Rep. Marlene Terry

Maddy summaryHB 2171 creates a two-year "Motivational Boot Camp Incarceration Program" within Missouri's Department of Corrections. It allows eligible individuals aged 17-21 with two prior nonviolent offenses to be sentenced to this program instead of jail or prison for a third nonviolent offense (excluding serious crimes like murder or rape). The program requires rigorous physical activity, counseling to address criminal behavior, written rules for participants, and medical clearance before enrollment. Successful completion results in the criminal conviction being expunged from the person's record, while failure leads to the original sentence being imposed. The program expires after six years unless the legislature reauthorizes it.

Maddy summaryHB 2832 creates a new "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman" to independently monitor prison conditions and investigate inmate concerns. The office will track issues like sanitation, abuse, medical care access, and facility safety through annual facility inspections, data collection on incidents (e.g., suicides, assaults), and complaint investigations. It directly affects inmates by providing oversight of their living conditions and rights, and family members by improving access to visitation and communication. The ombudsman will issue public reports and recommendations to the corrections oversight committee, which includes formerly incarcerated individuals and family members. This bill establishes a concrete mechanism for accountability without altering prison funding or sentencing policies.

Maddy summaryHB 2978 limits technology use in Missouri elementary schools (K-5) by capping digital instruction at 45 minutes daily, requiring 70% of assignments to use paper/pencil, and mandating daily access to printed books. The bill prohibits replacing handwriting, cursive instruction (starting in grade 2), or physical manipulatives in core subjects with digital tools, and bans required technology homework or student device carry. Schools must adopt written policies on screen time, report annual compliance, and publish cursive instruction plans, with requirements effective for the 2027-28 school year. It directly affects K-5 students, teachers, and school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2831 modifies Missouri's good time credit system for inmates, allowing eligible individuals to earn time off their sentences by participating in approved programs. Inmates can earn up to 360 days total (capped at 90 days annually) for completing high school/GED equivalents, vocational training, alcohol/drug treatment (excluding court-ordered programs), or 1,000 hours of restorative justice. Credit is revoked for major rule violations, parole revocation, or excessive minor violations, and excludes those sentenced to death or life without parole. The bill also permits retroactive petitions for programs completed between 2010 and 2026, with applications accepted in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2695 modifies Missouri's correctional credit system by creating two distinct types of credit for offenders: "good time" for behavioral compliance and "earned time" for participation in rehabilitation programs. Offenders serving sentences longer than one year (excluding death penalty or life without parole) can earn up to 54 days of good time credit annually for exemplary conduct and up to 10 days of earned time credit for every 30 days in approved programs like education, job training, or substance abuse treatment. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to publish policies on these credits, notify inmates about eligibility, and allows petitioning for earned time credit for programs completed after 2010 starting January 1, 2027. Offenders sentenced to death or life without parole are excluded from credit but their program participation is still documented.

Maddy summaryHB 2047 creates an "automated expungement" system in Missouri, allowing eligible criminal records to be closed without requiring individuals to file court petitions. It applies to people convicted of non-violent offenses (infractions, misdemeanors, or certain felonies) who have completed their sentence, paid all restitution, and had no new felony/misdemeanor convictions (excluding traffic violations) for 1-3 years after completion. Records will be automatically closed by the state's central repository system starting August 28, 2029, for qualifying cases, but excludes juvenile records, traffic violations, and cases with pending charges. This policy change directly affects Missouri residents with eligible convictions who meet the time and offense-free criteria, removing public access to their records while maintaining court access for legal purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 2834 would restore voting rights to Missouri residents on felony probation or parole by removing the current disqualification from voting while under supervision. Currently, individuals convicted of felonies cannot vote while on probation or parole until their supervision ends, but this bill eliminates that restriction. The key change amends state election law (sections 115.133 and 561.026) to delete the provision barring voting during probation or parole. This directly affects thousands of Missourians with felony convictions who are under community supervision but not incarcerated. The bill is pending in the House Corrections and Public Institutions committee after its introduction in January 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2044 replaces Missouri's child custody law to require courts to determine custody based on the child's best interests. It establishes that courts should assume equal parenting time for both parents is in the child's best interest, which can be challenged with evidence of factors like domestic violence or parental agreement. The court must consider specific factors including the child's relationship with each parent, the child's adjustment to home and school, and any history of abuse. The bill defines "third-party custody" as custody awarded to a non-parent but does not create a priority for grandparents or other specific third parties.

Maddy summaryHB 2172 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from blocking charter schools from using properties for education by banning ordinances, deed restrictions, or other rules that prevent such use. It requires school districts to offer unused school buildings (not used for academic purposes with no 2-year plan) to charter schools first, with 60-day public notice online listing key details like square footage and contact info. Charter schools have the right to purchase or lease these buildings at fair market value, and if leasing, they cover maintenance, utilities, and taxes during the term. The bill ensures school districts cannot sell or lease such properties to non-charter entities without giving charter schools the initial opportunity.

Maddy summaryHB 2049 requires Missouri public elementary schools to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce readable cursive documents by the end of fifth grade. It mandates that each student pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The law applies directly to all elementary students in Missouri school districts and charter schools, with implementation details left to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.