Rep. LaDonna Appelbaum

Maddy summaryHB 880 modifies Missouri's renewable energy requirements for electric utilities. It sets increasing minimum targets for electricity from renewable sources (like wind and solar), starting at 15% by 2025 and rising to 100% by 2060, with at least 2% required to come from solar. Utilities can meet these targets by generating renewable energy themselves or purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs), with Missouri-generated energy counting as 1.25 times its actual output for compliance. The bill directly affects all electric utilities selling power to Missouri consumers, requiring them to report and comply with these evolving renewable energy standards.

Maddy summaryHB 453, the "Marilyn Teitelbaum Death with Dignity Act," allows terminally ill, competent Missouri residents to obtain a prescription for medication they self-administer to end their life. It requires patients to have a terminal illness confirmed by two physicians, undergo counseling to rule out depression, and receive detailed information about their diagnosis, prognosis, risks, and alternatives like hospice care. The law mandates that patients make an informed decision after understanding all options, with strict safeguards to ensure competence and voluntary choice. This bill directly affects eligible terminally ill patients in Missouri seeking a legally sanctioned end-of-life option.

Maddy summaryHCR 4 designates the last full week in April each year as "Infertility Awareness Week" in Missouri. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public understanding of infertility, reduce stigma, and highlight the emotional, financial, and medical challenges faced by individuals and couples affected by infertility - impacting millions of Missourians. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change healthcare access; instead, it formally recognizes the week to support awareness efforts led by local and national organizations. The resolution was introduced by Representative Murray and sent to the governor for approval.

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 222 requires child care facilities (excluding public schools) to adopt allergy prevention and response policies by July 2027, focusing on managing severe food allergies. Facilities must stock epinephrine auto-injectors under physician prescriptions, store them accessibly, and train staff to recognize anaphylaxis and administer the device. The bill mandates staff training through approved organizations, requires coordination with health authorities, and provides liability protection for facilities and trained staff following the guidelines. It also specifies that parental consent is needed for epinephrine use in children under 18, unless immediate danger exists.

Maddy summaryHB 881 establishes a licensing system for radon measurement, mitigation, and laboratory professionals in Missouri. The bill defines key terms (like "radon measurement professional" and "mitigation professional") and creates a "Board of radon safety" to set standards and oversee licensing. It requires professionals and businesses to hold certification from an EPA-recognized program and obtain a license from the board before providing services like radon testing, mitigation, or laboratory analysis. This applies directly to individuals and companies offering radon-related services in the state.

Maddy summaryHB 873 establishes Missouri's "Free School Meals Program," requiring eligible public, charter, and private religious schools participating in the USDA National School Lunch Program to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. Schools must meet specific poverty rate thresholds (based on USDA eligibility data) to qualify for the program. The state will reimburse schools for the difference between the federal meal reimbursement rate and the actual federal payment received, covering up to one free breakfast and one free lunch per student daily. This program directly affects schools serving students in districts with high poverty rates, ensuring no student pays for meals while aligning with federal nutrition standards.

Maddy summaryHB 112 requires all public schools (as defined by state law) to provide every enrolled student with one free breakfast and one free lunch daily during school days. This applies universally to all students attending classes, regardless of family income, directly affecting every public school student in the state. The key provision mandates daily meal provision without requiring income-based eligibility checks. The bill focuses on making breakfast and lunch free for all students as a standard school service. It does not specify funding mechanisms or implementation details beyond the meal requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Missouri Hospital Patient Protection Act to set minimum staffing requirements for registered nurses in hospitals across the state. It defines specific patient-to-nurse ratios that must be maintained at all times in various units, such as critical care, emergency departments, and labor and delivery areas, based on the acuity of patient care needed. The legislation also clarifies roles by distinguishing between direct care nurses who provide hands-on treatment and ancillary staff who support care delivery, while ensuring that triage and administrative duties do not count toward these staffing levels. Additionally, the bill mandates that every patient be assigned a direct care nurse responsible for creating and managing individualized nursing care plans in coordination with the patient and other medical staff.

Maddy summaryHB 1687 establishes a renewable energy portfolio standard requiring electric utilities in Missouri to generate or purchase a growing percentage of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. The bill sets specific targets, mandating that renewable energy make up at least 15% of sales by 2024 and reaching 100% by 2059, with a minimum of 2% coming specifically from solar power. Utilities can meet these goals by generating their own power or buying renewable energy credits, and the law includes a declining solar rebate program for customers who install new solar systems on their properties. To ensure compliance, the bill authorizes the Public Service Commission to track progress, impose penalties on utilities that miss targets, and recover the costs of meeting these requirements through utility rates.