Sen. Patty Lewis

Maddy summaryHB 1882 abolishes the death penalty in Missouri and mandates that anyone convicted of first-degree murder be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, unless the governor grants a pardon. The bill repeals existing statutes that allowed for capital punishment and replaces them with provisions ensuring that all homicide convictions result in a fixed term of incarceration. Additionally, the legislation outlines specific rules for how charges are joined in court and clarifies sentencing guidelines for various felony and misdemeanor offenses. This change directly affects the state's criminal justice system by removing the option of execution and standardizing the maximum penalty for the most serious crimes.

Maddy summaryHB 1876 establishes the "Firearm Violence Prevention Act," which creates a legal process for courts to issue orders temporarily removing firearms from individuals deemed to pose a significant risk of harming themselves or others. Under this bill, a petitioner, such as a family member or law enforcement officer, can request a temporary order without prior notice to the respondent if there is probable cause to believe the person is dangerous. If a judge agrees by a preponderance of the evidence, the respondent must immediately surrender their guns and concealed carry permits to law enforcement. The temporary order remains in effect for seven days while a full hearing is scheduled to determine if a longer, 182-day order should be issued. The legislation defines specific terms like "family or household member" and outlines the procedures for serving these orders and holding hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 1884 updates the definitions used in Missouri's income tax refund laws to clarify who and what counts as a "debtor" and "debt." The bill expands the definition of "state agency" to include municipalities with populations over 250,000, allowing them to be included in debt offset programs starting January 1, 2025. Additionally, it broadens the types of debts that can be collected from a taxpayer's income tax refund to include unpaid health care services and certain fines. These changes directly affect taxpayers whose refunds might be intercepted to pay these newly included obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the rules governing how certified registered nurse anesthetists and other advanced practice nurses can handle controlled substances. It allows certified registered nurse anesthetists to select, order, and administer specific controlled drugs during anesthesia care without needing a collaborative agreement with a physician or a separate prescriptive authority certificate. Conversely, the bill restricts other advanced practice registered nurses from prescribing controlled substances for sedation or general anesthesia and limits their prescriptions for certain drugs to a 120-hour supply. Additionally, the legislation updates requirements for written collaborative practice agreements between nurses and physicians to include specific details about locations and patient disclosures.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary system allowing individuals to restrict their own ability to purchase firearms by requesting entry onto a temporary or indefinite restricted list. Under the new process, a person files a form with their local circuit court, which then adds their name to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to prevent firearm sales for a set period. The law offers two options: a temporary restriction lasting up to six months that auto-expires unless extended, or an indefinite restriction that remains in effect until the individual voluntarily requests removal. Once removed from the list, the individual regains their right to purchase firearms, though any existing concealed carry permits are suspended during the restriction period and reinstated afterward.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the law regarding endangering the welfare of a child to explicitly include failing to secure a firearm as a criminal offense. It requires parents or guardians to store guns in locked safes, cabinets, or cases, or use locking devices, when a child under seventeen is present or living in the home. If a child dies as a result of a suicide involving an unsecured firearm, the lack of a locked storage device cannot be used as a legal defense. The charge is generally a class D felony but becomes more serious, ranging up to a class A felony, if the act involves multiple offenders, results in physical injury, or leads to a child's death.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands absentee voting options in the state by allowing registered voters to request ballots for various reasons, including illness, religious observance, and employment in roles such as healthcare or law enforcement. It introduces a "no-excuse" provision where voters can request absentee ballots starting the second Tuesday before an election without needing to provide a specific reason, while still requiring photo identification. The legislation also permits interstate former residents and new residents to vote absentee for federal elections and allows applications to be submitted via mail, fax, or email. Additionally, the bill prohibits individuals or groups from soliciting voters for absentee ballots and sets strict deadlines for when applications can be accepted.

Maddy summaryHB 1875 modifies the rules governing advanced practice registered nurses to clarify their ability to prescribe controlled substances under collaborative practice arrangements with physicians. The bill specifically allows these nurses to prescribe medications in Schedules III, IV, and V, with limited restrictions on Schedule II drugs such as hydrocodone, benzodiazepines, and stimulants for behavioral health patients. It also grants special authority for prescribing Schedule II medications to hospice patients and permits the prescription of buprenorphine for substance use disorder treatment. To ensure oversight, the legislation requires written agreements between nurses and physicians, mandates specific disclosure statements for patients, and sets supply limits for certain prescriptions. Additionally, the bill outlines geographic proximity requirements for collaboration and includes provisions for veterinarians and general practitioners regarding controlled substance handling.

Maddy summaryHB 1885 modifies the rules for appointing and compensating guardians ad litem in Florida child welfare and family law cases. The bill clarifies that judges must appoint these representatives for children in specific proceedings and for parents who are minors or mentally incompetent, while also allowing appointments for abused or neglected children. It grants guardians access to all relevant case records and meetings, requires judges to check their criminal backgrounds before appointment, and mandates that they complete training focused on achieving permanent placements for children quickly. Regarding payment, the bill allows courts to award reasonable fees to be paid by parties or public funds, but explicitly prohibits charging fees against individuals who have not been found responsible for abuse, neglect, or certain violent offenses. Additionally, the legislation permits the use of unpaid volunteer advocates to assist with these duties and removes filing fees for petitioners in protection order cases.

Maddy summaryHB 2188 establishes a state no-call list that allows both residential and business telephone subscribers to register their objection to receiving unsolicited sales calls. The Missouri Attorney General is tasked with creating and maintaining this database, which must be accessible to businesses at a specified cost so they can avoid calling registered numbers. The bill defines specific types of calls that are exempt from these restrictions, such as those from charities, government-regulated entities, or personal appointments, and requires callers to identify themselves and not block caller ID. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the Attorney General provide educational materials to help consumers understand their rights and the process for opting out of telemarketing calls.