taxes to new services beyond what was taxed as of January 1, 2015, unless the expansion is explicitly tied to reducing the income tax. To offset revenue changes from any tax base expansion, local governments must adjust property taxes, earnings taxes, or sales tax rates by July 1, 2029, without reducing school funding. The amendment further mandates that sales tax rates be adjusted annually to maintain pre-2029 revenue levels, adjusted for inflation. This amendment requires voter approval before taking effect.

Maddy summaryHCR 23 is a non-binding resolution from the Missouri legislature calling on Missouri's members of Congress to support state authority over election rules. It urges them to advocate for constitutional amendments protecting states' rights to set election laws and campaign finance policies, based on the Tenth Amendment. The resolution emphasizes that states, not the federal government, should determine election processes and campaign finance rules to reflect local needs. It does not create new laws but formally requests Missouri's congressional delegation to champion this position. This resolution is part of Missouri's broader stance on preserving state control over elections.

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 summaryThis resolution (HCR 48) is a non-binding statement by Missouri's legislature urging the U.S. Congress to pass federal voter identification laws. It cites public opinion polls showing majority support for requiring photo ID to vote and references the federal SAVE Act as a model. The resolution does not change any voting laws itself but formally requests the U.S. Senate follow the House's passage of the SAVE Act. It directly affects Missouri's congressional delegation, who are asked to advocate for these federal policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2760, the "PRAISE Act," prohibits state and local governments from restricting religious services during emergencies declared under specific laws, directly affecting places of worship and their attendees. It ensures religious services cannot be made impractical by emergency orders, unless the emergency involves imminent dangers like wildfires or terrorism that apply broadly to the area. The bill allows places of worship to be exempt from general emergency restrictions and provides a legal path for civil lawsuits seeking injunctions, damages, or declarations if violations occur. It explicitly excludes emergency evacuations for immediate threats but requires services to resume once the danger passes.