Rep. Marla Smith

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 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 847 modifies Missouri voter qualifications by allowing residents aged 17 years and six months or older to register to vote for elections held after their 18th birthday. It also prohibits voting for individuals incarcerated under a sentence of imprisonment (including those on probation or parole for felony convictions until discharge) or convicted of certain offenses related to voting rights. The bill maintains the requirement that voters must register in their residence jurisdiction before the designated deadline, except as specified by federal law. These changes directly affect Missouri residents seeking to register or cast ballots, particularly young voters and those with specific legal statuses.

Maddy summaryHB 395 revises Missouri's election laws to update voter eligibility and registration requirements. It allows citizens aged 17.5 years or older to register to vote for elections after their 18th birthday, removes voting restrictions for people convicted of misdemeanors (so only felony convictions now affect voting rights), and permits individuals confined in jail without a conviction to vote. The bill also requires voter registration forms to be available in English, Spanish, and Braille, and mandates photo ID verification for first-time mail-in voters. These changes directly affect Missouri voters, including young residents, individuals with past felony convictions, and pre-trial detainees.

Maddy summaryHB 729 creates an independent "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman" to monitor prison conditions and investigate inmate complaints. This office directly affects incarcerated individuals, their families, and prison staff by overseeing issues like sanitation, medical care, abuse, and access to programs. Key mechanisms include annual facility inspections (more frequent for high-risk sites), collecting data on incidents like suicides and assaults, and publishing annual reports with recommendations. The office will also handle complaints and provide resources to support inmate rights, using a statewide reporting system to track facility conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 280 modifies Missouri's divorce and legal separation laws by removing pregnancy as a barrier to court decisions. The bill requires courts to enter dissolution (divorce) or legal separation judgments if all other legal requirements are met, regardless of a party's pregnancy status. Key provisions include updated court procedures for handling child custody, support, and property division, while mandating that court records include the last four digits of Social Security numbers for all parties and children. This directly affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation in Missouri who are pregnant, ensuring pregnancy cannot delay or prevent these proceedings.