Rep. Jim Murphy

Maddy summaryHB 115 modifies tax exemption rules by updating which income types are excluded from the state's earnings tax. It adds specific exemptions, including income earned by low-income taxpayers (defined as individuals with income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level) and clarifies exemptions for organizations like mutual savings banks, nonprofits, religious groups, and certain insurance companies. Key provisions include exempting life insurance proceeds, workers' compensation payments, and income from public utilities operating under government contracts. The bill directly affects qualifying organizations, low-income earners, and individuals receiving specific benefit payments, reducing their taxable income under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 964 repeals outdated rules about cash rebate coupons for liquor manufacturers and updates how nonalcoholic merchandise coupons can be offered. It removes restrictions on advertising cash rebates (like not listing the post-rebate price) and requires manufacturers to issue rebates directly to consumers, not through retailers. The bill also allows manufacturers to provide nonalcoholic merchandise coupons with no purchase requirement, available at stores, by mail, or via retailers’ registers, with clear ads stating "no purchase needed." This directly affects alcohol manufacturers (including beer and wine producers) by changing how they can promote rebates and free merchandise.

Maddy summaryHB 325 prevents Missouri counties, cities, and other local governments from creating rules that restrict licensed professionals in specific fields (like medicine, law, and engineering). It directly affects these professionals and local governments that previously could impose restrictions on their practice. The bill blocks local ordinances, regulations, or policies that interfere with a professional’s legally defined scope of work, but allows local governments to enforce zoning, building codes, fire safety, and health regulations that don’t limit professional activities. This shifts authority over professional practice regulations from local to state level.

Maddy summaryHB 119 modifies how local governments present tax levy proposals to voters. It requires ballot measures about tax changes to use only numerical or alphabetical labels (not descriptive terms like "tax increase") and mandates that real property tax proposals clearly state the dollar amount change per $100,000 of property value. These changes apply to cities, counties, school districts, and special districts when seeking voter approval for tax levies. The bill directly affects local political subdivisions and aims to make tax ballot language more transparent and standardized for voters.

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 summaryHB 1064 modifies Iowa's candidate filing rules by requiring county central committee treasurers to accept filing fees from candidates who have been affiliated with the party for at least 26 weeks before the primary election. This directly affects candidates seeking county-level offices (e.g., county commissioner, sheriff) who run under a political party's ticket. The key provision ensures that if a candidate meets the 26-week party membership requirement, the treasurer cannot reject their $100 filing fee payment. The bill does not change the fee amount or waiver process but clarifies that affiliation duration must not be used to disqualify eligible candidates.

Maddy summaryHB 117 modifies laws related to motor vehicle offenses by clarifying what constitutes burglary in a vehicle and creating a new offense for attempting entry into multiple vehicles. It defines entering a motor vehicle with intent to commit a felony or theft as burglary (second degree), raising the penalty to a class C felony if a firearm is involved or stolen. The bill also specifically prohibits "successive" attempts to enter multiple vehicles by lifting door handles or trying locks without permission, classifying this as a class E felony. This law directly affects individuals who commit vehicle-related crimes, particularly those targeting multiple vehicles or using firearms during such offenses. The changes refine criminal penalties for these specific acts without altering broader criminal justice policies.

Maddy summaryHR 282 grants permission for Washington Middle School, Oakville Middle School, Bernard Middle School, and Margaret Buerkle Middle School to use the Missouri House Chamber on April 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for presenting the "Glory of Missouri" Awards to their students. The resolution specifies strict rules, including prohibiting food, drinks, smoking, banners, photography on the dais, and inappropriate conduct to maintain chamber decorum. This procedural bill directly affects the four schools and their students participating in the awards ceremony, with no substantive policy changes beyond granting temporary access to the chamber.

Maddy summaryHB 414 changes how Missouri prepares ballot summaries for constitutional amendments and certain bills. It requires the Secretary of State to draft a concise, neutral summary within 20 days (max 50 words), seek Attorney General approval for legal content, and place the approved summary directly on ballots. Courts cannot alter the summary if challenged, and the legislature or Secretary of State must fix it during session or when the legislature is not in session. This ensures ballot language reflects the exact approved text without judicial modification.

Maddy summaryHB 100 temporarily lowers Missouri's top income tax rate to 4.95% for tax years 2023-2025, then sets a permanent 4% rate starting January 1, 2026. It allows for future rate reductions (down to 0.1% per year) if state revenue exceeds prior years by specific dollar thresholds. The bill affects all Missouri residents who pay state income tax by modifying how income is taxed across different brackets. The legislation is currently pending in committee after being postponed for further review in February 2025.