Rep. Marlon Anderson

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.

Maddy summaryHB 848 ensures that a court cannot deny a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation solely because one party is pregnant. The bill requires courts to proceed with standard divorce procedures - including verifying residency, determining if the marriage is irretrievably broken, and establishing child custody and support arrangements - without considering pregnancy status. It also specifies that divorce petitions must note pregnancy but clarifies this detail cannot block the court’s decision. The bill includes additional procedural requirements, like providing Social Security numbers and creating parenting plans, but its key change removes pregnancy as a barrier to finalizing divorce or separation cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows incarcerated individuals in Missouri to attend the funeral of an immediate family member, such as a spouse, parent, or child, even if they do not receive a standard furlough. Under the new rules, the offender must be escorted by a correctional officer or state highway patrol member and must pay all associated costs, including the escort fee, before the event. The legislation also requires that orders for such funeral visits be sent to relevant local officials at least ten days in advance, with exceptions made for emergency medical situations. These changes aim to provide a specific pathway for family members to say goodbye while maintaining security and financial responsibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local election authorities to open their offices on at least one Saturday between the second Tuesday before an election and election day to allow for absentee voting. It expands the reasons a voter can request an absentee ballot to include religious observances, employment as a first responder or healthcare worker, and incarceration, while removing the need for a specific excuse during the designated no-excuse period. The legislation also mandates that election offices remain open during regular business hours on this Saturday to facilitate in-person absentee ballot requests and notarizations. These changes directly affect registered voters who need flexibility in voting due to work, health, or personal beliefs, as well as election officials who must adjust their schedules.

Maddy summaryHB 2766 creates the Missouri Homestead Preservation Act to provide property tax relief for eligible homeowners whose tax bills have increased significantly. The bill defines eligibility for individuals aged 65 or older, disabled persons, and certain married couples or joint owners who meet specific income limits and have paid their property taxes on time. To receive a credit, applicants must submit an annual form between April 1 and October 15, attesting under penalty of perjury that their property has not been improved by more than 2.5% of its assessed value. The Department of Revenue will verify the applicant's age, income, and property details to calculate and apply a credit that offsets the portion of the tax increase exceeding a set threshold. This legislation directly affects homeowners in Missouri who are seniors or disabled and are facing rising property tax liabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 2209 modifies the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund by establishing a new Victims of Domestic Violence Fund and creating a funding mechanism based on court surcharges. The bill requires courts to collect specific fees from criminal defendants, with the revenue split between the existing crime victims' fund and the new domestic violence fund. Additionally, a portion of these funds is designated to support state forensic laboratories, while the remaining balance covers administrative costs for victim services. The legislation also mandates monthly reporting of fund balances and requires that any unspent money remain in the dedicated funds rather than being transferred to the state's general revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules to protect children's rights during police questioning and outlines stricter procedures for investigating complaints against law enforcement officers. For juveniles, it requires officers to read specific rights similar to adult Miranda warnings, including the right to stop talking at any time and the right to have a parent or lawyer present. The law also mandates that audio or video recordings of child interviews be presumed admissible in court unless proven unreliable, while prohibiting officers from participating in or soliciting information during these interrogations. Additionally, the bill creates protections for officers facing internal investigations by requiring written notice of allegations, limiting questioning to reasonable times and locations, and ensuring interviews are conducted by no more than two investigators.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules for voter registration in Missouri to allow individuals who are at least 17 years and six months old to register and vote once they turn 18. It maintains existing restrictions that prevent people currently serving prison sentences from voting and bars those convicted of felonies or misdemeanors related to voting rights from registering. The legislation also clarifies that people on probation or parole after a felony conviction cannot vote until their supervision is fully completed. These changes aim to update the legal framework for suffrage eligibility without altering the core principle that incarcerated individuals cannot vote.

Maddy summaryHB 2757 establishes a fee waiver system for offenders on probation or parole who are not subject to lifetime supervision and do not require electronic monitoring, exempting them from monthly fees that can otherwise be used for community corrections services. The bill also mandates that the parole board conduct validated risk assessments and personal interviews before ordering parole, while allowing hearings to be held via videoconference. Additionally, it sets specific eligibility rules for juvenile offenders, including a provision that allows those sentenced to fifteen years or more for crimes committed under age eighteen to become eligible for parole after serving fifteen years, unless they were convicted of first-degree or capital murder. The legislation further outlines procedures for victim participation in parole hearings and requires that parole conditions be tailored to the individual's risk level and needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates December 6th annually as "Reuben Shelton Day" in Missouri to honor the life and achievements of Reuben Shelton. The legislation encourages citizens to participate in events celebrating his role as a former president of the Missouri Bar Association and the first African American elected to lead the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. By creating this specific observance, the bill aims to recognize Shelton's contributions to the legal profession and his leadership within the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.