Rep. LaKeySha Bosley

Maddy summaryHB 3133 proposes increasing the cigarette tax from $0.17 to $1.50 per pack of 20 cigarettes, requiring voter approval in a November 2026 election. This tax applies to all cigarettes sold in the state and directly affects cigarette consumers, retailers, and manufacturers. Revenue from the tax would initially fund the health initiatives fund (until the legislature appropriates 25% of federal reimbursement funds), then shift to the general revenue fund after 2027. The bill does not take effect without voter approval and specifies how tax stamps must be affixed to cigarette packages.

Maddy summaryHB 3132 creates a court-issued "certificate of exemplary conduct" for eligible individuals with certain past convictions (excluding sex offenses requiring registry). This certificate prevents employers, housing providers, and licensing boards from considering their conviction history when making decisions about jobs, housing, or professional licenses. The court must grant the certificate if an applicant demonstrates consistent good moral character and that granting it serves the public interest, with annual reports required on how often the certificate is used. The bill directly affects people with non-sex-offense convictions who meet these standards, removing barriers to employment and licensing without changing existing criminal penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1949 creates new provisions to improve access to maternal health care by allowing state health officials and licensed physicians to issue standing orders for services like prenatal vitamins and doula recommendations without requiring individual patient authorization each time. These standing orders must be posted online, expire after one year unless renewed, and terminate if the issuing professional leaves their position. The bill also provides legal immunity from criminal, disciplinary, or civil liability for professionals issuing orders in compliance with the law. This directly affects Missouri's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) and eligible patients seeking maternal health services.

Maddy summaryHB 1953 revises Missouri's law enforcement accountability standards by replacing existing statutes with five new sections. It clarifies that officers may only use force they reasonably believe is necessary to make an arrest, with deadly force permitted only in specific situations like when a person is committing a violent felony or threatening serious harm. The bill requires officers to intervene and report excessive force by colleagues during arrests or crowd control, and prohibits retaliation against officers who report misconduct. It also mandates immediate dismissal and license revocation for officers using respiratory choke-holds outside of specific exceptions. These provisions directly affect all Missouri law enforcement officers and their agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 1950 replaces Missouri's existing maternal care reporting law with new provisions focused on reducing infant mortality. It requires counties to annually report infant deaths to local health agencies, disaggregate data by race/ethnicity, and establish fetal/infant mortality review committees in areas with high death rates (five+ deaths in a year or two consecutive years above the state average). Local health agencies must investigate at least 20% of term infant deaths (or one case if fewer than five deaths occur) with a confidential review process, prohibiting public disclosure of individual cases while allowing statistical reporting. This bill directly affects counties, local health agencies, and medical professionals involved in infant mortality reviews, aiming to identify disparities and improve care through data-driven analysis.

Maddy summaryHB 1959 designates three annual observances in Missouri: June as "Immigrant Heritage Month" to celebrate immigrant contributions, October 2nd as "Wrongful Conviction Day" to raise awareness about wrongful convictions, and December 1st as "Freeman Bosley, Sr. Day" honoring a retired St. Louis politician. The bill creates no new legal requirements or funding but formally names these dates for public recognition. It directly affects all Missouri residents by encouraging participation in related events. The designation applies statewide with no specific restrictions or targeted groups.

Maddy summaryHB 1954 requires Missouri landlords to fix health- and safety-threatening conditions in rental properties within 30 days of a tenant’s written notice. It directly affects tenants facing hazards like pest infestations (defined broadly to include bedbugs, rodents, and spiders), hazardous mold, sewage backups, or unsafe structural issues, and landlords who fail to act. Landlords must cover tenant health costs resulting from their failure to remediate, and must have repairs verified by a licensed inspector after fixing the problem. The bill adds these specific protections to Missouri’s landlord-tenant law (RSMo § 441.237).

Maddy summaryHB 1956 requires most sellers of firearm ammunition in Missouri to obtain a license from the Secretary of State by December 31, 2026, for sales after that date, with exceptions for hunting clubs, non-profit organizations conducting events, target shooting facilities, and individuals selling limited quantities (up to 250 rounds annually). The Secretary of State will establish eligibility criteria (requiring sellers not to be prohibited by law from possessing firearms) and process applications starting September 1, 2026, with licenses valid for one year. Licensed sellers must also ensure employees handling ammunition are not prohibited from possessing firearms, and violations constitute a class D misdemeanor per sale. This bill directly affects most ammunition retailers and sellers, excluding specific hunting, recreational, and small-scale transactions.

Maddy summaryHB 1955 (Missouri House Bill 1955) changes how civil lawsuits against police officers for violating constitutional rights are handled. It removes qualified immunity as a defense for officers who act under color of law, requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs, and mandates that an officer's employer must cover most legal costs (except if the officer acted in bad faith or was convicted of a crime). The law also sets a two-year deadline for filing such lawsuits. This directly affects peace officers, their employers, and individuals seeking legal remedies for alleged police misconduct.

Maddy summaryHB 1958 requires food manufacturers and sellers in Missouri to place clear warning labels on products containing specific unsafe chemicals, including acrylamide, BPA, lead, mercury, and certain food dyes. The labels must name each unsafe chemical present and state potential health risks like cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. Businesses must display these warnings before products reach consumers. This directly affects food companies operating in Missouri that use any of the 11 chemicals listed in the bill.