Rep. George Hruza

Maddy summaryHB 2405 changes how medical costs are handled in personal injury lawsuits. It requires courts to consider the actual amount paid by or for the plaintiff (after discounts or write-offs), not the original billed amount, when calculating damages for medical care. This affects plaintiffs, defendants, insurers, and healthcare providers involved in injury cases, preventing them from using inflated billed costs to seek higher compensation. The bill also clarifies that if a defendant pays special damages before trial, the plaintiff cannot later claim those same costs in court.

Maddy summaryHB 1848 designates the bridge on CST Dougherty Ferry Road over Interstate 270 in St. Louis County as the "Army SSG Salvatore Palazzolo Memorial Bridge." The Missouri Department of Transportation will install and maintain signs for this bridge, with all associated costs covered by the department. This bill honors Salvatore Palazzolo, an Army Staff Sergeant, through a permanent memorial designation on a specific public infrastructure location.

Maddy summaryHB 2575 modifies Missouri's individual income tax rates for residents. It sets a fixed top tax rate of 4.95% for tax years 2023-2026, replacing the previous tiered system. Starting in 2027, the top rate will be 4.7% or the existing rate as of January 1, 2027, whichever is lower. Additionally, the bill allows for annual 0.15 percentage point reductions beginning in 2024, potentially lowering the rate to zero over time. This affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax.

Maddy summaryHB 1944 regulates how Missouri health insurers pay for anesthesia services and handle claim adjustments. It prohibits insurers from setting time limits on anesthesia payments or excluding all anesthesia time from calculations. The bill bans automated systems (including AI) for reducing payments on claims, requiring human physician reviews instead, and mandates clear documentation of downcoding decisions with 180-day appeal timelines. This directly affects anesthesia providers, insurers, and state health programs like MO HealthNet.

Maddy summaryHB 1943, titled "The Real Property Fraud Prevention Act," requires county recorders of deeds to notify property owners when a general warranty deed or quitclaim deed affecting their property is submitted for recording. Recorders must delay recording for five business days to send notifications via phone, email, text, or mail to property owners listed in tax records. Property owners can confirm a deed's legitimacy to bypass the delay, or report fraud to trigger a two-day court review period. Exceptions allow immediate recording for deeds submitted by licensed real estate brokers or reviewed by licensed title companies providing title insurance.

Maddy summaryHB 1942 requires Missouri health insurance plans sold or renewed on or after January 1, 2027, to cover one annual whole-body skin exam for suspicious lesions without any cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles). This applies to all standard health benefit plans issued in Missouri, directly affecting insured Missourians seeking preventive skin cancer screenings. The bill mandates coverage using standard medical codes for the exam and prohibits insurers from charging patients for this specific service. It excludes supplemental policies like Medicare supplements and short-term plans from this requirement.

Maddy summaryHB 2068 modifies Missouri's unemployment benefits program by replacing disqualification rules for claimants who left jobs voluntarily or failed to meet job search requirements. It affects individuals applying for unemployment benefits who quit work without "good cause" (e.g., not contacting a temporary agency for reassignment) or who didn't apply for suitable work when directed. Key changes include adding specific exceptions to disqualification, such as quitting for a higher-paying job, returning to a regular employer, pregnancy with medical proof, or relocating due to a military spouse's permanent station change. The bill also clarifies that temporary workers must contact their agency for reassignment to avoid disqualification. These provisions aim to adjust eligibility criteria for unemployment benefits under Missouri law.

Maddy summaryHB 1619 requires the Department of Natural Resources to allocate at least 10% of state or federal funds designated for developing Rock Island Trail State Park toward addressing specific concerns raised by nearby landowners. These concerns include agricultural fencing, farm crossings, drainage, signage, safety, and security measures. The bill directly affects landowners adjacent to the park by mandating that a portion of park development funds address their practical needs. It does not change park operations or land use but ensures funding is specifically directed to mitigate impacts on neighboring agricultural properties. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read first time).

Maddy summaryHB 1675 limits when health insurance companies (health carriers) can require doctors and hospitals (health care providers) to get prior authorization for medical services. Specifically, insurers cannot demand prior approval unless they approved less than 90% of similar requests from that provider in the previous six-month period (either January-June or July-December). The bill requires insurers to notify providers within 25 days after each period, provide appeal options, and maintain an online portal showing all authorization decisions. It applies to most health plans but excludes Medicaid managed care organizations and providers who haven’t participated in a plan for a full six-month period. The law does not change what services are covered or allow providers to exceed their licensed scope.

Maddy summaryHB 2082 increases Missouri's minimum motor vehicle liability insurance coverage requirements. The bill raises the minimum coverage for bodily injury to $50,000 per person (from $25,000) and $100,000 for two or more people in an accident, while increasing property damage coverage to $50,000 (from $25,000). This change directly affects all vehicle owners and operators in Missouri who must maintain liability insurance to comply with state law. The new law also updates key definitions related to insurance policies and financial responsibility to align with these increased coverage amounts.