Rep. Brad Christ

Maddy summaryHB 498 allows charter schools to operate in specific Missouri school districts meeting defined criteria, primarily targeting districts with accreditation issues or in certain county populations. It permits charter schools in districts classified as unaccredited or provisionally accredited for three consecutive years, or in counties with 150,000-200,000 residents, while limiting charter enrollment to 35% of total students in larger districts. The bill specifies eligible sponsors (like local school boards, accredited colleges, or nonprofits) and prohibits sponsors from charging fees for charter applications. It also allows "workplace charter schools" targeting students of parents employed in business districts, with no liability for sponsors regarding charter school operations.

Maddy summaryHB 494 replaces existing Missouri law governing police oversight in cities not within a county (like St. Louis) by establishing a 5-member Board of Police Commissioners. The board includes the mayor and four citizen commissioners appointed by the governor - one from a panel including police fraternal organizations (based on department size) and three others from separate candidate panels. Key provisions authorize the board to set police policies, appoint and remove the police chief, handle disciplinary appeals, and regulate private security services. This directly affects cities without county governance, restructuring police oversight authority away from city councils and toward the appointed board. The bill clarifies that city ordinances cannot interfere with the board’s authority over police operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new category called "earnings tax opportunity zones" within existing distressed communities to encourage economic growth. Starting in 2024, it exempts salaries, wages, and business profits earned by residents or generated within these specific zones from the state's earnings tax. To ensure transparency, the bill requires local governments to publish and maintain an updated map of these zones on their websites. The law directly affects individuals and businesses operating in designated areas by reducing their tax liability on income derived from work performed there.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the expiration date for the Uniform Small Wireless Facility Deployment Act, ensuring its rules remain in effect indefinitely. The legislation directly impacts telecommunications companies and utility poles that host small wireless equipment, such as cell towers. By making the act permanent, the bill allows existing permits for placing these facilities on authority poles to continue without a set end date. This change aims to provide long-term stability for wireless infrastructure deployment while maintaining the current fee structure for collocation.

Maddy summaryHB 2547 creates the Zero-Cost Adoption Fund to help offset adoption expenses and prevent children from entering foster care. The bill allows individuals and businesses to donate at least $10,000 to the fund in exchange for a state tax credit equal to 100% of their donation, up to a limit of 50% of their annual state tax liability. This tax credit can be carried forward for up to four years, and the program includes a cap on the total number of credits available each year, which adjusts for inflation until reaching a maximum of $75 million. The fund will be managed by the Department of Social Services to support adoption recruitment, post-adoption services, and grants for adoption-sensitive care in healthcare settings.