Rep. Marlene Terry

Maddy summaryHB 380 extends child support obligations for children enrolled in vocational or higher education until age 22 (or age 21 if not pursuing post-secondary education), provided they maintain at least 12 credit hours per semester, submit academic records, and achieve passing grades. It requires students to provide transcripts showing course enrollment and grades each semester to retain eligibility, with support terminating if they fail half or more of their courses. The bill also allows child support payments to be reduced (abated) if a parent voluntarily relinquishes custody for over 30 consecutive days, and continues support for children with disabilities beyond age 18. These provisions directly affect parents paying support, children in post-secondary education, and courts enforcing child support orders.

Maddy summaryHB 731 allows the Department of Corrections to file a separate "freestanding" claim of actual innocence in postconviction cases, meaning it can be raised independently of other appeals. Courts must review such claims if presented with clear and convincing evidence proving innocence, including evidence not previously considered at trial or during plea proceedings. If the evidence undermines confidence in the original conviction, the court must vacate the judgment. This directly affects individuals already convicted who seek to prove innocence through new evidence not available during their original trial.

Maddy summaryHB 381 establishes that when a court determines parents are unfit, unsuitable, or unable to care for a child, custody may be awarded to a third party with priority given to the child's grandparents. The bill requires courts to consider grandparents first before other third parties (like relatives or non-relatives) when parents are deemed unfit. It does not override parental rights but adds grandparents as the primary priority option in specific custody cases. This change applies only to third-party custody arrangements where the court finds it is in the child's best interest. The bill does not alter existing custody standards for parents but specifies a priority for grandparents in limited circumstances.

Maddy summaryHB 1062 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from creating or enforcing rules that block charter schools from using property transferred from school districts for educational purposes. The bill specifically voids deed restrictions, zoning policies, or other local rules that prevent such property from being used for lawful education by charter schools, including restrictions that only allow non-educational uses. It requires any property sale or lease agreement involving charter schools to include maintenance provisions and declares any violating policy or contract invalid from the start. This directly affects charter schools seeking to use transferred properties and local governments managing land use regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates that history curricula for grades seven through twelve in public schools include specific lessons on Native American and African American history. It requires educators to cover topics such as pre-Columbian Native civilizations, the impact of European colonization, the Trail of Tears, and the history of slavery in the United States. The legislation also specifies that state education agencies cannot force districts to use certain Common Core appendices while reserving curriculum approval authority to local school boards.

Maddy summaryHB 1641 updates the laws governing guardianships and conservatorships in Missouri by replacing existing statutes with new definitions and provisions. The bill directly affects courts, attorneys, and individuals appointed as guardians or conservators for minors and adults who cannot manage their own affairs due to physical, mental, or cognitive conditions. Key changes include establishing three specific classifications of guardianships - general, specialized, and forensic - to tailor care based on the individual's needs and any associated criminal history or safety risks. Additionally, the legislation clarifies terms such as "disabled," "incapacitated person," and "least restrictive alternative" to ensure that legal decisions prioritize the individual's ability to live, learn, and work with the minimum necessary restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how courts determine child custody, visitation, and support payments in cases where parents have separated or divorced. It establishes specific factors judges must consider when calculating support, such as the child's needs, the parents' financial resources, and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not ended. The legislation also clarifies when child support obligations end, allowing payments to continue until a child turns twenty-two if they remain in high school or college, provided they maintain good academic standing. Additionally, the bill permits courts to reduce or pause support payments if a parent voluntarily gives up physical custody of the child for more than thirty consecutive days and outlines procedures for enforcing visitation rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Study Commission on Grandparents Raising Grandchildren to examine the difficulties faced by grandparents who are raising their grandchildren. The commission will be composed of a diverse group of members appointed by various state officials, including the governor, legislators, and representatives from community organizations, with a specific requirement to include a grandparent currently raising a grandchild. After convening its first meeting, the group will hold additional sessions to gather information and develop recommendations, which they must submit to the General Assembly by January 15, 2025. Once the report is filed, the commission will officially end its duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies child custody laws in Missouri to establish a priority for grandparents when a court decides to award custody to a third party, such as a relative or other non-parent caregiver. Under the new rules, if a judge determines that neither parent is suitable or that the child's welfare requires it, the court must first consider awarding custody to a grandparent before looking at other potential third-party candidates. The legislation also clarifies existing definitions of custody and reinforces the state's general policy that maintaining frequent contact with both parents is usually in a child's best interest, while allowing courts to deviate from this standard in cases involving domestic violence or parental unfitness.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Missouri State Board of Education to take action when a school district fails to meet minimum school term requirements or is classified as unaccredited. Under the new rules, the state board must either allow the existing school board to continue governing under specific conditions or appoint a special administrative board to run the district. The special administrative board would consist of at least five members with expertise in school management, where elected school board members can hold no more than 49% of the seats. Additionally, the bill mandates that the state conduct public hearings in unaccredited districts to gather community resources and support plans for returning to accredited status. These measures remain in place until the district achieves provisional accreditation for two consecutive years, at which point a transition process begins.