Rep. Marlene Terry

Maddy summaryHB 3255 creates Missouri's "Universal Health Assurance Program," a statewide public insurance system providing comprehensive health, mental health, and dental care - including preventive screenings - to all state residents. The program establishes a board of governors (with diverse representation) and six regional advisory councils to develop health plans, set fees, and manage the Missouri Health Care Trust Fund. Key provisions include requiring uniform payments, streamlined administration through a single public insurer, and annual reporting to state leaders on program operations and policy recommendations. The bill aims to improve timely access to quality care, ensure adequate funding, and reduce overall health care spending.

Maddy summaryHB 3397 proposes to exempt purchases made at prison canteens or commissaries from state and local sales and use taxes in Missouri. This change would directly benefit incarcerated individuals and prison staff by reducing the cost of essential goods purchased within correctional facilities. The bill amends existing tax exemption statutes to specifically include these prison retail transactions alongside other current exemptions for items like agricultural supplies and manufacturing equipment. By removing sales tax from these specific prison purchases, the legislation aims to lower expenses for inmates without altering the broader tax structure for other consumers.

Maddy summaryHB 2043 revises Missouri's child custody and support laws by replacing three existing statutes with new provisions. It requires courts to consider specific factors when setting support, including the child's needs, parents' finances, custody arrangements, and work-related childcare costs. The bill adds that support payments may be reduced or paused if a parent voluntarily gives up custody for over 30 consecutive days. It also extends parental support obligations until age 22 for children in secondary school or vocational/college programs (if enrolled full-time and making progress), or for incapacitated children beyond age 18.

Maddy summaryHB 2046 requires investor-owned electric utilities in Missouri to reimburse customers and local governments for actual damages caused by specific power outages. If more than 0.8% of a utility’s customers experience a 4+ hour outage with less than 50% voltage or total power loss, or a damaging power surge, the utility must pay for direct losses like spoiled food but excludes indirect costs. Local governments affected by the outage can also be reimbursed for emergency expenses. Utilities can seek a waiver from the Public Service Commission if the outage resulted from unavoidable events like severe weather, customer tampering, or third-party damage, but they cannot recover these costs from customers through rate increases.

Maddy summaryHB 2053 establishes a formal process for Missouri voters to recall elected city officials in third-class cities with optional government. It requires recall petitions to collect signatures from at least 25% of registered voters, include each signer’s address and date, and state reasons for recall (misconduct, incompetence, or failure to perform duties) in under 200 words. The bill limits recall attempts to once every six months and prohibits recalled officials from running for the special election or being appointed to fill the vacancy. This bill directly affects city council members, mayors, and other elected officials in qualifying municipalities.

Maddy summaryHB 2052 replaces Missouri's existing laws governing fourth-class cities (the smallest cities, typically with populations under 5,000) with 40 new sections. The bill requires voter approval for cities to expand or reduce their boundaries and updates election rules for city officials, including allowing longer terms (e.g., four years for mayor or collector) through voter-approved ordinances. It also gives cities the option to appoint key roles like chief of police or collector with voter approval instead of requiring election for those positions. This modernizes governance rules for Missouri's smallest municipalities.

Maddy summaryHB 2038 creates a property tax exemption program for Missouri homeowners aged 65 or older who live in their primary residence and have a household income of $125,000 or less (adjusted annually for inflation). Starting in 2027, eligible homeowners will receive a 100% exemption on property taxes for their homestead, meaning they pay no tax on their primary residence after other exemptions are applied. To qualify, individuals must reapply annually, and the exemption replaces all other homestead-related property tax credits or relief programs. This program directly affects low-to-moderate income seniors owning their primary home in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 2050 requires school superintendents in Missouri school districts to reside within the district boundaries if the district is unaccredited, at risk of losing accreditation, or facing a funding deficit. This rule applies to all new superintendent contracts entered into after the bill's effective date. The bill also allows districts to share a superintendent, requiring the shared superintendent to reside in a district meeting one of the three conditions, and provides $30,000 annually in state aid for districts that share a superintendent (subject to using funds for teacher compensation or counseling services).

Maddy summaryHB 2048 requires Missouri's state board of education to establish a special administrative board for school districts that fail to meet minimum school term requirements or are classified as unaccredited. The bill mandates at least two annual public hearings in the affected district to gather community input and develop plans for returning to accreditation. If a district remains unaccredited, the state board can either allow the existing school board to continue under new conditions or suspend the elected board and appoint a seven-member special administrative board with specific qualifications (including teachers, principals, parents, and finance experts). Members receive a $500 monthly stipend and must meet monthly, with appointments subject to Senate review if requested by a local legislator. This directly affects unaccredited school districts and their communities by changing governance structures until accreditation is restored.

Maddy summaryHB 2040 revises Missouri's criminal penalties for custody-related offenses. It creates two new offenses: "interference with custody" (a felony if a child is taken out of state) and "parental kidnapping" (a felony escalating to higher levels based on how long a child is detained). The bill requires courts to order defendants to pay restitution to legal custodians for reasonable expenses incurred in searching for or returning the child. It directly affects individuals who illegally remove, conceal, or take children from legal custody without court authorization. The law replaces outdated sections of Missouri law with these updated penalty structures and restitution requirements.