Rep. Kem Smith

Maddy summaryHB 116 establishes a two-year pilot program (2026-27 and 2027-28) to develop media literacy education in select K-12 school districts. It requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to choose 5-7 diverse districts to integrate critical analysis skills - such as evaluating news accuracy, identifying misinformation, understanding digital ethics, and recognizing bias - into daily classroom lessons. The pilot will generate guidelines and recommendations by 2029, which could inform future statewide standards for media literacy education. The bill does not mandate statewide implementation but aims to study effective strategies before considering broader adoption.

Maddy summaryHB 411 requires the Department of Revenue to create an interactive online map on its public website showing property tax rates and boundaries for all local governments that collect taxes (like school districts, fire districts, and city tax areas). Local governments must submit accurate geographic data by specific deadlines (April 2019 for sales tax, January 2022 for use tax, January 2026 for property tax) to update the map. The map will display tax rates by area, include political subdivision borders, and show how tax rates overlap in regions with multiple taxing entities. By designated dates (July 2019 for sales tax, July 2022 for use tax, July 2026 for property tax), the Department must implement these features and prominently link to them on its homepage. This makes local tax information publicly accessible without requiring users to navigate complex documents.

Maddy summaryHB 284, the Missouri CROWN Act, prohibits educational institutions receiving state financial aid or serving students with state financial aid from discriminating against students based on hair texture or protective hairstyles (like braids, locks, twists, or afros) that are commonly associated with race. It defines "protective hairstyles" as those designed to protect natural hair and explicitly bans discrimination based on these styles in school programs. Exceptions allow schools to require hair nets or secured hair for safety in career/technical classes and permit religious institutions to exempt themselves if the rule conflicts with their tenets. The bill directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and student programs receiving state or federal education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 728 modifies how incarcerated individuals can earn sentence reduction ("good time credit") by requiring the Department of Corrections to create a policy rewarding participation in rehabilitation programs. Eligible offenders may earn up to 360 days of credit (max 90 days yearly) for completing programs like high school diplomas, vocational training, drug treatment, or restorative justice work. Credit is lost for major misconduct, parole violations, or exceeding six minor infractions annually. The policy applies retroactively to offenses after 2009 and excludes death penalty or life without parole sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 954 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are National Guard members from other states when called to active state duty by their respective governors. It ensures these individuals receive the same reemployment rights, protection from discrimination, and civil relief under SCRA (50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq.) as active-duty military. Employers must post a notice about these rights, and the attorney general can enforce them or pursue legal action if violated. The bill directly affects Guard members and their employers by codifying existing federal SCRA benefits for state duty scenarios.

Maddy summaryHB 33 creates a statewide program to boost STEM career awareness for Missouri students in grades 9-12, starting in the 2026-27 school year. The program requires schools to connect students with STEM-related activities and competitions through teacher-led initiatives, with providers selected based on data showing improved STEM instruction, college enrollment, or workforce entry. Funding comes from a dedicated "STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund" for program administration. The bill directly affects high school students, teachers, and STEM program providers, focusing on practical career pathways rather than broad policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 953 establishes a Joint Committee on the Justice System to review Missouri's criminal justice system, including criminal laws, law enforcement, correctional institutions, and expungement procedures. The committee must file annual reports, create a subcommittee to revise the criminal code every decade, and form an advisory committee to study expungement processes, with a final report due by 2026. This procedural bill affects legislative oversight of justice system operations and sets a framework for future policy recommendations.

Maddy summaryHB 267 creates a program allowing Missouri public school teachers to earn salary credit through "certified teacher externships" at local businesses. Teachers completing these externships - structured with business observation and interaction - will have them counted as equivalent to graduate-level course credits for salary increases, as determined by state departments of education and economic development. School districts must apply published equivalency rules to compensate teachers who complete certified externships. The program expires in 2024 unless reauthorized by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 388 allows property taxpayers to pay real and personal property taxes in installments (annual, semiannual, or quarterly) instead of one lump sum. It requires counties to estimate taxes based on the previous year’s liability, with taxpayers adjusting payments at year-end for overpayments or underpayments (county refunds excess amounts once yearly, no interest). The bill applies directly to property owners and county tax collectors, setting clear rules for installment schedules and year-end settlements. It does not change tax rates but modifies payment timing and refund procedures for both taxpayers and counties.

Maddy summaryHB 235 creates tax credits for accredited investors who fund qualified Missouri businesses focused on technology innovation. Investors receive a 40% tax credit on their investment in eligible companies (50% in rural counties), with annual limits of $300,000 per investor and a total annual cap of $6 million for 2026-2027 (increasing 20% yearly). The credit applies to investments made in businesses approved by the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) that meet specific tech-focused criteria, excluding employees of the invested business (though directors may qualify). Credits expire for investments after 2032, with unclaimed credits carrying forward until 2034.