Rep. Holly Jones

Maddy summaryHB 2355 would authorize Missouri's Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver from Medicare and Medicaid to create a "Food is Medicine" program within MO HealthNet. This program would provide nutrition services - including counseling, meals, prescriptions, and grocery support - to MO HealthNet participants diagnosed with nutrition-related chronic diseases like diabetes or heart conditions. The bill requires prioritizing community organizations and local farms for food purchases in nutrition prescriptions. It directly affects low-income Missourians enrolled in MO HealthNet who manage chronic health conditions linked to diet. The bill is currently in the Health and Mental Health committee for review.

Maddy summaryHJR 153 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how judges are selected in Missouri courts. It would replace current election-based selection with a system where the governor appoints judges (with Senate approval) from a list of nominees recommended by a nonpartisan judicial commission. The amendment also establishes a new seven-year term for all judges, including circuit and associate circuit judges, instead of varying terms under current law. Voters in certain counties could later choose through a ballot measure whether to maintain this appointment system or revert to elections. This change would affect all judges serving in Missouri's circuit courts, associate circuit courts, and higher courts, with the proposal requiring voter approval in the 2026 election.

Maddy summaryHB 2426 establishes that parents have fundamental rights to direct their child's education, healthcare, and upbringing without government interference. It grants specific rights including choosing schools (public, private, homeschool, or faith-based), accessing educational and medical records, consenting to medical treatments (except abortions, which require parental consent), and opting children out of school data collection. The bill prohibits government restrictions unless necessary to serve a compelling interest, with explicit exceptions for life-threatening medical care and child safety. It applies to all state and local laws and allows parents to seek legal remedies if their rights are violated.

Maddy summaryHB 2830 proposes increasing a user fee collected by Missouri recorders of deeds from $3 to $9 per recorded property document. This fee change directly affects property owners and real estate professionals who must pay the fee when recording deeds, mortgages, or other land-related documents. The additional $6 per transaction (making the total $9) would be sent to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund, specifically designated for housing-related programs under Section 215.034. The bill does not alter other fee components, such as the $2 retained by recorders for office operations or the $1 allocated to land survey and local records funds.

Maddy summaryHCR 29 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress to reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat products. It specifically calls for requiring labels to show whether beef or pork was born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S., reversing a 2015 repeal of a similar 2008 law. The resolution states this labeling would help consumers identify truly American-made meat and support U.S. farmers and ranchers by distinguishing domestic products from imported ones processed in the U.S. It does not create new law but formally expresses Missouri's support for this policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 1663 requires schools to restrict athletic participation to students competing in sports designated for their biological sex, as documented on their birth certificate or another government record. It prohibits schools from allowing students to compete in sports designated for the opposite biological sex unless no equivalent sport is available for the student's assigned sex. The bill defines "biological sex" based on reproductive biology at birth and specifies that birth certificate documentation must reflect the sex assigned at birth or correct a clerical error. Violations could result in loss of state funding, and affected students or parents may seek legal remedies. The law expires in 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2207 establishes Missouri's "Electric Choice and Competition Law," shifting the state's electricity market from a monopoly structure to one allowing customers to choose their electricity supplier. It requires electric utilities to provide open access to their transmission and distribution systems, enabling retail electric suppliers to sell directly to customers. Starting 24 months after August 28, 2026, commercial and industrial customers (those with higher energy use) will gain the ability to select a supplier, while residential customers will receive default supply service if they do not choose an alternative. The bill also standardizes billing (requiring either "dual bills" or "supplier consolidated bills") and creates mechanisms like a "competitive transition charge" to recover legacy costs from the monopoly era over time.

Maddy summaryHB 2233 establishes a framework for competitive electricity markets in Missouri, allowing residential and commercial customers to choose their electricity supplier starting 24 months after August 28, 2026. It directly affects residential customers, small/medium/large commercial businesses (defined by peak load), and investor-owned electric utilities, requiring utilities to provide open access to their transmission and distribution systems. Key provisions include creating "default supply service" for customers who don’t choose a new provider, mandating rate unbundling (separating supply and delivery costs), and implementing a "competitive transition charge" to recover legacy costs over time. The bill does not apply to municipal utilities or rural cooperatives unless they voluntarily opt into the competitive market.

Maddy summaryHB 3534 requires all new playground areas and surfaces built by state or local governments to meet the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design or future Department of Justice regulations. This applies directly to public playgrounds constructed on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring they are accessible to people with disabilities. The key provision mandates compliance with these specific accessibility standards for both the playground structure and its surface materials. The bill focuses on concrete design requirements rather than broader policy impacts.

Maddy summaryHB 3451 requires all in-person interviews conducted by the Department of Social Services regarding child abuse or neglect to be recorded via audio or video, unless equipment fails or unforeseen circumstances prevent it. The bill mandates secure storage of recordings for at least five years using department-approved methods, restricts access to investigators, prosecutors, or caregivers in court, and prevents defendants from objecting to recording failures in legal proceedings. It ensures recorded statements remain admissible in court even if the department misses the recording requirement. The law directly affects social services workers, child welfare investigators, and legal proceedings involving child abuse allegations.