Rep. Mark Boyko

Maddy summaryHCR 36 designates June 3 as "Josephine Baker Day" in Missouri to honor the legacy of Josephine Baker, a St. Louis-born performer, human rights activist, and World War II resistance figure. The resolution celebrates her contributions to the arts, civil rights, and democracy, as noted in the legislative text. This is a commemorative resolution, not a policy bill, and would require Governor approval under Missouri law. It directly affects Missouri residents through official recognition of Baker's historical significance.

Maddy summaryHB 2844 bans the use of paraquat (a herbicide) in the state starting January 1, 2027, directly affecting farmers, agricultural businesses, and distributors who currently use or sell it. The bill requires all such entities to submit detailed usage reports by December 31, 2026, including quantities, locations, and crop types, with the department publishing these reports publicly by March 2027. It allows limited paraquat use only for approved research under strict safety protocols, enforced by the Department of Agriculture. Violations carry fines up to $500 per offense, with enforcement handled by the department and attorney general.

Maddy summaryHB 3228 provides legal protection for teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. It shields teachers and their school districts from lawsuits if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief the intervention was justified. The bill explicitly excludes protection for cases involving willful misconduct or gross negligence. It also prohibits schools from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in such incidents. This bill directly affects educators and school districts by changing liability rules for on-the-ground safety responses.

Maddy summaryHB 2147 prohibits using false caller ID information (call spoofing) to deceive recipients during telemarketing calls, specifically banning tactics that misrepresent the caller's identity to defraud, harass, or obtain value. It establishes a state "no-call database" managed by the Attorney General, allowing Missouri business and residential subscribers to register to block unwanted telemarketing calls at no cost. The law requires callers to clearly identify themselves at the start of each solicitation and prohibits blocking caller ID services. This applies to telemarketing calls (e.g., sales pitches) but includes exceptions for calls with prior permission, recent business contacts, or non-profit fundraising.

Maddy summaryHB 262 creates a state fund to reimburse health care facilities for providing hyperbaric oxygen therapy to Missouri veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). To qualify, veterans must have a diagnosis from a licensed health care provider, have previously sought treatment through Veterans Health Administration or private insurance, and reside in Missouri. Facilities must use FDA-approved equipment, follow treatment protocols based on clinical trials, and not charge veterans for the therapy. The Missouri Veterans Commission will manage the fund and require facilities to submit annual reports on therapy outcomes to assess effectiveness.

Maddy summaryHB 487 requires health insurance plans covering 25+ employees to include infertility diagnosis and treatment (like IVF, embryo transfer, artificial insemination, and egg freezing before cancer treatment) starting August 2025. It mandates coverage only after less expensive infertility treatments fail, limits IVF to four oocyte retrievals (with exceptions for live births), and excludes religious institutions that oppose the procedures based on faith. The bill directly affects employers offering group health plans and employees seeking fertility care, ensuring broader access while respecting religious exemptions. Coverage is not required for plans sponsored by religious organizations that object to the treatments.

Maddy summaryHB 843 abolishes the death penalty for first-degree murder convictions in Missouri, requiring courts to sentence offenders to life imprisonment without parole instead. It directly affects individuals convicted of first-degree murder under Missouri law (RSMo § 565.004), replacing the death penalty option with a mandatory life sentence. The bill repeals existing statutes allowing the death penalty and mandates that any current death sentences be automatically converted to life imprisonment without parole. This change applies to all future convictions and existing cases where a death sentence was imposed but not executed.

Maddy summaryHB 634 expands the legal definition of "special victim" to include sports officials (such as referees, umpires, or line judges) who are assaulted while performing their duties at any level of sporting event. This change directly affects certified sports officials by granting them enhanced legal protections similar to those currently provided to law enforcement, emergency personnel, and other specific professions. The bill requires officials to be trained, certified, or registered by an official sports organization to qualify under this provision. As a result, assault cases involving these officials will now be treated with heightened legal consideration under the state's special victim statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 719 reinstates the requirement for a permit to carry concealed firearms in Missouri. It mandates that most individuals need a permit to carry concealed weapons, with specific exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, judges, and others performing official duties. The bill prohibits concealed carry in schools, churches, government buildings, and other restricted areas without a permit, while allowing transportation of firearms in vehicles under certain conditions. It does not affect permit holders or those with valid permits from Missouri or other states.

Maddy summaryHB 889 modifies rules for Missouri charter schools by requiring detailed application and operational plans. It mandates that new charter school applications include specific elements like a mission statement, financial plans for three years, academic performance standards (including graduation rates and test scores), student discipline policies, and a plan for serving high-risk students. The bill also requires charter schools to include a legally binding performance contract with their sponsor and sets a requirement that at least one-third of new charters (if a sponsor grants three or more) must focus on high-risk students or dropouts. Existing charter schools had until 2015 to meet these new application requirements.