Rep. Tonya Rush

Maddy summaryHB 3085, known as "Calvin's Law," establishes new safety requirements for motorcycle riders and passengers. It requires all riders under 26 to wear protective headgear while riding, prohibits allowing children under 10 to ride as passengers without a proper seat and foot pegs (with medical exemptions permitted), and mandates that children under 10 wear headgear meeting state standards. Violations of the headgear requirement carry fines up to $25 for adults (or $100 if a child under 10 is involved), while operating without a motorcycle license can lead to escalating penalties, from misdemeanors to felony charges for repeat offenses. The bill also prohibits local governments from imposing additional headgear rules and clarifies that police may stop riders solely to check child passenger compliance (not for general headgear).

Maddy summaryHB 3026 would allow Missouri counties to replace local real and personal property taxes with an earnings tax on wages and business profits, but only after voters approve the change in a county election. The earnings tax would apply to income earned by residents and nonresidents working in the county, as well as business profits, while exempting certain non-profits, life insurance proceeds, and specific income types like deferred compensation. The bill requires that the new tax rate must generate revenue comparable to the current property tax system. This proposal was introduced in 2026 but withdrawn before becoming law.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes state funding mechanisms to help hospitals improve workplace security for health care professionals. It allows hospitals to use state reimbursement for security-related expenses, including new security personnel salaries and physical security upgrades over specified time periods. The legislation also mandates an education and awareness program to promote respect for health care workers and inform the public about legal consequences of assaulting them. These provisions are subject to state budget appropriations and apply to hospitals during the two to five years following the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryHB 1368 creates a state-funded program that provides rebates or vouchers to help eligible residents in designated high-crime areas purchase outdoor security cameras. It directly affects seniors (65+), disabled individuals, or households earning below 150% of the federal poverty level or 60% of state median income, provided they live in a "priority area" identified by the Department of Public Safety based on crime data. The program, starting in 2027, reimburses up to the full cost of qualifying cameras meeting digital recording standards, with applicants agreeing not to record others' private property. Funds come from a dedicated state treasury account, and the program automatically ends in 2033 unless reauthorized.

Maddy summaryHB 1436 establishes Missouri's "Four For More Program," allowing parents of K-12 students to take up to four hours of paid leave per month to work directly at their child's school. Employers who provide this leave receive a tax credit covering 50% of the wages paid during those hours, capped at $50,000 per employer annually and $10 million statewide. The program applies only to parents employed by school districts or entities operating school-based programs, with the tax credit available for tax years starting in 2026. It automatically expires after six years unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1187 prohibits employers from firing, refusing to hire, or otherwise disadvantaging employees based solely on their credit history or credit score. The bill specifically targets employment decisions like pay, promotions, or hiring unless an employer can prove the credit information is directly, materially, and substantially related to the job duties or business operations. This law directly affects employees whose credit history might have been used against them in employment decisions and applies to all employers covered under the state's anti-discrimination laws. Employers must now justify using credit information as essential to the specific role, not as a routine screening tool.

Maddy summaryHB 1285 creates a state-funded program to help Missouri high school students cover transportation costs for dual enrollment courses taken off-campus. It provides reimbursement for mileage expenses at 37 cents per mile for round trips between a student's home and the course location, subject to income-based eligibility requirements (such as free/reduced lunch eligibility or foster care status). The program applies to students enrolled in approved dual credit or dual enrollment courses who attend classes at a location other than their high school and meet economic need criteria. Reimbursements are paid quarterly based on documented travel records. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance these payments, with unused funds carrying over to the next biennium.

Maddy summaryHB 959 requires police departments in Missouri counties with over 1 million residents to create dedicated missing persons units. These units must coordinate reports, share information through state systems like MULES and NCIC, establish communication protocols for missing persons cases, and collaborate with the state highway patrol’s missing persons unit. Departments may hire new staff or reassign current employees using their existing annual operating budget, with no new state funding required. This bill directly affects large-county police departments but does not apply to smaller jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1234 creates an automated expungement process for certain criminal records in Missouri, directly affecting individuals with eligible convictions (such as misdemeanors or non-excluded felonies) who have met waiting periods and completed all obligations. The bill requires court records to be automatically closed without a court petition after 1 year (for minor offenses) or 3 years (for felonies), provided no new offenses occurred and restitution was paid. Prosecuting agencies can object within 60 days if records don’t meet eligibility, involve unpaid restitution, or have pending charges. The law excludes juvenile records, traffic violations, and cases with unresolved charges, while limiting lifetime expungements to two felonies or four misdemeanors. It takes effect for most cases starting August 28, 2028, with a transition period for records eligible by 2025.