Rep. Marla Smith

Maddy summaryHB 1576 requires Missouri public schools to offer computer science courses meeting specific standards starting in 2023, covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, and algorithmic processes. It allows these courses to count toward math or science graduation credits while requiring schools to inform students and parents that using CS for math credit may affect college admissions. The bill creates a dedicated "Computer Science Education Fund" to support teacher training programs focused on underrepresented students and hands-on learning. These courses must meet state-developed performance standards and be reported annually by school districts, including demographic data on student enrollment.

Maddy summaryHB 1407 requires Missouri employers to reimburse full-time remote and hybrid employees for work-related internet expenses, including installation, monthly service, and necessary higher-tier costs. It mandates reimbursement proportional to the employee’s remote work hours (e.g., reduced for hybrid schedules), with employers needing documentation to verify costs. The law does not override federal standards (like the Fair Labor Standards Act) if they provide greater reimbursement, and it explicitly allows employers to offer more generous coverage. This directly affects Missouri employers with remote or hybrid staff, creating a new state-level reimbursement obligation for internet costs tied to work activities.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 increases the maximum annual fee for repairing sewer lines connecting homes to public systems from $50 to $100 per residential property with six or fewer units, including condos with six or fewer units per building. It requires local governments to seek voter approval via a specific ballot question before implementing the fee increase. Funds collected must go exclusively to repairing defective sewer lines, with interest accruing to the repair fund. The bill affects homeowners and condo owners in qualifying communities, as well as local governments managing sewer repair programs.

Maddy summaryHB 899 changes how vacancies in the state legislature are filled by requiring the governor to issue a special election writ within seven days of learning of a member's death during recess. However, it exempts vacancies occurring after the last Tuesday in March during even-numbered years from triggering an immediate special election, allowing the seat to remain unfilled until the next general election. This directly affects governors, election officials, and voters in districts with late-occurring vacancies, as it delays special elections in specific circumstances. The bill focuses solely on procedural changes to vacancy handling without altering substantive policy.

Maddy summaryHB 1088 designates a bridge in Pulaski County as the "COL Elmer R Parrish Memorial Bridge." The bill requires the Department of Transportation to erect and maintain signage for this bridge, with all costs covered by the department. This is a commemorative resolution naming a specific bridge, not a policy change affecting residents or programs.

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 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 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 756 sets new salary standards for Missouri circuit clerks, directly affecting county and city clerks in all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis. It establishes tiered base salaries based on county classification (first, second, third, fourth) and location (e.g., counties with two cities holding court), with significant increases effective September 1, 2025 - such as raising first-class county salaries from $36,145 to $94,330 annually. The bill requires annual salary adjustments matching judicial department raises and replaces all previous fees collected by clerks with the new state-funded salary, requiring fees to be paid to the state or local governments. Circuit clerks in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and Jackson County remain paid by local entities rather than the state.

Maddy summaryHB 331 creates a state-funded program to reimburse tuition, books, and fees for short-term career certificate programs at approved schools. It directly affects eligible students who qualify for Missouri’s A+ Schools Program but haven’t used its benefits, and approved institutions like community colleges, vocational schools, and training providers offering programs such as Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), EMT, or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) courses. The bill establishes a dedicated "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program Fund" to cover reimbursements, with limits on payments (capped at public community college rates) and rules to prevent duplicate funding for similar programs. Reimbursement ends when a student completes the program, reaches 150% of standard program time, or receives the full reimbursement amount.