Sen. Mike Bernskoetter

Maddy summarySB 187 requires that any payment made on behalf of a health insurance enrollee (such as by an employer, family member, or other third party) counts toward the enrollee's required cost-sharing, like deductibles or copayments. This directly affects individuals enrolled in health benefit plans who receive financial assistance for their coverage. The key provision changes how cost-sharing obligations are calculated by including third-party payments in the enrollee's out-of-pocket spending total. The bill does not alter premium costs or coverage benefits, only the definition of what counts toward required cost-sharing amounts.

Maddy summarySB 188 modifies rules for the Sheriffs' Retirement System, which provides retirement benefits to current and former sheriffs. The bill's official abstract does not specify exact changes to eligibility, contributions, or benefit calculations. It is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading), meaning no concrete policy changes have been enacted yet. As a procedural bill focused on retirement system administration, it directly affects sheriffs eligible for retirement benefits under this system. No further details about specific provisions are provided in the available context.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to the rules governing the commissioners of the Public Service Commission. It directly affects the individuals who serve on this regulatory body and the procedures they follow. The specific mechanisms for these modifications are not yet detailed in the available information, as the bill has only been recently introduced and referred to a committee for review. At this stage, the legislation outlines a need to update provisions related to commissioner roles but does not specify the exact policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the state's unemployment insurance laws to clarify how different types of payments are counted as wages when determining benefit eligibility. It specifically defines which forms of compensation, such as tips, severance pay, and vacation time, count toward an employee's earnings and which payments, like sick leave or retirement benefits, are excluded. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new formula for adjusting the taxable wage base annually based on the balance of the unemployment trust fund, with specific dollar limits on how much the base can increase or decrease. These changes directly affect employers who must report wages and employees who rely on unemployment benefits for financial support during job transitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies and pharmacy managers to count payments made on behalf of a patient toward that patient's out-of-pocket costs and deductibles. Specifically, it mandates that when calculating how much a person has paid for the year, amounts paid for medications without available generic substitutes must be included in the total. The law includes an exception for high-deductible health plans linked to health savings accounts, ensuring these payments still count once the minimum deductible is met, while also allowing insurers to continue using step therapy programs.

Maddy summarySB 1340 proposes changes to the rules governing emergency medical services, though the provided text does not specify the exact nature of these modifications. The bill directly impacts emergency response systems and the organizations responsible for delivering medical care. Key provisions are not detailed in the available information, so the specific operational changes remain unclear. The legislation has passed a committee vote and is currently awaiting further steps in the legislative process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new program in Missouri to recycle leftover household paint, requiring paint manufacturers to fund and manage the effort. Producers must either join a nonprofit group or act alone to create a plan that sets up collection sites across the state, aiming to ensure most residents are within fifteen miles of a drop-off location. The program charges a small fee per paint container to cover operational costs, which must be verified by an independent auditor to prevent excessive pricing. Collected paint will be prioritized for reuse and recycling before being disposed of, with the state department of natural resources serving only in an oversight capacity. Retailers may host collection events only if they voluntarily agree to do so and meet specific location requirements.

Maddy summarySB 745 establishes a system where the number of weeks an eligible worker can receive unemployment benefits in Missouri depends on the state's current unemployment rate. The bill sets specific thresholds, granting up to twenty weeks of benefits when the unemployment rate is nine percent or higher, while reducing the maximum duration to as few as thirteen weeks when the rate falls below six percent. These rates are calculated using seasonal data from the U.S. Department of Labor and take effect on January 1, 2016, directly affecting the length of financial support available to unemployed individuals.

Creates provisions relating to invasive plants

Establishes entertainment districts for certain counties