Maddy summaryHB 256 creates new reporting and review requirements for infant deaths in Missouri to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. It requires counties to report infant deaths to local health agencies, disaggregate data by race/ethnicity, and establish mortality review committees if infant death rates exceed state averages or reach five+ deaths annually. Local health agencies must investigate at least 20% of term infant deaths (or one case if under five deaths) through confidential committees focused on disproportionately impacted communities. The bill mandates strict confidentiality for all data and proceedings, prohibiting public disclosure of identifiable information while allowing statistical reporting for public health analysis.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 250 prohibits discrimination in Missouri educational institutions based on hair texture and protective hairstyles, directly affecting students and schools receiving state financial assistance or state student aid. The bill defines "race" to include hair texture and protective hairstyles (such as braids, locks, and twists) and bans discrimination in schools using state funds for student aid or institutional support. It applies to all public and private schools, with limited religious exemptions for institutions whose policies conflict with religious tenets. This policy change aims to prevent exclusionary discipline or policies targeting specific hair styles historically associated with race.
Maddy summaryHB 255, the "Missouri Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act," requires hospitals and clinics providing pregnancy-related care to implement mandatory implicit bias training for all staff involved in perinatal care. The training must cover identifying unconscious biases, understanding historical exclusion, cultural competence, health inequities, and reproductive justice. Facilities must provide initial training and biennial refreshers, with data tracking on severe maternal morbidity (like hemorrhage or hypertension) and pregnancy-related deaths published every three years, disaggregated by race and ethnicity. This directly affects Missouri healthcare facilities, providers, and patients receiving care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum.
Maddy summaryHB 251 (requires insurance coverage for childbirth education classes) mandates that health insurance plans in Missouri cover childbirth education classes as a required benefit. This directly affects pregnant individuals and those planning pregnancy who have health insurance, ensuring they can access these classes without out-of-pocket costs. The bill repeals existing insurance provisions and adds new language requiring coverage for these classes under Missouri law. It does not specify additional funding or implementation details beyond the coverage requirement.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires food businesses in Missouri to place clear warning labels on products containing specific unsafe chemicals, such as acrylamide, arsenic, BPA, and certain dyes. The labels must list each chemical present and include standardized health warnings about potential risks like cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. It directly affects manufacturers and sellers of food products that contain any of the 11 chemicals explicitly named in the bill. The law applies to products sold to consumers, mandating these labels before products reach store shelves.
Maddy summaryHB 254 creates a new legal right for individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes in Missouri to sue the state for financial compensation. The bill establishes a "State Legal Expense Fund" to pay for these claims, funded by state appropriations. This fund will cover payments resulting from court judgments against the state for wrongful convictions, replacing previous compensation processes. The bill repeals two existing sections of Missouri law and replaces them with new sections defining the fund and the claim process.
Maddy summaryHB 258 creates new legal liability for Missouri peace officers who violate individuals' constitutional rights under color of law. It removes statutory immunities and qualified immunity as defenses, requires courts to award attorney fees to winning plaintiffs, and mandates that law enforcement employers indemnify officers for judgments - except when an officer acted without a good-faith belief the conduct was lawful (in which case the officer covers up to 5% or $25,000). The bill directly affects peace officers, individuals alleging rights violations, and law enforcement employers. It also sets a two-year statute of limitations for such civil claims. (Based on HB 258, § 506.450, RSMo)
Maddy summaryHB 1521 increases daily compensation for jurors in Missouri from $6 to $25 per day, plus mileage, for both grand and petit jurors. Counties may authorize additional daily pay (beyond $25), but the state will reimburse counties $6 of that extra amount, ensuring total pay reaches at least $37 daily. The bill also establishes that large counties (over 200,000 people) may pay no compensation for the first two days of service but must pay $50 daily thereafter. Additionally, it strengthens employer protections by prohibiting discharge for jury duty, requiring employers to pay average wages during service, and preventing forced use of vacation/sick leave for jury summons.
Maddy summaryHB 259 requires Missouri public high schools to implement mandatory courses in Black history and Black literature. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, all students must earn one credit each in these subjects to graduate, with school districts able to waive requirements for transfer students who completed similar courses elsewhere. The state board of education must form a work group - including high school educators, state department staff, and Black history nonprofits - to develop curriculum standards by 2026. This law directly affects all Missouri public high school students and districts, adding specific content requirements to graduation criteria. The bill does not alter existing graduation requirements under section 160.514.
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.