Rep. Mark Boyko

Maddy summaryHB 718 prevents local governments (counties, cities, towns) from raising cigarette and tobacco taxes above the level set on September 30, 1993, without specific voter approval. It prohibits any local tax increase without a majority vote of qualified voters in that jurisdiction. The bill centralizes authority over tobacco taxation at the state level, making all local tax ordinances or regulations void if they exceed the 1993 baseline. This directly affects local governments and businesses operating in areas where local tobacco taxes previously existed. The law does not eliminate local taxes but restricts future increases to only those approved by voters.

Maddy summaryHB 450 requires businesses to clearly label payment requests that are actually sales solicitations - not bills - by displaying a prominent disclaimer. Specifically, any document resembling a bill must include the exact text: "THIS IS NOT A BILL. THIS IS A SOLICITATION. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY..." in bold, large font (at least 30-point) that contrasts sharply with the background. The disclaimer must appear directly below any amount shown and remain unobscured. Violators face triple damages for the amount solicited. This law directly affects businesses sending payment requests that could confuse customers into thinking they owe money when they haven’t ordered a product or service.

Maddy summaryHB 347 allows elected officials and campaign committees to use campaign funds for childcare costs directly tied to campaigning or performing official duties. This specifically covers expenses for a child's well-being that would not have occurred without these activities, such as childcare during campaign events or official meetings. The bill prohibits using these funds for childcare provided to a family member living in the official's household. It expands allowable campaign expenses under Missouri law while maintaining clear restrictions on personal or household use.

Maddy summaryHB 633 would change sales tax rules to require that feminine hygiene products (like tampons, pads, and cups) and diapers be taxed at the same rate as food, rather than the standard retail sales tax rate. This applies directly to retailers selling these items and affects consumers who purchase them. The bill defines "feminine hygiene products" broadly and specifies "diapers" as absorbent garments for infants or those with incontinence. The key provision eliminates higher tax rates currently applied to these essential items by aligning them with the lower food tax rate. The bill is currently pending in committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 528 makes it a crime for certain individuals to possess a firearm, specifically targeting those with prior felony convictions, fugitives from justice, people habitually intoxicated or mentally incompetent, or minors under 18 on public property. Possession under these conditions is classified as a class C felony, rising to a class B felony if the person has a prior dangerous felony or prior unlawful firearm possession conviction. The law includes exceptions: possession is not illegal if the person completed a required hunter education course, and antique firearms are exempt from these provisions. This bill directly affects individuals with specific legal or behavioral histories who might possess firearms, altering the legal consequences for such possession.

Maddy summaryHB 812 revises the definition of a "qualified school" for Missouri's empowerment scholarship program. It specifies that schools must either be FPE schools (as defined in another section) or comply with specific state education laws, including requirements for school terms, dyslexia assessments, physical activity, flag display, and other student safety and program rules. This change directly affects schools seeking to participate in the scholarship program by adding new compliance standards. The bill does not alter the eligibility criteria for students receiving scholarships.

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 summaryHB 116 establishes a two-year pilot program (2026-27 and 2027-28) to develop media literacy education in select K-12 school districts. It requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to choose 5-7 diverse districts to integrate critical analysis skills - such as evaluating news accuracy, identifying misinformation, understanding digital ethics, and recognizing bias - into daily classroom lessons. The pilot will generate guidelines and recommendations by 2029, which could inform future statewide standards for media literacy education. The bill does not mandate statewide implementation but aims to study effective strategies before considering broader adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 1200) creates a new "intermediate driver's license" for 16-17 year olds, directly affecting minors seeking to drive. Key provisions require applicants to: hold a temporary permit for 6+ months, complete 40+ hours of supervised driving (with parental/guardian or instructor consent), pass a written test, and pay a $5 fee. Restrictions include nighttime driving curfews (1 a.m.-5 a.m. without supervision), limits on teen passengers (max 1 non-family under 19 for first 6 months), and mandatory seatbelt use. The license transitions to full driving privileges at age 18 if the teen has no alcohol-related offenses or traffic violations in the prior year. The bill’s title referencing "age of marriage" appears inconsistent with its actual focus on driver licensing rules.

Maddy summaryHB 60 modifies nursery inspection certificate requirements by adding restrictions on selling specific nonnative invasive plant species. Nursery dealers must now certify in writing that they will not sell certain plants after set dates: Wintercreeper, Japanese honeysuckle, and sericea lespedeza after January 1, 2027, and Burning bush or Callery pear after January 1, 2029. The bill requires these certifications as part of annual registration-inspection applications, which expire September 30 each year. This directly affects nurseries and garden centers selling plants within the state, changing their compliance obligations under existing inspection rules.