Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Missouri's compulsory school attendance laws by changing the penalty for parents who fail to ensure their children attend school. Under the new provisions, such violations are classified as infractions rather than misdemeanors, and courts have the discretion to suspend or remove fines if the child is immediately enrolled in a public, private, parochial, parish, or home school. The law also establishes that a certificate from a school official serves as initial proof that a child is attending school regularly. These changes apply directly to parents, guardians, or custodians responsible for a child's education.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a scholarship program in Missouri designed to help students become teachers in the state. It provides financial aid that can cover up to 100% of tuition and fees for students who agree to teach in public schools that face staffing challenges. To qualify, applicants must be Missouri residents, maintain a minimum grade point average, and commit to teaching in hard-to-staff schools or subjects for two years for every year they receive the scholarship. The program is administered by the state department of elementary and secondary education, with the number of available scholarships increasing annually starting from 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates state laws to clarify how school buses are defined and who is responsible for managing access to them. It requires school boards to create written policies that specify when individuals can enter or operate a school bus, ensuring such actions are either approved by the board or included in the district's official rules. The legislation also establishes that unauthorized entry or operation of a school bus is a class A misdemeanor. Additionally, the bill defines a school bus as any vehicle designed to carry more than ten passengers used for transporting students, while excluding regular public transit or charter buses not on a specific school route. These changes directly affect school districts, their transportation staff, and the general public by setting clearer boundaries and penalties regarding school bus usage.

Maddy summaryHB 2261 updates Missouri's child passenger safety laws by clarifying age and weight requirements for using car seats and booster seats. The bill mandates that children under two must ride in rear-facing seats, while those under four or weighing less than forty pounds must use an appropriate restraint system regardless of age. It also specifies that children between four and eight years old who weigh at least forty pounds must use a booster seat or vehicle safety belt, and it removes previous height restrictions for children over eight years old. Drivers who violate these rules face a fine of up to fifty dollars, but the law excludes public carriers and students on large school buses. Additionally, the bill requires the state to launch a public education program to help families understand and follow the new safety guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy on minors, which is defined as any treatment attempting to change a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity. The law specifically excludes counseling that offers support, acceptance, or assistance with gender transition as long as it does not seek to alter a person's orientation or identity. Violating this ban can lead to serious consequences for the professional, including license suspension, revocation, or disciplinary action through an administrative hearing. Parents or guardians of minors who receive such prohibited treatment have the right to file complaints against the practitioners involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Missouri that protects an individual's right to keep and carry firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes, requiring any future restrictions to meet a high legal standard known as strict scrutiny. While affirming these rights, the amendment explicitly allows the state legislature to ban firearm possession for convicted violent felons and individuals deemed dangerous due to mental health issues. It also grants counties, the city of St. Louis, and the city of Kansas City the authority to create their own local regulations regarding firearm permits, transfers, and penalties, provided those rules do not exceed specific limits on fines and jail time. Local ordinances under this framework must recognize permits issued by other jurisdictions and must exempt certain groups, including active law enforcement, judges, and licensed security guards.