Rep. Josh Hurlbert

Maddy summaryHJR 66 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain disabled veterans' primary homes (homesteads) from Missouri property taxes. It would apply to Missouri residents who are honorably separated veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for 100% service-connected disability compensation. The amendment would add this exemption to Missouri's constitution while requiring counties to replace lost tax revenue through a special tax on certain commercial property (subclass 3 of class 1) within the county. This revenue replacement mechanism would be calculated annually based on changes in property values to ensure taxing authorities maintain funding. The bill does not alter existing exemptions for other property types like religious organizations or manufacturers.

Maddy summaryHB 664 requires Missouri state agencies to obtain legislative approval before new administrative rules take effect. Specifically, agencies must submit proposed rules to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which can hold hearings and suspend rules costing over $250,000 until the full General Assembly votes on them. Rules cannot become effective until the legislature approves them via a concurrent resolution, with a 30-day waiting period after committee review. This change ensures all significant agency rules undergo direct legislative scrutiny before implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.

Maddy summaryHB 572 establishes a Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight to monitor Missouri's transportation funding. The committee, made up of legislative members and nonvoting state officials, reviews an annual report from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that includes financial audits, spending summaries, and transportation funding publications. MoDOT must submit this report by December 31st each year, and the committee meets by February 15th to examine it and make recommendations. This process provides transparency for potential future decisions about motor fuel tax rates, which are linked to transportation expenditures.

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 1516 allows Missouri adults aged 21 or older without a high school diploma or equivalent to enroll in virtual school programs offered by their resident school district or a charter school within that district. The bill requires school districts and charter schools to receive state funding for these students and count them in attendance calculations for state aid, while exempting them from certain reporting requirements. This directly affects adult learners seeking to complete high school through virtual education, creating a clear pathway for enrollment and funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1244 requires all new playgrounds built by state or local governments to meet the 2010 ADA Accessibility Guidelines and U.S. Department of Justice regulations for accessibility. This directly affects state agencies and local municipalities constructing new playground areas or surfaces. The key provision mandates compliance with specific design standards - such as accessible routes, play equipment, and surface materials - to ensure playgrounds are usable by children with disabilities. The bill applies only to new construction starting on or after its effective date, not to existing playgrounds.

Maddy summaryHB 939 modifies Missouri's process for communities (counties, cities, fire districts) to adopt building codes by allowing them to reference existing codes instead of copying full text, while requiring public filing of adopted codes. It directly affects homeowners, builders, and developers of one- or two-family homes, condos, and townhouses by prohibiting local ordinances that mandate "green" or "excessive" building standards beyond the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Key provisions ban requirements for sustainable, energy-efficient, or environmentally responsive features that threaten housing affordability. Violating ordinances are declared null and void, and all adopted codes must clearly state penalties for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 77, the "Missouri Parental Choice Tax Credit Act," allows Missouri resident parents or guardians to claim a refundable tax credit for eligible education expenses of children attending qualifying schools. The credit covers costs like tuition, textbooks, educational therapies, and technology (but excludes basic supplies such as pens or notebooks) and is limited to 100% of qualifying expenses per student annually. It prohibits claims for children enrolled in public schools or participating in the state's scholarship program, requires itemized expense documentation, and verifies eligibility through the Department of Revenue. The credit applies to children in private, parochial, home, or family-paced schools (not public schools) and takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1394 renames the Heart of America Bridge in Kansas City, Missouri (which carries Route 9 over the Missouri River) to the "Sam Graves Heart of America Bridge." The bill is purely commemorative, changing the official name of the bridge to honor a former Missouri representative. No new funding, regulations, or policy changes are involved; the renaming is administrative, with costs for signage covered by private donations.