Rep. Marla Smith

Maddy summaryHB 571 modifies Missouri's juror compensation by increasing daily pay over time while maintaining a $0.07 per mile travel reimbursement. It phases in higher daily rates: $6/day before 2026, $10/$15 for first/subsequent days 2026-2027, and $15/$25 thereafter. Counties can add extra daily pay, but the state reimburses $6 of that additional amount to ensure total compensation reaches at least $18/day. This directly affects all Missouri jurors serving in county or city courts and requires county/city governments to pay the adjusted rates.

Maddy summaryHB 692 caps total interest and fees for short-term consumer loans at 65% of the initial loan amount, directly affecting borrowers taking out payday-style loans and the lenders who offer them. The bill sets a minimum 14-day and maximum 31-day loan term, prohibits rolling over loans (requiring full repayment before a new loan), and limits total outstanding loans per borrower to $500. It also bans lenders from charging excessive fees, including for cashing checks, and prevents "workarounds" like sales leases to bypass these rules. The law applies to unsecured loans and transactions deemed disguised loans by Missouri's Division of Finance.

Maddy summaryHB 1481 repeals a requirement that counties with a charter government and a population between 600,000 and 700,000 must hold regular county municipal court sessions in the evening after 6:00 p.m. and at locations outside the county seat. This change directly affects those specific counties by removing a mandatory scheduling rule. The bill replaces the repealed section with a new provision that does not include this requirement, allowing counties greater flexibility in organizing court sessions. Other aspects of county municipal courts, such as jurisdiction, judge qualifications, and case procedures, remain unchanged under the new law.

Maddy summaryHB 597 allows retired school teachers and non-certified staff to return to full-time work in school districts facing staffing shortages without losing their retirement benefits. Retired certified teachers can work up to four years if a district has a certified teacher shortage (capped at 1% of total staff or five teachers), while retired non-certified staff can do the same for non-certified roles (capped at 1% or five employees). School districts must first prove they tried hiring non-retirees, posted vacancies for a month, avoided recent early retirement offers, and declared an active shortage. The bill requires districts to cover employer contributions and include hires in state hiring verification systems.

Maddy summaryHB 732 modifies Missouri's minimum prison terms for certain offenders. It requires offenders with prior felony convictions to serve: 40% of their sentence (or until age 60) for one prior commitment, 50% for two unrelated prior commitments, and 80% for three or more unrelated prior commitments. Dangerous felony offenders must serve 85% of their sentence. The bill also creates a Sentencing Advisory Commission to study sentencing disparities and alternative programs, though it does not change current sentences for offenders convicted before August 2019.

Maddy summaryHB 600 lowers the age at which individuals may be excused from serving on a petit or grand jury from 75 to 70 years old. This directly affects residents aged 70 or older, who can now be excused without needing to demonstrate hardship, unlike the previous requirement. The bill maintains existing excusal categories (such as for nursing mothers, health care providers, or those facing undue hardship) but specifically updates the age threshold in section (7). It does not alter other provisions or requirements for jury service.

Maddy summaryHB 1587 exempts most retail food sales from Missouri's state sales tax at a 1% rate until December 31, 2025, after which the exemption becomes permanent unless renewed. The bill specifies that "food" includes items redeemable with SNAP benefits (like groceries) but excludes restaurants and similar establishments where over 80% of sales are prepared food for immediate consumption. Revenue from the 1% rate during the transition period must fund school districts, and the exemption automatically expires three years after enactment unless the legislature reauthorizes it. If reauthorized, the exemption would then sunset 12 years after reauthorization.

Maddy summaryHJR 34 proposes a constitutional amendment to Missouri's Article III, adding "employees of school districts" to the list of exempt positions for state legislators. Currently, legislators cannot hold certain government jobs, but school district employees were not explicitly exempt (unlike school board members). This bill would allow legislators to work for school districts without losing their legislative seat. The amendment would take effect if approved by voters, changing the existing rule to include these employees in the exemption. It directly affects state representatives and senators who work for or seek employment with school districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1573 expands absentee voting access by allowing any registered voter in the state to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason for voting by mail during a three-week period before elections. This change applies to all candidates and issues for which the voter is eligible to vote at their polling place. Voters must still provide photo ID when requesting the ballot, and specific ballot submission rules (like notarization requirements for certain ballots) remain in place. The bill directly affects all registered voters who choose to vote absentee without needing to justify their absence from polling places on election day.

Maddy summaryHB 1096 creates Missouri's "Missing and Murdered African American Women and Girls Task Force" to address systemic violence against this specific group. The task force, composed of legislative members, public safety officials, law enforcement representatives, legal advocates, and survivors, must examine root causes of violence, improve data collection, and review policing and justice systems impacting this community. It is required to submit annual reports to the governor and legislature starting in 2026, focusing on prevention strategies and support for victims. The task force expires on December 31, 2027, unless extended to 2029. This bill directly affects African American women and girls in Missouri experiencing gender-based violence.