Rep. Stephanie Boykin

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 summaryThis bill (HB 1200) creates a new "intermediate driver's license" for 16-17 year olds, directly affecting minors seeking to drive. Key provisions require applicants to: hold a temporary permit for 6+ months, complete 40+ hours of supervised driving (with parental/guardian or instructor consent), pass a written test, and pay a $5 fee. Restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (1 a.m.-5 a.m. without supervision), limits on teen passengers (max 1 non-family under 19 for first 6 months), and mandatory seatbelt use. The license transitions to full driving privileges at age 18 if the teen has no alcohol-related offenses or traffic violations in the prior year. The bill’s title referencing "age of marriage" appears inconsistent with its actual focus on driver licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 440 modifies tax assessments for utility companies and solar energy projects. It sets a $2,500 per megawatt tax for solar electricity projects (effective 2026) and classifies associated solar land as commercial property from 2026. Telephone companies gain a one-time choice between two tax assessment methods, with school districts allowed to impose fees to offset revenue losses if companies select the new method. The bill directly affects solar developers, telephone companies, and school districts managing utility tax revenue.

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 408 requires Missouri school districts to adopt written policies banning student use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices during regular class time starting in the 2025-26 school year. The policy must prohibit devices in classrooms unless authorized by a principal, require students to turn off and store devices during instruction, and include exceptions for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or individualized health care plans. It also mandates guidelines for device use during non-instructional activities like field trips. The law directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1295 requires most entities wanting to export Missouri water outside the state to obtain a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, reviewed by the Missouri Water Resources Commission. It exempts short-distance exports (within 30 miles of the border), bottled water, and ice. The permit process ensures exported water volumes won’t harm Missouri’s current or future water needs, prioritizes local use, and includes public comment periods and commission hearings. Applicants must prove water availability, legitimate beneficial use, and that export is necessary, with annual reporting required for permit holders.

Maddy summaryHB 1039 extends the expiration date of a provision allowing retired teachers (not receiving disability benefits) to work as part-time or temporary substitute teachers without losing their retirement allowance. The bill updates the existing policy, which currently expires in 2025, to remain in effect until June 30, 2030. This change directly affects retired teachers who wish to substitute in public schools while continuing to receive their retirement benefits, provided they work part-time or temporarily (not full-time). The law maintains existing requirements, such as background checks and school district approval, but clarifies that retirees cannot contribute to retirement systems during substitute work and must not exceed part-time limits to retain benefits.