Rep. Jeff Hales

Maddy summaryHJR 99 proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would prevent the General Assembly from amending or repealing any initiative measure approved by voters - such as citizen-backed laws or policy changes - except through a separate voter referendum. If passed, this would require voters to approve any legislative change to measures they directly approved via initiative. The bill does not alter how initiatives are created but restricts the legislature’s ability to modify or remove voter-approved measures without seeking public consent again. This is a procedural constitutional amendment, not a regular law, and remains pending in committee with no votes taken yet.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment in Missouri that would guarantee the right to bear arms for self-defense in homes, personal safety, and family protection, stating this right is unalienable and subject to strict scrutiny for any restrictions. It directly affects all Missouri residents, with exceptions for convicted violent felons or individuals deemed a danger due to mental health issues. The amendment also permits counties and cities like St. Louis and Kansas City to create local ordinances regulating firearm possession, carrying, or transfer within their limits, but only with cost-based fees, 5-year permit validity, and exemptions for law enforcement, judges, and licensed security personnel. Local rules cannot exceed $1,000 fines or 1-year jail terms for violations and must allow valid permits from other jurisdictions. The amendment explicitly states it complies with the U.S. Second Amendment while respecting federal court decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 184 requires construction companies or excavators to notify the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before starting digging projects. The DNR must then check if the site is contaminated with hazardous waste, undergoing cleanup, or listed on their hazardous waste registry. If contamination is suspected, the DNR either mandates responsible parties to test the soil and share results with excavators or conducts the test itself. This process aims to ensure excavator safety by identifying potential hazardous waste sites before work begins. The bill directly affects construction firms and the DNR, adding a mandatory pre-excavation safety check for environmental hazards.

Maddy summaryHB 1306 increases the maximum annual fee for repairing sewer lines connecting homes to public systems from $50 to $100 per residential property with six or fewer units, including condos with six or fewer units per building. It requires local governments to seek voter approval via a specific ballot question before implementing the fee increase. Funds collected must go exclusively to repairing defective sewer lines, with interest accruing to the repair fund. The bill affects homeowners and condo owners in qualifying communities, as well as local governments managing sewer repair programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires firearm owners in Missouri to report lost or stolen guns to local law enforcement within 72 hours of discovering the loss. The law mandates that law enforcement agencies enter the firearm's make, model, and serial number into the state's uniform law enforcement system to track these incidents. Owners who fail to comply face escalating penalties, starting with a fine of up to $100 for a first violation and increasing to a misdemeanor charge with a fine up to $500 for third or subsequent violations. The measure directly affects all firearm owners in the state and law enforcement agencies responsible for recording and tracking lost or stolen weapons.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand property tax exemptions in Missouri, primarily affecting disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The amendment would exempt the primary home (homestead) of disabled veterans - defined as those certified by the VA for 100% service-connected disability - and their surviving spouses (if they continue living in the home) from property taxes. It also maintains existing exemptions for business inventories (e.g., manufacturers' raw materials and retailers' stock) and properties used by religious, charitable, or educational organizations. The amendment requires voter approval in Missouri’s 2026 general election.

Maddy summaryHB 986 updates Missouri's list of diseases that healthcare providers must report to the Department of Health and Senior Services. It adds methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE), vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), alpha-gal syndrome, and Lyme disease to the required reporting list. The bill also requires the department to submit an annual report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detailing the incidence and reporting of these diseases. This change directly affects healthcare facilities and providers who must now report these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 352 requires counties in Missouri (classified as first, second, third, or fourth) to publish annual financial statements in local newspapers, directly affecting county governments and their officials. The bill mandates that these statements include specific details like fund receipts, disbursements, cash balances, tax levies, bonded debt, and the salaries of all elected county officials. County commissioners and clerks must certify the accuracy of these reports, with penalties for false certification including fines up to $1,000, jail time, or felony charges for willful false reporting. Additionally, counties must preserve records electronically for public inspection for five years and provide free digital copies to newspapers upon request.