Rep. Kem Smith

Maddy summaryHB 2778 creates "transitional child care benefits" for families whose income exceeds the threshold for full childcare subsidies but remains below 200% of the federal poverty level. It replaces attendance-based reimbursement with enrollment-based payments and establishes a sliding scale (80% to 20% of the state base rate) based on income tiers. The program is voluntary, allows immediate access without prior full-benefit eligibility, and requires families to pay the remaining fee to providers. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must track participation and report annually on employment impact and costs starting in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 2798 designates November 26th each year as "Tina Turner Day" in Missouri to honor the singer's St. Louis roots, specifically her early career performing during Ike Turner's shows at local nightclubs. The bill encourages Missourians to participate in events celebrating her legacy as the "Queen of Rock 'n Roll." This is a ceremonial designation with no new laws, funding, or direct impact on residents or policy. It serves solely as a symbolic tribute to Tina Turner's cultural contributions to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 2954 creates an "automated expungement" process in Missouri, meaning eligible criminal records will be closed by the state without requiring individuals to file court petitions. It directly affects people convicted of certain infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies (excluding traffic violations, juvenile cases, or offenses with pending charges) who have completed their sentences and met specific waiting periods (1 year for misdemeanors, 3 years for felonies) without new offenses. Key provisions include automatic closure of records after these waiting periods, a lifetime limit of two felony expungements or four misdemeanor/ordinance expungements, and special eligibility for those aged 65+ with clean records. The law takes effect on August 28, 2029, and does not apply to cases with unresolved charges or certain offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2685 designates the week of September 24-30 each year in Missouri as "Historically Black College and University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week." The bill encourages Missouri citizens to participate in events celebrating the diversity, equity, and inclusion goals exemplified by HBCUs. It has no funding requirements or policy changes - it is a symbolic recognition of HBCUs' contributions to education and community values. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read once).

Maddy summaryHB 3084, the Small Business Start-up Fee Reduction Act, reduces or waives specific state fees for Missouri micro-businesses (3 or fewer employees, excluding the owner) during their first 24 months of operation. It covers formation fees for LLCs, business name registrations, vendor certifications, and annual reporting fees, while also prohibiting penalties for timely first-time filings during this period. The bill requires the Department of Economic Development and Secretary of State to coordinate fee reductions, publish an annual report tracking participation and costs, and partner with business support organizations to offer voluntary services like financial training. Businesses must qualify as micro-businesses during their start-up period to access these fee benefits, which take effect January 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 3098 creates a funding mechanism for behavioral health crisis services by imposing two new fees on wireless service providers. It requires dealers selling prepaid wireless to charge $0.65 per transaction and CMRS providers to charge $0.65 monthly per postpaid line for customers with Missouri as their primary place of use. All collected funds will be deposited into the new "988 Crisis Continuum Fund" managed by the state treasurer. These funds must be used exclusively by the Department of Mental Health to operate crisis services (like 988 support) and open access behavioral health services for uninsured or underinsured residents. The bill directly affects wireless service providers and end users purchasing wireless plans, while expanding access to behavioral health crisis care.

Maddy summaryHB 3099 expands prescribing authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), excluding nurse anesthetists, to include certain controlled substances. APRNs with a specific nursing board certificate and under collaborative practice agreements with physicians may now prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances, including hydrocodone for hospice patients, but face restrictions: no self-prescribing, 120-hour supply limits for Schedule II/III medications, and strict written agreements required. The bill mandates detailed written collaborative agreements between APRNs and physicians, including location disclosures for patients and geographic proximity rules (with limited exceptions for rural areas and correctional facilities). It also allows APRNs to prescribe buprenorphine for addiction treatment up to 30 days without refill under physician direction.

Maddy summaryHB 3141 modifies school discipline policies and safety reporting requirements, not attendance data as its title suggests. The bill requires school districts to create written discipline policies covering corporal punishment procedures (requiring parental written permission), annual staff training, and mandatory reporting of specific violent crimes (like assault, sexual offenses, or weapons possession) to law enforcement when they occur on school property or during school activities. It also mandates that suspended students involved in such incidents must stay 1,000 feet from school property unless under direct adult supervision or meeting specific exceptions. These changes directly affect school districts, staff, students, and parents by altering disciplinary procedures and safety protocols. The bill is pending (introduced January 2026) and focuses on concrete safety measures, not attendance reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 3139 requires Missouri schools to establish standardized computer science courses covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, and algorithms for all grades. It allows these courses to count toward math or science graduation credits while mandating schools to inform students and parents about potential college admission impacts. The bill creates a dedicated fund for teacher training in computer science and requires all high schools to offer at least one CS course by 2023. Schools must also report student demographics in these courses to track participation across gender, race, and special education status.

Maddy summaryHB 3140 creates a mileage reimbursement component for Missouri's existing dual enrollment scholarship program. It provides eligible high school students with reimbursement for transportation costs (37 cents per mile) when attending dual enrollment courses at locations other than their high school, if the school doesn't offer transportation. To qualify, students must meet standard eligibility requirements including Missouri residency, a 2.5 GPA, and one indicator of economic need (like SNAP or free lunch eligibility). Reimbursements are calculated based on round-trip mileage, require record-keeping, and are paid quarterly. The program is funded through the newly established "Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Scholarship Fund."