Rep. Mark Boyko

Maddy summaryHB 1737 makes it illegal to secretly install or place an electronic tracking device on a motor vehicle without the consent of all vehicle owners, specifically to monitor or follow occupants. This directly affects individuals who might secretly track vehicles (e.g., in stalking, unauthorized monitoring, or without owner permission), with penalties including a class A misdemeanor for a first offense or a class E felony for repeat violations. Key exceptions include law enforcement using trackers during investigations, parents monitoring minor children in their vehicle, tracking stolen vehicles or goods, and certain rental companies or insurance programs. The law explicitly excludes vehicle manufacturers and covers specific scenarios like vulnerable adult care or lienholder repossession.

Maddy summaryHB 1738 would allow registered voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a specific reason (such as illness, travel, or religious observance) for a three-week period before an election. This change removes the current requirement that voters list a qualifying justification to access absentee voting. The bill applies to absentee ballots requested by mail or other non-in-person methods, while maintaining standard requirements like photo ID verification. It aims to simplify the absentee voting process by expanding access during a fixed pre-election window.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies sentencing for individuals convicted of murder who were under 19 at the time of the offense. It allows them to petition for parole review after 25 years (and again after 35 years) of incarceration, replacing life without parole sentences. Parole boards must consider rehabilitation efforts, maturity, accountability, and institutional conduct during reviews. Judges must also weigh youth-specific factors like development, background, and rehabilitation potential when sentencing minors convicted of murder.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Missouri's compulsory school attendance law to require parents or guardians to enroll children aged 5-17 in an educational program (public, private, parochial, home, or full-time equivalent) and ensure regular attendance. It adds new exemptions allowing excused absences for mental health concerns (with professional documentation), 14+ year olds with legal employment (after parental notice), and children with mental/physical incapacities. The law sets the compulsory attendance age at 17 for most districts (with metro districts able to set it at 16), clarifies that private/religious schools cannot be forced to adopt state-mandated curricula, and defines home school credits as 100+ hours of instruction. It directly affects all Missouri families with school-aged children and educational institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 2446 adds the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to Missouri's list of professional sports teams eligible for special license plates. Missouri vehicle owners who pay a $35 annual fee to these teams can obtain personalized plates bearing their emblems, with the fee partially funding local sports marketing. The bill requires teams to forward most of the $35 fee (minus up to 5% for administration) to either the Jackson County Sports Authority or St. Louis tourism commission for team promotion. This change expands existing license plate options for teams already listed, such as the NFL and NBA, without altering other eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 2444 exempts small, portable solar devices from Missouri's Public Service Commission regulations. The bill defines a portable solar device as a moveable unit with a maximum output of 1,200 watts that plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, meets safety standards, and is intended for personal use to offset a homeowner's electricity consumption. These devices, such as small solar panels for residential use, are no longer subject to commission oversight. This change simplifies the process for individuals to use portable solar technology without requiring regulatory approval.

Maddy summaryHB 2519 expands Missouri's hate crime definitions to include offenses motivated by race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It upgrades penalties for hate-motivated crimes to class D or E felonies and requires law enforcement agencies to report such offenses. The bill mandates new training for peace officers, including six hours on hate offense identification and victim assistance for those licensed after 2026, and six hours on racial profiling and bias for those licensed after 2027. These changes directly affect law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and court systems by altering how hate crimes are defined, prosecuted, and handled during officer training.

Maddy summaryHB 2518 ensures DACA recipients who meet all educational and professional requirements for a licensed occupation in the state can obtain a license on the same terms as U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It prohibits oversight bodies (like licensing boards) from considering immigration status when reviewing applications, requiring evaluations to be based solely on qualifications, education, and competency. The bill directly affects DACA recipients seeking professions requiring state licenses (e.g., healthcare, law, trades) and mandates that their licenses carry identical rights, renewability, and validity periods as those issued to citizens. The law takes effect for all applications submitted on or after August 28, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 2521 abolishes the death penalty for murder in the first degree in Missouri, replacing it with a mandatory life imprisonment sentence without parole. The bill specifically requires courts to sentence individuals convicted of murder in the first degree to life in prison without eligibility for parole, probation, or release except by the governor's action. It applies to all new convictions and requires existing death sentences to be automatically converted to life imprisonment without parole. The legislation repeals all Missouri statutes allowing the death penalty for this offense and updates sentencing classifications accordingly. This change directly affects all individuals convicted of murder in the first degree under Missouri law.

Maddy summaryHB 2520 requires Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in Missouri to reveal their identity during enforcement actions, prohibiting masks or face coverings that obscure their face. Exceptions include transparent face shields, medical masks for health protection, safety gear like helmets or respirators, and motorcycle helmets during vehicle operation. The law applies to all ICE agents in Missouri during routine operations, with violations punishable as a class A misdemeanor, though it excludes undercover agents and Special Response Team members during active duties.