Rep. Scott Miller

Maddy summaryHB 1462 declares that AI systems are non-sentient entities with no legal personhood, meaning they cannot be considered persons, spouses, corporate officers, or owners of property. The bill assigns legal responsibility for harm caused by AI to human owners or developers (not the AI itself), requiring owners to maintain oversight for systems impacting safety and developers to address design defects. It prohibits shifting blame to AI, mandates safety measures for high-risk AI, and prevents corporations from evading liability through shell entities in cases of significant harm. The law applies to all AI systems developed, owned, or operated in the state after August 28, 2025.

Maddy summaryMissouri's HJR 92 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the full text of initiative petitions to appear on ballots and limiting all initiative petitions - including existing or repealed language - to 75 words. This directly affects citizens or groups seeking to place constitutional amendments on the ballot through petitions. The key provision caps petition length at 75 words while mandating that the complete text of the proposed amendment be printed on the ballot for voter review. The amendment would take effect after the November 2026 election or a special election called by the governor.

Maddy summaryHB 896 requires employees claiming unpaid minimum wage or overtime pay (effective January 1, 2026) to first file a complaint with the state labor department, including pay stubs and time sheets for all disputed periods. The department must investigate within 90 days and issue a "right to sue" notice if unresolved, allowing 30 days for employees to file court action. Employers may propose settlements during the investigation, but employees must exhaust this administrative step before suing or risk dismissal and legal fees. This bill directly affects workers seeking unpaid wages and employers facing labor complaints, creating a mandatory pre-litigation process.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.

Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand property tax exemptions in Missouri, primarily affecting disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The amendment would exempt the primary home (homestead) of disabled veterans - defined as those certified by the VA for 100% service-connected disability - and their surviving spouses (if they continue living in the home) from property taxes. It also maintains existing exemptions for business inventories (e.g., manufacturers' raw materials and retailers' stock) and properties used by religious, charitable, or educational organizations. The amendment requires voter approval in Missouri’s 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHB 1271 modifies how county sales tax revenues for parks are allocated, allowing counties to use 50% of collected taxes for park-related storm water management projects that use natural infrastructure (like rain gardens or bioswales) without harming park benefits. This directly affects counties within the metropolitan park district, municipalities receiving grant funds, and park districts managing recreational facilities. The bill requires counties to reserve 40% of this 50% allocation for municipal grants to fund park projects, with specific rules for large counties (over 900,000 residents) to distribute funds via a municipal grant commission. It maintains existing funding for park operations and the Gateway Arch grounds but expands eligible uses for county-level park funds.

Maddy summaryHB 349 modifies how Missouri counties assess motor vehicle property taxes by establishing a specific 5% valuation rate for certain historic vehicles and aircraft. It directly affects owners of qualifying historic motor vehicles (registered under §301.131) and noncommercial aircraft over 25 years old used less than 200 hours yearly. The bill sets this lower rate - compared to standard 19% for residential property - applying only to these defined categories of vehicles. This change simplifies valuation for eligible taxpayers without altering general assessment rules for most property.

Maddy summaryHB 927 designates June as "Fathership Month" in Missouri to promote awareness of fathers' roles in children's lives and establishes the "Missouri Fathership Project" within the Department of Social Services. The bill creates a grant program to fund community organizations that hire "fathership project specialists" who help fathers rebuild relationships with children, navigate court systems, and overcome barriers to reunification. These specialists serve as direct liaisons for fathers in family court cases, developing personalized plans to address relationship breakdowns and support compliance with court-ordered case plans. The initiative directly affects fathers seeking to reconnect with children, particularly those involved in family court or child support cases, and is funded through state appropriations and dedicated grants.

Maddy summaryHB 937 requires Missouri public schools and postsecondary institutions to treat antisemitic harassment and discrimination identically to racial discrimination under existing laws. It mandates schools to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism into their codes of conduct, prohibit antisemitic behavior that creates fear or impedes access, and report incidents to a state Title VI coordinator. The bill also encourages integrating Jewish American heritage into curricula while clarifying that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and protecting First Amendment rights. Schools must investigate complaints within 30 days and face potential federal reporting if unresolved, with annual reports submitted to the legislature.