Rep. Jim Murphy

Maddy summaryHB 2153 abolishes the death penalty in Missouri by repealing all statutes that permitted capital punishment. It mandates that anyone convicted of a crime previously punishable by death must instead receive life imprisonment without parole. This change directly affects all current death row inmates and future defendants facing capital charges for offenses like murder. The bill removes the death penalty as a sentencing option, replacing it with life without parole for those specific crimes.

Maddy summaryHJR 169 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval before Missouri state or local districts can increase taxes, debt, or annual spending above certain thresholds. It directly affects state and local governments (excluding government-owned enterprises) by mandating public votes for new revenue measures and creating a refund process for illegally collected revenue. Key mechanisms include requiring districts to provide detailed spending data to voters before tax/debt votes, refunding illegally collected revenue with 10% annual interest, and suspending certain spending limits only during declared emergencies. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2027, and would override conflicting existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 1788 modifies campaign finance rules by limiting anonymous contributions to $25 or less, requiring all contributors to provide their name and address, and mandating that any anonymous contribution over $25 be returned or escheated to the state. It sets a $50 limit on single cash expenditures and caps annual cash spending at $5,000 or 10% of total committee spending. The bill also requires disclosure of contributor and recipient details for all transactions, prohibits accepting out-of-state committee contributions without proper filing, and mandates clear "Paid for by" identification on campaign materials. These changes directly affect political committees, candidates, and contributors by increasing transparency and restricting anonymous funding.

Maddy summaryHB 1791 establishes specific deadlines for local governments to process building permit applications based on permit type and project size. For example, residential permits under 7,500 sq. ft. (Level 1) must be approved within 30 business days, while larger projects (Level 2-4) have 60-day deadlines. If local governments miss these deadlines, they must reduce the permit fee by 10% per business day, with exceptions for applicant-caused delays or written extensions. The bill also requires local governments to notify applicants within 5 days if more information is needed, or the application is automatically accepted. This directly affects homeowners, contractors, and local governments handling construction permits.

Maddy summaryHB 2610 modifies Missouri's State Legal Expense Fund to expand coverage for specific health care providers facing legal claims. It directly affects state-employed physicians, nurses, dentists, and other licensed health professionals working in disability reviews, state correctional facilities, county jails, community health clinics, or schools under defined volunteer or contract arrangements. Key provisions set strict payment limits: $1 million per claimant for most providers (e.g., state-employed health staff), and $500,000 for volunteer services at community clinics or schools. The bill clarifies that volunteer services without compensation (excluding patient co-pays) qualify for fund coverage, while prohibiting the fund from covering abortion-related claims or services outside primary/preventive care.

Maddy summaryHB 1790 modifies how local governments (like cities, counties, and school districts) manage property tax levies and ballot measures. It requires ballot measures about property tax changes to be labeled only with numbers or letters (not descriptive terms) and mandates that tax proposals clearly state the dollar impact per $100,000 of property value. The bill also establishes rules for adjusting tax rates when property values change, ensuring local governments maintain consistent revenue levels without exceeding voter-approved limits. These changes directly affect local governments that set property taxes and voters who decide on tax measures.

Maddy summaryHB 1939 modifies Missouri law to allow municipalities to permit golf cart operation on streets with posted speed limits of 25 mph or lower, directly affecting local governments and golf cart users. The bill requires golf carts to meet specific safety standards, including headlights, reflectors, brakes, and a valid driver's license for operators, while prohibiting operation on sidewalks, pedestrian trails, or highways with speed limits over 45 mph. It explicitly states golf carts are exempt from vehicle registration and must not exceed 25 mph. This bill replaces existing provisions to clarify municipal authority and safety requirements for golf cart use within city limits.

Maddy summaryHB 3347 requires Missouri political subdivisions (like cities, counties, and local governments) to follow specific steps before entering legal contracts where lawyers are paid only if they win the case (contingent fees). It mandates public meetings to explain the need for such contracts, written findings justifying why regular hourly-rate contracts aren’t feasible, and approval from the state Attorney General. The Attorney General can reject contracts that conflict with state legal positions or professional conduct rules, and non-compliant contracts risk dismissal in court. This bill directly affects local governments seeking outside legal help for lawsuits or legal matters.

Maddy summaryHB 1792 establishes a two-year pilot program (2027-2029) to integrate media literacy into K-12 public schools across 5-7 diverse districts. The program requires schools to teach students to analyze news, identify misinformation, understand algorithms, practice digital safety, and recognize bias in media - including social media and online content - while connecting these skills to First Amendment rights. The Department of Education will study pilot outcomes and develop statewide guidelines and potential standards by 2030, focusing on practical classroom strategies for critical media evaluation. This bill directly affects public school districts, educators, and students in the participating schools during the pilot period.

Maddy summaryHB 2559 requires state agencies to obtain legislative approval before implementing new administrative rules that would cost over $250,000 annually for government, businesses, or individuals. Agencies must notify the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and the full legislature, which must pass a concurrent resolution approving the rule before it takes effect. Rules not approved this way become invalid, with exceptions for federal compliance or funding requirements. This directly affects state agencies creating significant-cost rules and shifts authority to the legislature for final approval.